What Are Platypus Activities?
Kira's Platypus coding activities use a style similar to block-based coding-style interfaces to introduce students to algorithms and programming. By removing the complexity of syntax, students can focus on logical thinking and problem-solving. This makes the activities particularly well-suited for late elementary or middle school learners, though the structured design also supports high school students or adults who are new to coding.
These activities encourage computational thinking through interactive challenges, providing a strong foundation for students to build their coding skills step by step. With instant feedback and guided support, students can experiment, make mistakes, and learn through hands-on practice.
The Platypus Challenges and Coding Environment
The Goal
In every Platypus challenge, the goal is for you to create code that moves Pepper the Platypus through "Your World" so it ends up looking like the "Target World," as below.
To move the platypus, students choose commands in the upper right that are mostly motion-oriented, like swim() and turn_right(). They can also type those commands into the Code Editor if they'd prefer.
Students learn during the coursework how to use more sophisticated commands like while and if.
One important thing for students to know about platypuses is that they do not travel on land (green squares), they only swim (in the blue or painted squares)! Also, they live only in Australia.
Instructions and Commands
For every Platypus exercise, students should click on the "Instructions and Commands" tab at the top, and read any special directions about what the task is.
There is also standard language in here that is the same for every exercise, as well as explanations describing what each command does.
Seeing Successful Results and Submitting
If the student and the platypus achieved the goal, then the platypus celebrates! So it's always very apparent to the student when they have succeeded.
Then the student needs to use the purple Submit button at the bottom of the exercise, and if the submission has satisfied the auto-grading, then they will also receive a couple of notifications below.
If their work is not scored as correct, they will see this notification, and then they can click on the Retry button to revise their code solution.
Pepper needs to be pointing the same direction in Your World, after running the code, as in the Target World, in order to solve the problem satisfactorily. This is a success criterion that students sometimes overlook.
Tools in the Coding Environment
Students can use these tools shown above:
Return the platypus to her starting place using the Back to start button
Use the Speed slider to speed up how quickly the code runs and Pepper moves
Use the Run by line button to run the code slowly one line at a time
Use the Run button to execute all the code
Use the Ask Kira button to ask the AI Tutor for help. This AI guidance offers hints and troubleshooting help, without giving the answer, when students request it.