11 apps for coding: From beginners to masters By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor @eSN_Meris Read more by Meris Stansbury January 17th, 2014 Coding, the hottest skill coming down the education pipeline, is also a mobile app star As students begin to not only use technology, but create it’s functionality, a recent explosion in coding resources have hit the web, providing coding apps ranging from introductions for beginners and middle-schoolers to more technical resources aimed at the tech-savvy. From learning the basics of coding by making a dinosaur dance to more intermediate coding that requires working knowledge of HTML, and from a multiplayer robot combat game to app design, these programming apps provide an array of options for students, teachers and parents to become acquainted with one of the hottest subjects making the education rounds. And be sure to check out the last page for our bonus: 4 web-based coding resources and games. This is just a sampling of available coding apps. 1. (Next page: Apps 2-8)
fullnews Video Tutorials 1. Python Django tutorial This tutorial will teach you to package URL with apps and add them to your project, while passing values to the URLs as well. 2. This is a class on Python from the Google Python Class. 3. Databases are often created using PYthon's SQLite module. 4. This is a project-based tutorial on Python that covers data structures, debugging and other topics. 5. This tutorial shows you how to use Python for scientific programming and synchrotron beamline. Websites With Python Video Tutorials 1. These are free video lectures on Python that are meant for developers. 2. These tutorial videos teach you the basics of looping, file handling, lists, string functions, debugging, classes etc. 3. This website has a pretty big collection of videos on Python that you can use to learn from. 4. Here you will find over 40 videos on programming in Python that will teach you various aspects of the language. 5. This is a blog that contains a number of video tutorials on Python. 1. 2.
Making Maths Meaningful with Scratch We know that students learn best when content is meaningful and has a direct connection and application to their lives. However, while some maths concepts, such as telling the time or using money, can have immediate relevance, others seem to have very little application to children’s daily lives. How often will 11 year old children really need to measure the size of angles, or work with cartesian graphs? I’ve found that teaching children to code may be part of the answer. This year, I’ve been teaching students in Years 2-6 to create simple arcade games using Scratch. 1. It is almost impossible to do anything in Scratch without using X and Y coordinates. Cartesian coordinates are required in this simple script to command an object to move to a specific location: Here’s another simple script, this time using cartesian coordinates and the arrow key to move an object down: 2. The concept of negative numbers is one that my students often have trouble relating to. 3. 4. Getting Started
10 places where anyone can learn to code Teens, tweens and kids are often referred to as “digital natives.” Having grown up with the Internet, smartphones and tablets, they’re often extraordinarily adept at interacting with digital technology. But Mitch Resnick, who spoke at TEDxBeaconStreet, is skeptical of this descriptor. Sure, young people can text and chat and play games, he says, “but that doesn’t really make you fluent.” Mitch Resnick: Let's teach kids to code Fluency, Resnick proposes in this TED Talk, comes not through interacting with new technologies, but through creating them. The former is like reading, while the latter is like writing. The point isn’t to create a generation of programmers, Resnick argues. In his talk, Resnick describes Scratch, the programming software that he and a research group at MIT Media Lab developed to allow people to easily create and share their own interactive games and animations. While we’re at it: bonus!
Hour of Code: five steps to learn how to code Next week sees the Hour of Code concept arrive in British schools. Imported from across the Atlantic, the Hour of Code aims to show children “how fun coding is in just one hour”, so that Britain has a future generation capable of programming more than the timer on a microwave oven. Whilst the ukcode.org website claims that more than a million students in the UK have already tried the Hour of Code, some (perhaps, most) schools will inevitably be unprepared, so here’s how parents, teachers or indeed anyone can get started in programming. 1. First, drop this ridiculous notion that you can learn to code in an hour, or even a day. Writing code is tough, and it’s an insult to legions of programming professionals to suggest otherwise. 2. If a child’s – or even an adult’s – first exposure to programming is sitting down to write lines of code, it will be a miracle if they even last the hour. 3. A halfway house between gaming and full-blown coding is Scratch. 4. 5.
