Teaching Coding

[MajorGoob]

In 6 days or so, I have to teach a class of 1st through 2nd graders programming. I was supposed to use some website thing (I took over this class when someone else couldn't teach it. They were not very good setting it up before I took over.) called Code something or other, but it requires WIFI, is really bad on mobile devices, and most of the stuff on there is actually stolen artwork, sprites, sounds, etc. I have a basic lesson plan and want to use scratch, but I dont know that there will be laptops for everyone. Is there a mobile version of scratch that non technological people would be able to install without jailbreaking/rooting etc.? Thanks in advance. 

[vorticalbox]

scratch is built on top of flash so mobile devices are pretty much a no go.

[MajorGoob]

1 hour ago, vorticalbox said:

scratch is built on top of flash so mobile devices are pretty much a no go.

Is there anything similar with the click and drag type blocks for mobile that isn't online?

[SteveGrabowski0]

Just give them a copy of K&R and tell them RTFM

[vorticalbox]

44 minutes ago, MajorGoob said:

Is there anything similar with the click and drag type blocks for mobile that isn't online?

you can actually run scratch offline

 

https://scratch.mit.edu/scratch2download/

[MajorGoob]

1 hour ago, vorticalbox said:

you can actually run scratch offline

 

https://scratch.mit.edu/scratch2download/

I know that. But I was wondering if there was something similar for mobile. I couldnt find anything. Scratch junior is too basic for me to be able to actually teach them anything.

[Cubit]

By any chance, was the site you are referring to "Codecademy"? Because I see no issue with that service other than wifi. Unless you are talking about code.org. If you're talking about code.org, they have permission to use the sprites and such, not illegal, the companies whom own the sprite gave them permission. 

 

One service i would HIGHLY recommend though, is Khan Academy. It teaches a visual programming language called Processing which is very javascript based, which is a good programming language to know in a future programming career. It is very simple and teaches the basics of programming, and if needed, the site has it's own videos with teachers teaching you the basics. It is, however, online. But there are IOS and Android apps that run Processing code right on your phone.  It's just the students won't have access to the teachers or documentation, but i doubt they will need it in class, as you will be teaching.

 

If you need it to run without wifi on a PC, then it also has it's own IDE. Only issue is though, running the Javascript version of Processing isn't supported by most browsers anymore, but you can run the Java version, which allows you to export your program as an application for Windows or Mac. But because it is Java, I would dare to say it may be a little more difficult.

 

But if you do want to know more about Processing and Khan Academy, this is their site: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming 100% free, they're a donation based organization.

 

I hope I helped

[MajorGoob]

6 hours ago, Cubit said:

By any chance, was the site you are referring to "Codecademy"? Because I see no issue with that service other than wifi. Unless you are talking about code.org. If you're talking about code.org, they have permission to use the sprites and such, not illegal, the companies whom own the sprite gave them permission. 

 

One service i would HIGHLY recommend though, is Khan Academy. It teaches a visual programming language called Processing which is very javascript based, which is a good programming language to know in a future programming career. It is very simple and teaches the basics of programming, and if needed, the site has it's own videos with teachers teaching you the basics. It is, however, online. But there are IOS and Android apps that run Processing code right on your phone.  It's just the students won't have access to the teachers or documentation, but i doubt they will need it in class, as you will be teaching.

 

If you need it to run without wifi on a PC, then it also has it's own IDE. Only issue is though, running the Javascript version of Processing isn't supported by most browsers anymore, but you can run the Java version, which allows you to export your program as an application for Windows or Mac. But because it is Java, I would dare to say it may be a little more difficult.

 

But if you do want to know more about Processing and Khan Academy, this is their site: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming 100% free, they're a donation based organization.

 

I hope I helped

Believe or not I just finished teaching the class. I am using a modified version of Code.org. I just add things here and there. First I brought in a keyboard, MOBO with CPU, and a screen (All from an old laptop i disassembled) and taught them the basics of input and output, gave the example of lists of instructions, etc.  Its K-2 so Khan academy or something like that probably wont be necessary considering the teacher I took the job from advertised Minecraft Programming. (Not a single kid didn't want to play minecraft when they came. Grrr. I cant teach these kids java in  8 weeks. One cant even read.) I don't think i'm too concerned with the long term usefulness of it considering they can barely remember things for longer than 30 seconds in some cases. If I ever teach an older one I will remember that though. Thanks!