This camp for high school students offers an introduction to programming with Python where each day, students will meet over Zoom to code a new game that applies the new concepts they learn. Day 1: Mad Libs - Walk through how to use repl.it (like Google Docs for coders) and its Python console and file editor - Go over what a computer program is and what inputs and outputs are - Try out basic data types like numbers and strings - Learn about variables, lists, and loops - Use all the concepts from Day 1 to code a Mad Lib style fill in the blank story to be played in the Python console Day 2: Rock Paper Scissors - Use booleans and a new type of loop - Learn about conditional logic (something we do in our everyday life and how we get the computer to make decisions) - Use concepts from Day 1 and 2 to program rock paper scissors to be played in the Python console Day 3: Guess the Word Game - Discover some simple Python methods - Use all the concepts learned from camp to build a guess the word game Programming is best learned through practice and projects. Students will be typing their own code, following examples from the instructor, and challenged to put the concepts they learn together to build their game projects. No prior coding experience required.
Students will be able to code their own Python programs using fundamental computer science concepts like loops, conditional logic, variables, and data types.
It is amazing how coding allows kids to translate their big ideas into simple logical processes that bring their stories, games, and solutions to life digitally.
My classes focus on learning popular programming languages like Python through the development of fun apps, games, and animations that excite learners. Class sizes are kept small so learners can ask questions and problem solve together. I also offer one-on-one tutoring to help students plan, start, debug, test, optimize, and/or finish their personal programming projects.
Project-based learning is the best way to learn to code- applying concepts while debugging issues that arise helps strengthen essential skills like problem-solving and perseverance. It also allows learners to get creative in how they approach a challenge because there is never one right way to program something.
Four years ago, I started teaching as the youth instructor at my local library's coding bootcamp and have been developing that curriculum to suit different age groups, learning styles, interests, and, now, the Outschool platform. Currently a senior at Arizona State University, I am pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Applied Computing with a Communications minor. This semester, I also serve as the teaching assistant for the Introduction to Programming Languages course at ASU.