In Macclenny, Florida, Jenna Smith, a computer science teacher, transformed her classroom grant into a hands-on coding experience with ELECFREAKS Retro Coding Arcade handheld devices.
When Jenna received her grant, she knew her students were in for something exciting. Instead of only coding on a screen, they could now transfer their games onto handheld devices and play them with friends. The result was instant excitement, creativity, and plenty of friendly competition.
“The hands-on nature of the devices turned what might have felt like a class assignment into an exciting challenge that felt meaningful and fun.” – Jenna
Jenna designed the project to tap into something her students already love—video games. Using Microsoft MakeCode Arcade, they began by learning the basics of game design and logic. Once their games were built, they downloaded them onto the handheld devices and put them to the test. The first challenge was to make each game more difficult, then hand it to a friend to see who could beat it. Soon, they were adding multiple levels and watching their simple games evolve into more complex experiences.
With remaining grant funds, Jenna also purchased Ring:bit Bricks kits to pair with Micro:bits. These opened the door to hands-on problem solving with a real-world connection. Within one week, her students programmed a working traffic light, built a fan that responded to temperature changes, and designed windshield wipers. Every activity gave them the thrill of seeing code jump off the screen and into something they could build and test for themselves.
Her computer science classroom is always full of collaboration and creativity, with students using block-based platforms like Scratch, Tynker, and MakeCode to build their foundational skills before taking on bigger challenges. The Arcade project fit perfectly into that rhythm, allowing them to see how logic and design merge into something they could hold in their hands. The excitement level was undeniable. Students often worked beyond class time to refine their games and eagerly passed the devices around for friends to try.
“They loved the fact that their projects could be played on a real handheld device, which gave their work a sense of authenticity and pride.” – Jenna
For other educators interested in trying MakeCode Arcade, Jenna’s advice is to keep it simple at first. Classic games like Pong or a maze are enough to build confidence. From there, the creativity flows. She encourages giving students room to personalize their projects with their own characters and stories, and opportunities to share their work, whether through peer playtesting or a showcase day.
“Most importantly,” she explained, “make it fun and approachable. When students see coding as a way to express their ideas and creativity, they become more motivated to dive deeper into computer science.” With a few devices, a teacher’s vision, and the spark of student imagination, computer science stops being abstract and becomes something tangible, joyful, and real.