History of Popular Programming Languages | Leo Pixel Pascal Pascal is a High-level language it was created by Niklaus Wirth on 1970.Pascal’s Primary use is Teaching Programming. Pascal Commercial Version widely used in the 1980s. It is used to teach Structured programming and Data Structuring .Pascal used in Apple’s Lisa and Skype. C Language C is based on an earlier programming language called B. C++ is created by Bjarane Storustrup on 1983 .it is an intermediate, object oriented Programming language. SeeAlso: Best Wbsites to Learn Programming for Free Objective C Bradcox and tom love Crated Objective C on 1983 .it is a high level Programming language Expanded on C . Perl Perl is a High level Programming language created by Larry wall on 1987.created for report Processing on Unix Systems. Python Created by Guido Van Rossum on 1991. Ruby On 1993 Yukihiro Matsumoto Created Ruby, it is named after the birthstone of one of the Creators. Java Java is a High level programming Language Created by James Gosling on 1995.
GoOn3ChV8t Previously I have detailed 8 Reasons Why Kids Should Learn Code. If those reasons inspired you to start a Coding Club at your school this short guide will help turn that inspiration into action. Details are discussed following the list. 7 Steps to Start a Coding Club 1. Talk to the tech savvy students and find out if any students are already learning programming. 2. Run a few lunchtime introductory sessions, in which you: 3. Choose the learning environment that suits your school and students. 4. Give time for exploration and creativity. 5. Share resources that will help students create with the program. 6. Set some challenges to solve with the program. 7. Have students share what they are creating and run sessions in which they teach others. Options and Resources On Computers: Scratch would be the ideal starting point on computers. For students who are above 10 years old or have more experience I would suggest introducing them to MIT App Inventor, Codecademy and Khan Academy. On iPads:
Front Page Get Started Follow these simple directions to build your first app! Tutorials Step-by-step guides show you how to create even more apps. Teach Find out about curriculum and resources for teachers. Forums Join community forums to get answers to your questions. ntrol, programming, gaming - Ipads in primary Early skills Some apps to encourage early computing skills. Toca monsters Toca robot lab There is a wide range of Toca apps that support children to learn basic control skills. Build and play 3D Croco studio has created this lovely little app where you get to build and test out 15 different toys. Kodable A simple app that gets choildren to practise basic logical thinking. Thanks to Louise Stone for drawing my attention to it. Build a car Build a car is a great little app for early control. 69p Create a car is another super little app which the children love. 69p Learn the basics of programming with Daisy the Dinosaur. Our favourite classroom friend comes to the ipad with the Beebot app. Fabulous and free too! Free There is a new Beebot app out as well where you have to navigate around pyramids. A.L.E.X. another great app shared by @skinnyboyevans. Extend your skills These apps require a lot of logical thinking and are great creative fun. Machinarium Tiny bang story Creatorverse Hakitzu
5 Best Programming Languages to Learn for Beginners | Leo Pixel Let’s be clear, this article is not about which Programming Language you should learn first if you are trying to code. Depending on the Knowledge and Experience - Everyone have Different Opinion on this. If you want to learn Programming, the Language you choose to pick up first has lot to DO with what you are going to learn, and what you want to do with the your Skills. Some of the Programming Languages are Easy to learn than others. Here is list of popular programming languages for Beginners. Python Python Programming Language is considered one of Easiest language to Learn Quickly. The problem with Python is that, it is easy to learn and understand, it gives newcomers the wrong idea about how programming works. C++ is created by Bjarane Storustrup on 1983 .it is an intermediate, object oriented Programming language. C++ is one of the most popular Programming Language and it is still Used Widely from Video games to Productivity Applications. JavaScript Ruby Java
5 Tools to Introduce Programming to Kids Digital Tools Arduino It’s hard to argue with the importance of teaching students how to use computers — how to turn on, log on, search the Web, and use applications. These skills are absolutely necessary for students’ academic success as well as for their future job prospects. Being able to use the Internet and operate computers is one thing, but it may be just as valuable to teach students how to code. Giving students an introduction to programming helps peel back the layers of what happens inside computers and how computers communicate with one another online. Many students don’t have access to computer science courses until college, and that’s a missed opportunity to introduce younger students to programming. Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is a visual programming language for children age 6 and up. Alice is a free and open source 3D programming environment designed to teach students object-oriented and event-driven programming. s also enables robotics-building. Related
Code & Conquer Most Important: Have Fun. And earn some badges. See how your strategy works out in different scenarios, challenge other players, receive points, earn badges and climb your way to the top of the leaderboard. Boost your coding skills. Do it playing. This game provides the perfect setting to introduce the key concepts employers ask you to know.