Image of people using PathIt

About

PathIt is not just an educational tool; it's a revolution in making Computational Thinking (CT) accessible to all. Our journey began with the vision to create an inclusive CT training resource, specially designed to empower visually impaired individuals.

In a world where most CT training relies on visual elements, PathIt stands out as a tactile and sound-based solution, breaking down barriers to learning. Join us on this transformative educational adventure, where accessibility meets excellence in Computational Thinking.

Discover PathIt and unlock the full potential of CT training, ensuring no one is left behind on the journey to success!

Pathit Components

Game Board and Board Pieces
Game Board and Board Pieces
Sequence Blocks can be divided in direction blocks (which are left, right, up and bottom) and control blocks (which are start of loop and blocks with the numbers from 2 to 5)
Sequence Blocks
Smartphone with NFC and PathIt app image
Smartphone with NFC and PathIt app

HOW TO PLAY

User assembling the board
1
Assemble the board through the app dictation
Image of PathIt app on challenge 1 screen
2
Hear the challenge instruction
3
Make a path sequence and read it with the smartphone, bringing each block closer to the smartphone
4
When you are done reading the sequence, shake the phone to submit your answer and check if your solution is right

CHALLENGE EXAMPLE

Image of a phone in the PathIt app after the user reads the solution sequence.

Challenge intruction: Go from smile to heart using only 2 direction blocks.

Possible solution: [ “LEFT” 4 [ “DOWN” 4    (Go 4 times left and 4 times down)

In this solution we only used 2 direction blocks: 1 left block and 1 down block, so the restriction was met.

Start Play

1

Make PathIt physical components with a material of your choice.

  • 6x6 board
  • Board Pieces
    • 27 blank
    • 2 stars
    • 2 triangles
    • 1 smile
    • 1 heart
  • Sequence Blocks
    • 4 direction blocks of each (left, right, up and bottom)
    • 4 start loop blocks
    • 4 number 2 blocks
    • 4 number 3 blocks
    • 2 number 4 blocks
    • 2 number 5 blocks
Download Laser Cut File
2

Buy 32 NFC tags (NTAG215), glue one on each Sequence Block and write in each the the corresponding information using NFC Tools app.

Block Tag Write
Right DIR
Left ESQ
Up CIMA
Down BAIXO
Start loop IL
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
3

Download this apk to your Android smartphone which has NFC technology.

Download PathIt Android App
4

All set, have fun!

TEAM

Angélica Cunha

University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Cristiana Araújo

University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Alvaro Costa Neto

University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Pedro Rangel Henriques

University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

PUBLICATIONS

Conference Paper - 13th International Conference on Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning

Angélica Soares Cunha, Cristiana Araujo, Alvaro Costa Neto, and Pedro Rangel Henriques. PathIt: Computational Thinking Training for Visually Impaired Individuals, pages 160–167, Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems book series (LNNS,volume 764). Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2023. ISBN 978-3-031-41226-4. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-41226-4_17.

Journal Paper - IE Comunicaciones: Revista Iberoamericana de Informática Educativa

Rui Costa, Cristiana Araújo, Alvaro Costa Neto, Angélica Cunha, and Pedro Rangel Henriques. Computational Thinking, Visual Impairment and Melodic. IE Comunicaciones: Revista Iberoamericana de Informática Educativa, (37 (Enero-Junio)):1–13, 2023. ISSN 1699-4574. URL https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9001941.

MSc Thesis

Angélica Soares Cunha, PathIt: Computational Thinking Training, MSc Thesis, University of Minho, 2023.