PLATFORM: (Roblox Studio is free and can be obtained here: https://www.roblox.com/create. Mac and Windows ONLY! Not compatible with Ipads, Kindles, Tablets, Phones, and Game Consoles.) SKILL LEVEL: This program is meant for Intermediate level players. This program requires Advanced reading comprehension, Moderate proficiency with computers, and some prior experience with Roblox. Additionally, campers will need typing and hotkey proficiency, along with basic arithmetic skills. PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Code is a language that machines use to communicate and create systems and objects just like the ones you see in your favorite games. In this camp, youāll get to build interactive game objects thatāll enhance your game design such as disappearing paths, deadly traps, and unique power-ups. Like all Connected Camps programs, this class offers a project-based, exploratory classroom environment that sits at the intersection of learning and playing. After all, kids learn the most when they're having fun! To make these cool devices, youāll use a lightweight programming language called Lua to create functions, loops, tables, and arrays. Just like a real-life programmer, youāll create and adjust written code to change the way an object behaves. During these 5-sessions, you will: ā Learn the coding fundamentals of Lua to create scripts and modify different properties. ā Use functions and loops to build traps, power-ups, and timed objects. ā Use array tables to store values in a specific order and create character dialogue. ā Discover how to troubleshoot your code and read a programming error message to fix it. At the start of camp, youāll learn the basics of Lua coding to familiarize yourself with the Roblox programming language. After learning the fundamentals, youāll use functions, loops, tables, and arrays to create interactive game objects. Weāll teach you how to troubleshoot your own code and fix it when something goes wrong. Youāll also receive plenty of feedback from other students during group playtesting. By the end of the program, youāll be able to design and create unique traps and devices to make your Roblox games fun and exciting! PARENTS: Machines and computers are empowered by code which is essentially the language that tells electronic devices what to do. In this camp, your child will explore a basic programming language called Lua while they work within the 3D world of Roblox. As your child codes and taps into their critical thinking skills, theyāll be able to see the results of their programming by watching their game transform. Students in this workshop are encouraged to share their observations and engage in constructive group discussions. We provide a careful balance between hands-on experience and class discussion so students can cement their learning through personal application and growth. This is a 5-session camp that runs Monday through Friday. During a session, your child will learn from expert Connected Camps counselors in Roblox Studio. Additionally, your child can continue their learning by applying the discoveries made in this class to their future projects. Please note that we will be asking for your camper's in-game username so that we can connect and play together.
ā ā Day 1 - Set Up and Introduction to Coding: Our primary goal for this day is to assist students in setting up Roblox Studio and to familiarize kids with our campās objectives. Weāll start off with a basic introduction to coding and what it can be used for. Students will use the on-click function to change scale, rotation and color of block in Roblox Studio by creating a āprogramā.
ā ā Day 2 - Loops: Students will learn the differences between while, for, and repeating loops in Roblox to make a dance lobby with cycling colors and alternating text labels.
ā ā Day 3 - Conditionals: Weāll explore how conditionals operate and each student will design their own escape room full of working parts with conditionals set that can teleport or give effects to characters in game.
ā ā Day 4 - Tweens: Tweens are tools that create animation effects on objects in Roblox Studio. By using tweens, students will enhance their projectās aesthetics and add additional fun features to polish their escape rooms.
ā ā Day 5 - Presentation: Through a combination of this weekās lessons, the class will create a giant obstacle course to playtest and each student will create a custom obstacle within it. Obstacles should include scripts for loops, conditionals and tweens. We will then present and playtest our creations!
For this class you will need a pair of headphones, a microphone, and Roblox Studio. Roblox Studio is free, works on both Mac and Windows and can be obtained here: https://www.roblox.com/create
Connected Camps is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2015 with the mission to build a global online community where kids build, code, play, and learn alongside one another. Our programs are designed based on extensive research in the learning sciences. The founders and leaders of Connected Camps, Mimi Ito and Katie Salen, are professors at the University of California, Irvine, who specialize in the design of online learning experiences that are fun, social, and directly tied to academic outcomes. Learn more about the research behind Connected Camps at the Connected Learning Alliance resource site: https://clalliance.org/
One thing that makes our programs unique is our near-peer mentorship model. Our programs are led by young adults and college students, often with the help of high school volunteers. We hire counselors and coaches from top universities in computer science, game development, economics, social studies, and the arts, and train them on how to facilitate project-based learning with younger kids. Our young instructors have the same passion for technology, games, and digital making as our learners, and take on the role of instructors, as well as fellow enthusiasts and relatable role models.
The curriculum for this program was designed by a team of counselors pursuing degrees relevant to the material at hand. The learning experiences in this class are driven by these counselorsā academic expertise in the field, along with their desire to share their passion for the subject with a group of excited learners. All of Connected Campsā curricula are vetted by the organizationās Product Manager, Matthew, who possesses a Masters in Secondary Education and a deep belief in the power of collaborative virtual learning.
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