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SVCA Computer Lab
1. We currently use Friv4School as an introduction to non-touchscreen computers. This gives Kindergarten age students the opportunity to learn how use a mouse and keyboard, and do this playing games that involve following step-by-step directions.
2. We begin teaching most students how to type when they reach Grade 1. We use a variety of offline and online programs to do this, please stop by the computer lab for details on how to set up your PC so that your child can practice typing at home.
3. For grades 1-5, we also focus on the drag-and-drop programming language Scratch, which allows students to control the actions of cartoons as well as Lego Mindstorm robots with little need for typing.
4. With sufficient keyboarding skills, students are then able to start productively using Microsoft Office. At this stage, we also allow any student to start learning HTML, and how to program with Python, the high-level programming language which has the most pre-college curriculum available.
Code.org: "Every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn to code."
6. We currently have some computers in the lab running the Ubuntu Operating System, as well as Windows, in order to give students hands on experience with Linux, the most common OS for Web Servers.
7. For those students who wish to have a career in programming, we follow the advice of Dr. Laxmi P. Gewali, Professor and Department Chairman, Computer Science at UNLV, and provide them with the resources to learn the cutting edge programming language Java. Because Android is now the leading OS for smart phones and tablets, learning how to make Apps with Java will probably be the easiest way to get a programming job for some time to come.
8. The well known "C" programming languages, C, C++, and C# are still a great place to start for new Computer Science majors, because unlike Java, they are internationally standardized. I believe that knowledge of either Java or C would be a great asset, so, the final choice would be up to the student.
Resource links from Code.org:
Apps to Teach Kids
RoboLogic (iOS)
Drag commands to move a robot. Age 4+
LightBot (Android)
Drag commands to move a robot. Age 4+
CargoBot (iPad)
Help a robot-arm solve puzzles. Age 8+
Move the Turtle (iOS)
Drag/drop code to move a turtle. Age 8+
Kodu (xBox, Windows)
Design a 3D game world. Age 8+
KidsRuby
Learn to program using Ruby. Age 12+
More Online Tutorials
Hackety Hack
Free Ruby-based environment aiming to make programming easy for beginners.
LearnStreet
Beginner level tutorials for Ruby, Python, and Javascript.
Lynda.com
Learn core programming languages such as Java, C#, and HTML5.
Udemy
Free and fee-based video tutorials that walk through lessons. |
University Courses Online
Coursera
Free full university courses online taught by real professors.
Edx
Free university courses plus discussions, quizzes, and other interactive learning.
Udacity
Free interactive college classes on computer science for all levels.
TeachingTree.co
Free college lectures on computer science for advanced students.
Learn to Make Webpages
Mozilla's Thimble
Use this app to easily create and share your own web pages.
Code Avengers
Fun and effective learning tools for the total beginner.
Make Your Own Mobile Apps
AppInventor
Learn to build apps for Android phones and tablets within hours.
Codea (iPad)
Create games and simulations — or just about any visual idea you have.
Write Code for Robots
Arduino
For anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.
Lego Mindstorms
Create small, customizable and programmable robots.
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Suggested age appropriate programming languages:
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US educational level
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Approximate Age
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Experience level
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Appropriate languages
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Preschool - grade 2
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3 - 7
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None, not applicable
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Logo style: Logo, Guido van Robot, Karel, Scratch, Kodu, Baltie 2, Stagecast Creator
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Grades 2-4
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7 - 9
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None, not applicable
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Logo, Kodu, RoboMind, Scratch or Etoys, Stagecast Creator
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Grades 5-8
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10 - 14
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None or little
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Kodu, Lego Mindstorm, Etoys, Microsoft Small
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Grades 5-8
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10 - 14
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Some
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Squeak, Microsoft Small Basic, RoboMind, full featured BASIC, Greenfoot, Pascal, Mama, Python, Ruby
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High school
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14 - 17
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None or little
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Squeak, Microsoft Small Basic, RoboMind, Greenfoot, Pascal, Visual Basic, full featured BASIC, Mama, Python, Ruby
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High school
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14 - 17
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Some
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Squeak, RoboMind, Greenfoot or BlueJ, newLISP, Mama, OZ, most other programming languages
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College
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18 +
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None assumed, non-majors course
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Squeak, Greenfoot or BlueJ, newLISP, Visual Basic, full featured BASIC
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College
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18 +
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Starting computer science or developer curriculum
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Haskell, OZ, Scheme, Qi, Squeak, NetBeans BlueJ.
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Established educational resources:
Online articles about programming careers:
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15 Programming Skills Most Coveted By Employers
More than ever, companies need coders. And while tech firms do the bulk of the hiring, the demand for programmers spans industries and only seems to be growing.
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Full Story
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How Long Will Programmers Be So Well-Paid?
Last week Glassdoor published its most recent software engineering salary report. Short version: it pays to code. Google and Facebook employees earn a base salary of ~$125K, not counting benefits, 401k matching, stock options/grants, etc., and even Yahoo! developers pull in six figures.
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Full Story
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15 Tech Companies’ Software Engineer Salary Revealed; Glassdoor Report
It pays to be a software engineer these days, literally. In fact, job growth for software engineers is projected to be 30% from 2010-2020, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Full Story
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Software engineers can pretty much throw a dart on a map and find a job.
They are often able to work from home for half the work week and still makes comfortable living. All those factors and others landed software engineer in the No. 1 spot on a newly-released study of the 200 best and worst jobs by CareerCast.com.
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Full Story
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In some countries, computer programming might be seen as the realm of the nerd.
But not in Estonia, where it is seen as fun, simple and cool. This northernmost of the three Baltic states, a small corner of the Soviet Union until 1991, is now one of the most internet-dependent countries in the world.
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Full Story
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