Code.org has enabled a keyboard navigation feature for a handful of block-based coding levels, designed to make our platform more accessible to all learners.

Using the Google Blockly keyboard navigation feature (which you can learn more about here), students can now navigate our block-based coding levels without the need for a mouse or touchpad.

This feature is especially useful for students with mobility or dexterity challenges, and provides an alternative way to interact with the platform that is both intuitive and efficient.

We are working on growing this list, but currently it includes: Poetry, Dance Party, Flappy Bird, and Bounce labs.

Getting Started:

For students who prefer to use a keyboard instead of a mouse, our platform now offers a keyboard navigation feature that enables them to navigate the block-based coding levels with ease.

To activate this feature, there are two options depending on whether the student is using a mouse or a keyboard.

Using a Mouse

To enable keyboard navigation using a mouse, the student should navigate to the workspace and right-click anywhere on the workspace that is not a block.

This action will reveal the Workspace Menu, and the student should then click “Enable Keyboard Navigation” to activate the feature.

A flashing red border will appear around the blocks to show that the feature is on.

Using a Keyboard

To enable keyboard navigation using a keyboard, the student should navigate to the workspace using the tab key.

Once in the workspace, they can activate the keyboard navigation feature by pressing the shortcut “CTRL + Shift + K”. Again, a flashing red border will appear around the blocks to show that the feature is on.

How To: Use keyboard navigation within the workspace

Once the keyboard navigation feature is activated, students can use the WASD keys to navigate the blocks.

For more detailed instructions on how to use keyboard navigation, you can refer to Google’s help page and tutorial, which you can find here.

We hope that this new keyboard navigation feature will make our platform more accessible to all learners and improve the user experience for those who prefer to use a keyboard. If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact accessibility@code.org.