Apollo EduTech’s ‘Unicorn Ninjas’ teach coding to kids without computers

There is a lot of buzz around teaching coding to kids. While parents want their children to evolve with digital transformation, there are also concerns about too much screen time. But what if learning to code is possible without a computer! Korean startup Apollo EduTech has found the solution to teach the basics of computer programming with a unique, fast-paced offline card game called ‘Unicorn Ninjas.’

Unplugged Coding Educational Game

Unicorn Ninja is an innovative way to teach coding while unplugging the computer and enjoying the process as a family. Unicorn Ninja teaches the essentials of HTML terms and HCI concepts as players play. In the game, players play their cards to build a website to understand the complex concept of programming.

There are 55 cards included in each box of Unicorn Ninjas, 42 element cards, 12 site cards, and 1 player card. The game also comes with a Site Building Primer to pace up sites, and a rules booklet with detailed instructions. Each element in the game is the name of a real HTML element, hand-picked by two software developers. The core mechanic in Unicorn Ninjas is matching the correct element cards to site cards.

The hands-on activity nature of the game makes the subject of computer programming less intimidating and more interactive. It can be played by 2 to 4 players aged five years above. Kindergarten and Pre-school kids can be involved in the card game with the teacher’s guidance. Unicorn Ninjas can also be a great way for family bonding as parents can play along with their kids and even learn themselves.

Global expansion plans

Apollo EduTech was started in a small café by two programmers and a father passionate about education. Over the course of one year, the startup developed Unicorn Ninjas from post-it notes to beautiful and feature-rich cards that depict how websites are structured with HTML. The game card is now a fun box that teaches website terminologies, patterns, layouts, arithmetic skills and builds social skills. The startup founders have visited technology academies, kindergartens, international schools for the trials of Unicorn Ninjas and refined the product.

The startup is now promoting its product through strategic partnerships with computer education associations, kindergarten’s associations, kid cafes, theme parks and online content creators. Apollo EduTech is also targeting Korean households for marketing the game. Considering the game’s universal appeal, the Korean startup plans to launch product beyond Korean shores.

Read More,