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coding

Simply Coding, a Crew Review

October 1, 2020 By Annette1 2 Comments

DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW. I WAS NOT REQUIRED TO WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW NOR WAS I COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY.

Are you looking for a homeschool computer science curriculum?  I need to tell you about Simply Coding’s Coding for Kids Annual Membership.  What a fantastic program that my son has been digging into for the past five weeks. 

Simply Coding

What I am Reviewing

Coding for Kids Annual Membership is a coding program designed for students 11-18 years of age. Put together by the team at Simply Coding, they use live demos, videos and slides to help students actively engage in coding lessons.  Students will learn to create websites, build games, and design apps. 

Annual Membership Pricing (Through Oct 1st):

Normally $149 Currently $99 – Single Student (33% OFF) + 10 Day Free Trial
Normally $229 Currently $179 – Family Membership (20% OFF + THREE student accounts) + 10 Day Free Trial

How is Simply Coding Set Up?

Once you login as parent it is easy to set up student accounts.  You do each need your own email. 

When students login they are greeted with an overview page.  This shows them which courses they can do.  Some courses require prerequisites so you won’t be able to do them until you have completed the necessary courses. 

On this student overview page you will see your victories and any uploads you have done.  Victories are completed lessons. 

simply coding student overview

Once you select your course you will be lead to your work area.   On the left side of the screen will be the course outline.  

The main part of the screen will be for the lesson.  The lessons aren’t all presented the same. 

For instance with the Digital photography course I was presented with a series of videos. 

With the Intro to Websites, there were a series of slides to go through with video that pulled up on the side. 

My son has been working through JavaScript Game Design. He tells me that it’s presentation is the same as the intro to websites course. 

The lad working on making a pong game

The My Progress button on the overview page gives you a quick snapshot of where you are in the different programs.  For instance, you can see that I have made 8% progress in the Digital Photography course. 

Live Teacher Sessions actually shows how to create small games.  The teachers will demonstrate what you need to do to recreate the game.  Currently they have 20 demo videos available with a promise of more to come.  What a great way to learn practical application of skills eh?

How Did We Use Simply Coding?

The trial of these online coding classes that we received gave us access to all the classes Simply Coding provides.  It was marvellous to have so many options available to us. 

We could choose from four categories

  • Coding
  • Media
  • Tech Essentials
  • Tech4Kids

My son was immediately drawn to the JavaScript Game Design course.  He is planning to work his way through the entire selection of coding.   Since I didn’t use this course I’ll be letting him tell you what he thinks of it.

My lad says: 

“Logging on was very easy, and the lessons are well arranged and easy to access.  The quizzes are simple to use and access.  You are able to take the quizzes again, and you are graded immediately.  I think that the program could be better if rather than using a code library it took the time to teach you how to code the various functions yourself.”

What about me?

As for myself, I’ve been dabbling.  

I started with Intro to Websites, but then moved on to Digital Photography 1 as my focus for the website course just wasn’t there.  This video-based course is rather interesting and makes me realize the shortcomings of the camera that I actually have!  🙂 

I love the immediate feedback on quizzes. 

 They have a course on learning to use GIMP!!  I’ve been wanting to understand GIMP a bit better so I’m going to work on that course.   I’ve done some work with GIMP in the past but I’m still a novice.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to truly create my own images instead of having to rely on programs such a picmonkey or Canva? 

In starting the GIMP program I’ve discovered a small issue.  The demonstration model is a different version than what I downloaded.  So finding where everything is a bit more of a challenge.   BUT HEY!  I created my first GIMP image!   

I’m not the fastest learner with some of this stuff so I’m hoping between their program and my stick-to-it-itiveness I can master GIMP!  Wouldn’t that be a good thing? 🙂

Should you Get Simply Coding?

If you want to improve your skill and knowledge in creating media or computer programs, this program will suit you very nicely.  Spending 3-5 hours each week should get you through the bulk of the materials within a year. The variety of options available means you can find just the right course for your students.

My lad says:  

“I have used other coding programs that go more in-depth that I prefer.  I like how easy it is to use Simply Coding but I wish that it taught more in-depth coding.   Not sure that I would recommend it at this point.   Perhaps as I get further into the lessons it will teach harder things.”

