By Heather Sanders.
Though I am a web designer by trade, I mostly concentrate on managing the visual aesthetic of client content. Still, with the dynamic nature of web design, it is increasingly clear there is a heightened importance for designers to understand the basics of coding, and even some programming. This ensures we do not create mockups that are impossible for our web development teams to implement.
While I did not grow up in a world where computers were a daily part of my life (at least not before I was an upperclassmen in college), my children do not remember a time without them. As a result, they are readily familiar with how to run programs on a computer, but not necessarily how programming languages make computers work in the way they do.
There are a number of reasons to encourage students toward computer programming. For instance, computer programming “helps develop critical thinking skills, such as how to break down a problem into manageable parts or how to put tasks into a logical sequence, as well as the importance of precise communication.”
And while it is obvious that high school students can expand their career opportunities by learning and understanding computer programming, it also can boost young people’s patience and resilience” since programming requires a lot of tweaking and fixing to get it right.
In PCMag.com’s article, 10 Excellent, Free Online Education Resources, they challenged readers to make a New Year’s resolution to “learn enough code to build their own apps and websites” using Code Year.
Presented by New York City-based startup Codecademy, Zach and Ryan, the creators of Code Year, believe anyone can learn the basics of computer programming in just one year.
Even better? It is 100% FREE! Just click on the “Get Started” button and follow the prompts.
Students get their feet wet in Week 1: Getting Started with Programming. The initial focus is on Javascript, a language that is perfect for beginners, because it is both flexible and useful to make games and add animation to websites.
Using a highly interactive format, Codecademy follows the rule of thumb that learning is best accomplished by doing.
In Week 2 and 3 Students work into Functions and Conditionals in JavaScript, quickly moving into Primitives and Objects in Weeks 4, 5, and 6.
A self-paced online programming course, students are free to move faster than what is suggested in the weekly email sent through Code Year. Codecademy will add more courses and projects soon, but students can use any course currently on the Codecademy website whenever they feel ready.
At the end of each section, students will be directed to click to “Start the next section” or save where they are and come back later to move on.
While it is a completely free online course, you are encouraged to register to take advantage of the tracking progress. However, first you have the opportunity to experience a few lessons to find out whether or not this particular online educational course appeals to you and/or your student(s).
Creating an account takes a matter of seconds. Simply key in your email, username and password to sign-up, or if you would rather, you can connect using Facebook.
Starting with the basics, Code Year is beginner-friendly, gaining difficulty as it moves along. Extra practices are tossed in to make it fun and to sharpen the user’s skills.
There are three parts to each Course: Lessons will introduce students to new concepts; Projects move into the application of concepts learned in the Lessons; Challenges (which come later) give students specifications to build something and offer considerably less assistance than projects.
There is a friendly learning environment when errors are made.
Which is good because students are tested on information learned on previous pages and sections.
Hints are revealed by clicking the “Hints” button located in the bottom left column below the lesson content.
Also, each lesson is assigned a specific forum where students can ask questions, simply click the “Q&A” button in the top right of the lesson page to access the forums.
And finally, learning badges are earned as you progress through each Lesson.
The Course Contributors have their own guidelines to meet when creating a course for Codecademy. They must use short sentences, keep jargon to a minimum, motivate while getting students to code as often as possible, review and combine previously taught material to promote retention/learning, and to encourage and congratulate.
The goal is to promote a positive, high quality, learning environment.
Are you or your children currently enrolled in any online educational programs for coding or programming? If so, what is/are the site(s) and what is the targeted age/grade level?
OMSH/Heather L. Sanders is “Momma” to three kids, Emelie, Meredith and Kenny. When not homeschooling, or writing about homeschooling, Heather is busy designing websites.