Category: Coding For Children

Computer Coding For Children

1/3/2016

A recent review I did for a book called Secret Coders had me wondering if there were online sites for teaching children how to code.

Here is what I discovered:

HTML Coding
Learning HTML for kids. This tutorial attempts to teach the young (10 years old and up) about the markup language HTML. I have tried to present the information in the simplest of terms so that it can be easily digested. 12 chapters of information for children to work though. Geared for children 10 years + with the ability to use a browser.

Kidscodecs. Kids, Code, and Computer Science magazine is a bi-monthly online and print magazine about learning to code, computer science, and how we use technology in our daily lives. The magazine includes hard to find information, for example, a list of 40+ programming languages for education, coding schools, summer tech camps, and more.

Logo Coding:
Secret-Coder.com. Learn how to code in Logo, a binary number system of programming. Worksheets, videos and more.

Coding For Java.
Greenfoot. Educational software designed to make learning programming easy and fun
A visual 2D educational software tool with a code editor to create games and simulations. No Programming Experience – for ages 13 - 25

Alice, a 3D educational software tool with a drag-and-drop interface to create animations. No Progamming Experience - good for ages 8-22

BlueJ, a professional Java development tool with a simplified interface for beginners.
Some Experience Necessary - For ages 15 - 25

Coding for Ruby:
Hackety-Hack.teaches the absolute basics of the Ruby programming language. Ruby is the foundation of many desktop and web applications such as Twitter, Shopify and Hulu and is a great starting point for command based programming. Students use an integrated text editor to begin building ruby apps and by the end will be comfortable with basic programming syntax.

All Round Coding;
CodeAcademy.   It covers just about all the different types of coding that I can think of and then some.   HTML, Java, CSS, Python, Ruby and more. It's quite a fascinating site. :)

Udacity has a computer programming course as well.

Pluralsight has HTML, C+ and other courses as well.

Scratch for children 8-16.   Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is a visual programming language. It allows students to build interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art.

Full video courses on computer programming.   Computer Science Programs from OpenClassrooms. Full courses. Short Videos. Free for everyone.

These programs should get your children started in their computer coding.   Perhaps your child will develop the next hit game or the next great homeschool help?   Wouldn't that be cool?

Review: Secret Coders

1/3/2016

Have a child interested in Coding? Or do you have a child that you HOPE to get interested in coding? Secret Coders written by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes is a graphic novel that might draw your child into the world of coding.

Book Synopsis:
Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes!

My Thoughts:
I have to admit, when I first started reading this graphic novel (as an adult) I was wildly unimpressed. Snotty little girl making trouble wherever she went, not something I wanted to expose my son to. As I read it though, I realized that
1. Snotty little girl was learning some lessons... ie.. being snotty wasn't winning her any friendships.
2. That a mystery was afoot and it was a way for this lass to make some friends.
3. By the end of the book I was thinking...ooh.. .interesting way to introduce the concept of coding to children.

The last section of the book sends children to a website called: Secret-coders.com. At this website, children can learn how to code on their own.

When I mentioned to my lad that he might learn how to draw a picture of Steve from Minecraft using coding, he was quite intrigued and so wants to read the book himself.

Product Details:
Received: soft cover graphic novel
Title: Secret Coders
Author: Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes
Publisher: First Second
Pages 91
Age: 8-12 years.