Coding Resources
Listed here will be coding resources that I have either used with my class, or found and thought that they would be helpful. Their are many different initiatives right now that are in place to get kids to start coding at an early age. I learned HTML back in college, but I never thought that I would one day pick it back up again. I am now taking an online class, through Codecademy, to re-learn HTML and then venture into Javascript. I don't think that I am going to stop there. I have already started to learn how to program in Python. My students have many different interests and I think that I am going to need to get my feet wet with all of them. Here are my favorites:
ScratchThis is the program that started it all for me and my students. Scratch is a great way to get kids into programming. I like that their are many resources that I was able to pull from to help my students and I learn how to do great animations and games.
CodecademyI am currently using Codecademy to further my knowledge of HTML, and Python The lessons are simple and well thought out. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I have some of my students learning too. I like the fact that they have multiple languages that you can learn at one site. This will always be one of my favorites.
Code Combat"If you want to learn to program, you don't need lessons. You need to write a lot of code and have a great time doing it. That's what programming is about. It's gotta be fun. Not fun like yay a badge but fun like NO MOM I HAVE TO FINISH THE LEVEL! That's why CodeCombat is a multiplayer game, not a gamified lesson course. We won't stop until you can't stop--but this time, that's a good thing. If you're going to get addicted to some game, get addicted to this one and become one of the wizards of the tech age."
App Inventor 2"MIT App Inventor is a blocks-based programming tool that allows everyone, even novices, to start programming and build fully functional apps for Android devices. Newcomers to App Inventor can have their first app up and running in an hour or less, and can program more complex apps in significantly less time than with more traditional, text-based languages." |
Gamestar MechanicMy students said that this reminded them of a Mario type side scroller. I have not had the time to play with it, but I have come across multiple references to it as I was doing research to make this page. I think that it warrants further investigation.
Code.orgThis is a non-profit group that is focusing on getting students the resources to learn how to code. It is kind of a clearinghouse of coding sites, games, and etc. It's worth a look. Go to the code studio to get yourself started with coding.
KoduMade by Microsoft, Kodu is a great way to get those kids that are just interested in gaming into coding. It plays like Minecraft on steroids. Within a week I had students creating games that were fun to play.
AliceAlice is one of the languages that I have not had the time to get around too. I have heard many great things about it and would like to spend some time with it.
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