CODING THROUGH PLAY AND COLLABORATION: LEARNING TOGETHER STEP BY SPEP
As part of the Coding&Co-DoING project, a dedicated learning session was held to explore how coding can be introduced to children through playful, inclusive and collaborative activities.
The meeting involved a large and diverse group of participants. Initially, physical coding games were carried out with around 50 children at the same time, supervised by two teachers. This first phase highlighted some challenges, particularly related to directionality and spatial orientation, which many children found difficult at the beginning.
To better support learning and participation, the group was later divided into smaller teams, first mixed by age and then organised by school year. This adjustment allowed educators to better observe the children’s needs and adapt the activities accordingly.
LEARNING CODING THROUGH MOVEMENT AND TEAMWORK
The activities proposed focused on collaboration, teamwork and problem-solving, rather than on individual performance. Direction-based games helped children understand starting points, destinations and paths, while
team labyrinth activities encouraged collective planning and shared decision-making.
A key element of the session was the non-judgmental approach to results. Children showed no concern about rankings or competition; instead, their attention remained on reaching the final goal together. This reinforced a learning environment where mistakes were seen as part of the process and cooperation was valued over outcomes.
Alongside physical activities, children were introduced to basic coding concepts through tools such as color-based coding games.
REFLECTIONS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE NEEDS
The session also offered important insights for educators. Managing large groups, limited resources such as a small number of educational robots and the lack of dedicated spaces for coding activities emerged as key
challenges. At the same time, the experience highlighted the importance of continuous training, access to reliable theoretical frameworks and the exchange of good practices.
The Coding&Co-DoING project aims to respond to these needs by fostering meaningful collaboration at European level, supporting teachers, students and school communities through shared learning, experimentation and reflection.
By combining play, movement and simple coding tools, the session demonstrated how coding can become an inclusive and engaging educational experience, capable of supporting not only digital skills but also social, cognitive and collaborative development.