30 Tools in 30 Days: Day 19 Blendoku

Day 19: Blendoku

Sometimes extensive traveling makes you look for things to help you pass the time. That was the case for me this weekend as I sat on a train, exhausted from a long week, needing something to occupy my mind so I didn’t fall asleep and snore. I stumbled upon a fun addictive game that is new to me but has been around for a while, Blendoku by Lonely Few.

Blendoku deals with patterns and sequencing much like a Sudoku game but instead of numbers, you are working with basic color theory and how different colors blend. I love the art and color theory aspect of this game.

In Blendoku you are given a grid where one or more squares are filled with color. You need to use your color pallet to fill out the rest of your grid. The new colors must be in the right order to show how the colors would blend. Seems simple enough and the easy levels are fairly easy to complete. However, I will admit that a couple of them had me stumped for a while. The hard levels are really hard. Not only are there more squares to fill but there are more colors and slight changes in the tone and hue. The addictive nature of the game helped me pass the time on the train. Haven’t beat the game yet but if I ever do, Blendoku 2 is already on my phone waiting.  (For a more intense challenge, try Lonely Few’s timed color challenge called Chroma Rush. Next on my download list.)

Blendoku is a free app that works on both iOS and Android. You can play it on your phone, however, the hardest levels are recommended for tablets because the grid gets really small.

Easy Level

Hard Level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the Blendoku 2 trailer from Lonely Few to get an idea of the gameplay.

So, what does a simple little game like Blendoku have to do with educational technology and why would I choose to highlight it on this blog. Simple – puzzle games are a great way to build students’ problem-solving skills. Puzzle-based learning is a popular way to increase students mathematical and computational thinking skills as well as creative and critical thinking needed for a wide variety of careers including Math, engineering, and computer science. (Check out this website to learn more about Puzzle-based Learning.)

If you are more excited about colors than numbers but still want to challenge your mind with an addictive pattern and sequencing puzzle like Sudoku, then Blendoku and Blendoku 2 are worth the download. A couple great free games for students to play and build those problem-solving skills.

Now please excuse me as I try to level up.

30 Tools in 30 Days: Day 8 Radial

Day 8: Radial App for Android

Yesterday I found myself sitting at the airport feeling a bit bored. Getting through security took no time at all (which was surprising). So, there I sat. Two hours early for my flight, looking for something to do. I read a little. (The Detective’s Assistant, a great middle-grade novel by Kate Hannigan.) But I found I just needed something mindless to pass the time. Then I remembered an app I downloaded on my phone a month or so ago and decided to play. I opened Radial and began to draw. It was mesmerizing.

Radial is a simple, free app that lets you create integrate mandalas and symmetrical radial drawings (hence the name). It’s intuitive controls have you creating beautiful designs in no time at all.

Opening Screen. 

When you open the app, you are greeted with a friendly screen that tells you to draw. Without any further instruction or too much thinking, you can create an amazingly detailed design.

One of my first creations. 

It really is quite addictive. I spent a good hour at the airport drawing new designs over and over again.

If you touch the color wheel icon at the top, you can change your brush and canvas settings. There are about eight different colors to choose from which is limiting but not too bad. Sometimes when I have too many choices, I spend too much time thinking about what color to choose and less time creating. So the fewer choices worked for me. You can also control the thickness of your brush, line smoothness, the number of times your line is replicated, and how your line is replicated.

Brush controls.

Once you have completed your design, you can save it on your device, or share it out through your social media channels.

Here are a few more examples of my art. Each one of these took very little time to make. I had fun changing the settings and challenging myself to try new line styles.

So, I know what you are thinking. “That’s great and all. I’m glad you found a new art calling. But what does this have to do with classroom technology?” OK, maybe only a few of you are asking that. My Math and Art friends don’t have to ask. I bet their minds are already spinning with ideas. This simple app could be a great addition to the STEAM classroom (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Mandalas are a beautiful way to demonstrate the connection between art and math.

Here are just a couple lesson ideas about using symmetrical designs such as Mandalas, to teach mathematical concepts.

• Making Mandalas: the Ultimate Art-Math-Meditation Combo from We Are Teachers.
• Mandalas, Polygons, and Symmetry from Arts Edge
• Mandala Music and Math Unit from Education Closet (A wonderful STEAM website focused on Arts integration!)

What seems like a simple, free app that helps you pass the time waiting for your plane, is actually a tool for unlocking the beauty of Mathematics through the intersection of the Arts. Download this one today and make something amazing!