Code Coaching®

Code Coaching PLUS

Code Coaching PLUS is our premium program that combines our classic Code Coaching® with a Coder Fair presentation every 3-4 months. Kids come in as usual for their one (or two) hour Code Coaching® session as scheduled, but come a second time each week for a group one-hour session to work on their presentations and get together for team-oriented activities. Code Coaching PLUS is for our students aged 10 and up. Check with your location for the group session times, and check out our explainer video for more!

Code Class

Code Class is our entry level program for the novice and younger (ages 8-10) coder. Our Coaches use Scratch or Snap! to teach kids using our project-based game development curriculum. Code Class runs one hour per week at a preset time. Check out our video for more!

Code Coaching PRO

In our advanced program, invited students get a chance to boost their coder portfolio by a more targeted private Code Coaching session with advanced apps, required presentations at the Coder Fair, regular opportunities to teach younger coders, and frequent posts to our technical Student Blog page. For more details, check out our PRO Page.

Code Camp

Like any skill, coding requires a strong foundation. The roots of our Coder Tree™ provide the core logic and fundamental coding skills upon which all coding is built. While much of our Foundation is taught by creating projects in Scratch or a similar language, we'll also use Python and Javascript to continue to grow our Coder Tree™ roots. Like a tree, we want our coders' roots to always grow to support the growing skill branches (and trunk) they're sure to learn in the future.

Typed languages form the "trunk" of our Coder Tree™. After building on fundamental coding concepts, students begin the journey of learning the constructs of typed languages like Python and Javascript, and later C++, Java or others. Syntax and semi-colons become important and graphical games are harder to come by, making the trunk of our tree a skill that only our more intermediate coders, proficient in typing, can tackle. Typical platforms we might use to teach some of the languages include CodePen , Trinket, repl.it, and many others.

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage these days. The technology behind autonomous cars, computer opponents, and shopping recommendations is a vast and growing field. Because AI is fundamentally based on algorithms (usually very complex ones!), we may teach this Coder Branch using any language, from Python all the way to Scratch, focusing more on the algorithm than the language. Our AI Focus Branch is for our advanced students with an already strong grasp of a number of languages and basic algorithms.

Can you believe the first iPhone was released by Steve Jobs in 2007? A few short years later, almost everyone has a smartphone. Our Mobile Branch teaches kids how to create and design apps and websites for the phone. Technologies used may include Phone Gap, App Inventor, or even XCode/Eclipse for our most advanced students. Our Mobile Branch is intended for intermediate-advanced students.

As many professional coders know, data is what runs the world these days. From Google to Wikipedia, from maps to shopping, it's the data underneath that supports all this technology. Programming in data manipulation is just like it sounds - lots of numbers! Because of that, this branch tends to target more advanced kids who aren't afraid of a lot of math, numbers, and algorithmic coding. We may teach data in any language from Python to Scratch, and for more advanced kids, we may move into SQL databases.

Algorithms form the basis of all coding, and in a nutshell are basically the logical processes that a computer follows to perform a task. Basic algorithms are everywhere, starting with our students' first program that repeats a loop 10 times. More complex algorithms are like logic puzzles, and can be tough for even the most seasoned coders. While algorithms are in all projects we create, we may also use algorithm-specific tools like Coding Bat, Project Euler, and others to hone students' logic skills.

Ever wonder how they make those 3D platform games? Well, it ain't easy! Our 3D Games Branch will expose kids to the basics of programming in 3D with platforms like PlayCanvas or Unity, using either Javascript or C#. We might also touch upon 3D object rendering (and potentially 3D printing) using programs like Blender. Our 3D Games Branch, while appealing and engaging for all levels, is for advanced students only.

As the name implies, in our Custom Branch, anything is game! Our philosophy is that coding covers such a wide range of topics, it's impossible to name every one. Will students build a utility app for their community? A data website that tracks storms? A game that their friends play together? Their imagination's the limit in our Custom Branch.

From robots to mini-computers, having a physical, tangible product is bound to engage kids at all levels. With platforms like Raspberry Pi, Makey Makey or MakeBlock's mBot, we can teach kids how to program them and bring them to life. While we don't typically provide the hardware, we may have some school-owned bots students can use - or students are encouraged to bring in their own!

Games are for everyone! Whether we're talking battle games, social games, or platform games, our Code Coaches® can help students create something fun and playable. Gaming+ covers a wide range of skill levels, from easy games in Scratch to harder games using platforms like PyGame or even PlayCanvas.

Everything runs on the web these days, so website development has become a crucial (and useful) skill. Our students use Javascript, HTML, and CSS to create their own webpages, which can be hosted on our servers. While our more novice students begin with straight forward web pages, our advanced Web Dev students might make dynamic websites, using databases or server-side components like PHP or node.js. Our platform of choice depends on our staff, but might range from simple tools like JSFiddle to more complex tools like Cloud 9.

While we've never believed that static curriculums are a good way to learn computer science, some folks just need straight tutoring help for their AP Comp Sci course. Usually reserved for high school students taking (or soon taking) AP Comp Sci, our AP Tutor Branch consists of tutoring our students straight down the line with the standard AP Comp Sci curriculum, typically in Java. Our AP Tutor Branch is best taught in our private 1:1 Code Coaching® program.

Our Tech Talks aren't directly related to heads down coding but instead focus on higher level topics like how the internet works, Internet Safety (required for all our students), or just understanding technology at a high level. From quantum computing to map directions, students can be exposed to these technologies, learning how they shape our lives. Tech Talks are less about the detailed coding, and more about understanding high-level concepts.