Picture a classroom where students and teachers with widely diverse abilities can all use VEXcode as independently as possible. The recently released VEXcode 4.0 for 123 and GO provides several new and exciting features that ensure VEXcode can be easily used by everyone, helping to create an equitable coding experience for all.

VEXcode 4.0 Adds Independence and Convenience for Coders!

As teachers, every bit of extra convenience we are afforded when teaching adds time to use to help our students build skills and understanding. To that end, VEXcode 4.0 comes with several features that will make teaching with VEXcode easier and allow all your students to be more independent.

Offline Version

VEXcode 123 and VEXcode GO are now both available as downloadable applications that can be used offline on both Windows and Mac. This feature makes coding with VEXcode right at hand wherever you are - even in environments with no or low internet connectivity or limited bandwidth. Download VEXcode 123 and GO 4.0 apps at code.vex.com.

Autosave

Projects will now automatically save in VEXcode 123 and GO, once they have been saved the first time. As teachers, we’ve all had to comfort our students when they have forgotten to save something they are proud of. Fortunately, this will not happen in VEXcode, which will save time and tears! To learn how to save using this new feature, see the article appropriate for your devices in these sections of the VEX Library:

• VEXcode 123
• VEXcode GO

File Menu Updates

The VEXcode 4.0 File menu has also been simplified in this update.

• Load From Your Device has now been changed to Open.
• Save to Your Device has now been changed to Save as.
• You can also now manually save using the Save button.

These changes use language that is both easier to read and more standardized, so students will be able to interact more independently with the File menu.

VEX API Access from VEXcode 123 and GO

In the new Tools menu, students can select API Documentation to be taken to the VEX API reference site section for the coding platform they are using. The link opens in a new window, so students will still be able to easily access their ongoing coding projects. The VEX API expands on the built-in Help already present in VEXcode, providing in-depth explanations and examples of ways to use each block. Putting the API directly in students’ hands allows them to take charge of their learning as they research the functionality of VEXcode blocks they are unsure about.

Accessibility is Front and Center in VEXcode 4.0

The VEXcode 4.0 release also brings features to make coding easier for those with diverse abilities. Sharing these features with all of your students can give them the power to make choices when they are coding that makes the process easier, and also normalizes using the assistive technology tools at hand for everyone.

Read Aloud VEXcode Blocks

Now, all VEXcode Blocks can be read aloud in VEXcode. By simply right clicking (or long pressing) a block to open the context menu and choosing the Read Block option, students can hear each block’s name read to them.

This not only allows students with visual impairments to code more easily, but also is fantastic for those with dyslexia or other reading-related learning differences, and pre-readers! When students can choose to have the blocks read to them, it gives them agency and lets them be independent when they work with VEXcode.

Additionally, students can choose from a variety of voices by selecting Speech Settings in the Tool menu. They can then select a voice that works best for them. They can also adjust the pitch and speed of their selected voice using easy to use sliders.

These features are available in multiple languages as well, which can be vital for ELL students, making it so much easier for them to focus on their coding project rather than having the added cognitive load of translating each and every block as they go. If you work in a bilingual environment or want to team up with a language teacher in your school for a coding lesson or two, the read aloud blocks will be a great addition as well!

High Contrast Blocks

Another accessibility feature introduced in the 4.0 release are high contrast blocks. Those with low vision or color blindness can now select a high contrast theme from the Tools menu. High contrast themes are also helpful for anyone trying to minimize eye strain when coding.

Keyboard Only Navigation

For many students who have motor impairments that make using a mouse difficult or impossible, keyboard navigation is essential. An experimental keyboard-only mode is now available with the 4.0 update. Coders can use keyboard commands to add, detach, move, and edit blocks, and to start, step through, and stop projects. (Note that this feature is experimental, so you may experience some inconsistencies for the time being.)

Keyboard Shortcuts

As a part of making VEXcode navigable without a mouse, new keyboard shortcuts have also been added to the Tools menu as well. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to start, step, stop and open the help without the need of a mouse or trackpad, giving users the ability to interact with those options in the easiest way for them.

Fostering an inclusive learning atmosphere in STEM education benefits everyone. Each new feature in VEXcode is designed to enhance the learning experience and independence of every student while helping to ensure students learn to code in an environment that honors individual differences and recognizes the contributions of all.