“Everyone in this country should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think.” – Steve Jobs
Baden Academy students are learning to code. Actually, they are not just learning to write computer code, they are coding to learn.
Students in 2nd grade collaboratively built Virtual Neighborhoods and programmed Angry Birds on the code.org site. 3rd grade began movie trailers of original legends from Virtual Lands they’ve imagined, using both Google Docs and Scratch Programming. 4th grade created virtual worlds orbiting stars in our galaxy populated with unique species programmed using Alice 2.
The languages are fun to learn and the doorway though which our kids learn to become creators, not just consumers, of technology.
I encourage all parents to challenge students with technology with the rule of thumb: create more than you consume. Links to download these free programming education free tools are below.
http://learn.code.org/hoc/1 Angry Birds maze
http://scratch.mit.edu/ Scratch Programming through MIT
http://www.cmu.edu/campaign/multimedia/computing/alice.html Alice Programming through CMU
Free Instruction
http://code.org/learn/beyond lists elementary to advanced Programming language tutorials
Local Camps
@Baden Academy (specific to programming)
History of Robotics
Mon-Fri, Jun 16-20 9:30-3:00 (Grades 3-8)
Are you ready for the Google driverless car? It is on the roads in California, Florida, Nevada and Michigan. Spend a week exploring the history of autonomous robotics as we experiment with Lego Mindstorm sensors and programming. Learn the connections to Pittsburgh and the CMU partnership with General Motors to compete with Google. High school interns (particularly girl scout leaders) can apply as assistants. The camp is offered in conjunction with the Girl Scouts of Western PA. Cost is $180. Limit to 22 students. Adults can attend for free. REGISTER
Game Design Camp
Mon-Thr, Jun 30-July 3 9:30-3:00 (Grades 5-10)
Games Design applies to every type of game – board games, card games, simulations, and interactive stories. Mornings will be focused on elements, processes and theories of game design. Afternoons will explore how to apply the concepts learned in Scratch Programming. Boy scouts can earn the Game Design merit badge by actively participating in these four days. Learn what makes games fun and what game designers have learned about how to get people to play your game! Limit to 22 students. Cost is $150. REGISTER
@ CCBC
Snap, Scratch & Bots (ages 8-14)
Coding is no longer just for kids who ‘get it’ or think they have some sort of math or programming gene. It is a way of thinking, an approach to problem solving, and a critical skill for 21st century jobs. Encourage them to get more involved today (and join them in learning something new!).