Documentation

Getting Started

CodeKiwi is designed to make teaching coding simple and interactive. You'll need:

• A Google account (for signing in and accessing Google Slides)
• Google Slides presentations with your coding lessons
• Students with internet access and a modern web browser

That's it! No software installation, no complex setup—just sign in and start teaching.

Creating an Account

Sign Up with Google (Recommended)

1. Go to codekiwi.app/signup
2. Click "Sign up with Google"
3. Select your Google account
4. Grant CodeKiwi permission to access your Google Slides
5. You're ready to go!

Sign Up with Email

1. Go to codekiwi.app/signup
2. Fill in your name, email, and password
3. Optionally add your school/institution
4. Agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy
5. Click "Create Account"

Note: You'll still need to connect your Google account later to access Google Slides.

Installing the CodeKiwi Add-On

CodeKiwi works as a Google Slides Add-On that appears in a sidebar within your presentations.

Installation Steps

1. Open any Google Slides presentation
2. Go to Extensions in the top menu
3. Click Add-ons → Get add-ons
4. Search for "CodeKiwi" in the Google Workspace Marketplace
5. Click Install and grant the necessary permissions

Accessing the Add-On

Once installed, you can access CodeKiwi in any presentation:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation
2. Go to Extensions → CodeKiwi → Start Lesson
3. The CodeKiwi sidebar will appear on the right side of your presentation

Creating a Session

Using the Sidebar

1. Open Your Presentation: Open the Google Slides presentation you want to use for teaching
2. Launch CodeKiwi: Go to Extensions → CodeKiwi → Start Lesson to open the sidebar
3. Create Session: Click the "🚀 Start Lesson" button in the sidebar
4. Session Created: CodeKiwi will generate a unique session linked to your current presentation

Marking Interactive Slides

Use the "Slide Tools" section in the sidebar to mark specific slides as coding exercises:

• Navigate to a slide you want to make interactive
• Click "Add Code Question" in the sidebar
• Students will see a code editor when they reach this slide

Launching a Session

Starting Your Session

1. Open the Sidebar: Make sure the CodeKiwi sidebar is open (Extensions → CodeKiwi → Start Lesson)
2. Click "Start Lesson": This activates the session and generates a unique PIN code
3. Display the PIN: The PIN will appear in the sidebar—share it with your students via screen share, whiteboard, or chat
4. Students Join: Students go to codekiwi.app, enter the PIN, and immediately see your slides with a code editor

How Students Join

1. Students visit codekiwi.app
2. They enter the PIN code you provided
3. They're instantly in the session—no account needed!

What Students See

When students join your session with the PIN, they see:

• Left side: Your Google Slides presentation, synced with your current slide
• Right side: A live code editor where they can write and test code
• Run button: To execute their code and see results

Monitoring Students

The CodeKiwi sidebar shows real-time information about your active session.

What You Can See

• Number of students currently connected
• Which students are actively coding
• Real-time view of student code (click on student names to see their work)
• Who needs help or is stuck

Best Practices for Monitoring

• Check in on students who haven't started coding
• Look for common errors across multiple students
• Celebrate students who solve problems correctly
• Use insights to adjust your teaching pace

Best Practices

Preparing Your Slides

• Keep slides simple and focused—one concept per slide
• Include code examples students can reference
• Add clear instructions for coding exercises
• Use visuals and diagrams to explain concepts
• Mark interactive slides with "Add Code Question" before the session starts

During the Session

• Give students time to code along—don't rush
• Pause frequently to check student progress in the sidebar
• Address common mistakes as a group
• Encourage students to experiment and test their code
• Keep the CodeKiwi sidebar visible so you can monitor participation

Structuring Your Lesson

• Introduction (5-10 min): Explain the concept
• Demonstration (10-15 min): Show examples in the slides
• Practice (20-30 min): Let students code with your guidance
• Review (5-10 min): Discuss solutions and common issues

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions