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Glad you're interested! I didn't want to make my original post a marketing statement, the program is Techlab Education (techlabeducation.com). One tool we use t
by primitivesuave 10y ago
Glad you're interested! I didn't want to make my original post a marketing statement, the program is Techlab Education (techlabeducation.com). One tool we use to foster creativity is our Java game development library at apcs.io, it makes it easy to build games and creative applications of code. We're working this summer on open-sourcing all of our curriculum and methodology so schools and partner organizations can benefit from it. Let me know if you have any questions!
- j_s 10y agoWhat age group do you target, and is there a subset there where kids are more interested and/or teaching winds up being more effective?
- primitivesuave 10y agoWe target 8 - 18 year old kids, and I've found that the 8-11 year olds learn best with Python while the older kids 12+ learn best with Java. Our general progression is to start kids of any age with Python using pythonroom.com, and then move toward Java/web development/iOS as they become more comfortable with computer science principles and syntax. I've worked with brilliant 8 year olds that absorb programming like sponges, and I've had reticent teenagers who discover a passion for computer science through Java game development. I've also had the kids who refuse to make an effort to learn despite my best efforts. More than anything, the experience of teaching real computer science to kids has taught me that it's not for everyone, and that's not a bad thing at all. As long as every kid understands what technology can do and what problems it can solve, they can be effective adults in our rapidly modernizing society.