Answering quiz questions.
One of the games Simply Coding provides

Social Media Links

Facebook. 

Youtube.

Read the Reviews

Can you believe that 65 members of the Crew reviewed Simply Coding?  We all got to choose our own courses to try out.  So you have GOT to read the reviews to get a really good feel for this online computer science program. 

Click on the image below to go do some reading.

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews Tagged With: child-led learning, coding, computer Learning, Highschool, TOS

Review: Code for Teens

July 16, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Coding is such an important part of the world today. My 13 year old son has a keen interest in learning to code.  Last year he took an engineering course, and through that learned how vital knowing how to use electronics and how to code really is in today’s world.  He’s been learning some coding with Minecraft but is just itching to take his knowledge farther, enter in Code for Teens: The Awesome Beginner’s Guide to Programming (Volume 1).  This program is brought to us by Moritz team at Code for Teens. 

code for teens

What do you get?

Originally we were supposed to get a physical book to use, but since we live in Canada we ended up with a PDF.  This makes it very travelable as we can put it on any device and read as we go. 

This File is 116 pages, with 10 chapters, along with a glossary, answer key, a section for parents, and introduction.  Each chapter includes a quiz, key concepts list, drills and a review of the chapter preceeding it. 

In case you are curious, you can see a sample chapter here. 

code for teens

Chapters include the following:
 1: Hello World! 
 2: Time to Operate
 3: Comment on the String Section: 
 4: Have Some Functions
 5: Shall I Compare?  
 6: Logically Operational
 7: Projects Galore
 8; Hip Hip Array!
 9: Loop a Round
 10: Make a Hangman Game

I loved how in the introduction the authors take the time to talk about how important learning to code is. Software engineering (computer coding) is “one of the fastest growing industries in the world. ….Perhaps it
should be mentioned that programmers are in extremely high demand, and this leads to excellent pay, comfortable work environments, flexible hours, greater job satisfaction, long-term career security,” etc. But really…the answer is simple: Superpowers.

And so we learn how coding well is a superpower that leads to better jobs in the future.  Learning JavaScript is important because “it is the most common programming language of them all and is used in over 90% of all websites! JavaScript makes websites move and respond to what a user touches and types. And it’s also a useful tool for games and mobile apps! With more and more businesses going online and people browsing on their phones, JavaScript is becoming more valuable every year.”  With these words my lad felt even more inspired!

code for teens

How did we use it?

Code for Teens is designed to be a self-paced course.  The alternating reading and text gives students an immediate chance to practice what they are learning.  The repetition helps them with areas they struggle in, and the practicum helps them retain that knowledge well. The lad loved to hear that there would be more than one way to answer any problem given, as it gave him the confidence to experiment. 

The lad worked through one lesson per week.  Opening up the PDF file in a browser tab, working through the learning portion, then doing the quizzes and drills on a separate days.   We aren’t in a rush to get through the book as it’s summer and other learning comes first.. like learning how to paint, spackle, cut down trees, ministry work (like VBS, foodbank), visiting friends etc. The lad doesn’t fight sitting down to do work through his lessons three days per week.  He has repeatedly told me how much he enjoys going through this book and all the things he likes about it. 

It’s good you know?  

code for teens - chapter highlights

Our Thoughts:

My son predominately used this on his own.  I only helped when he was getting set up, and for grading his tests.  Other than initially struggling with the NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION over every page, this JavaScript computer training program is working really well for the lad. 

Since he was the one using it, I will let him make his own comments

Likes: 

I like how he walks through everything and repeats it several times.  That way if I didn’t understand it the first time, the next time I will and everything else just becomes review so I understand it better and remember.

I like the DIY bits where you need to figure out your own how to do something using what you’ve been taught. 

Wants:

Challenges to take the code you have been taught and figure out how to make it shorter or easier to write.  I did this!  See this example.

Let number = 0;
number ++;
Number %3;
Up arrow, enter

Rather than writing it out like 4 % 3; enter. 5 % 3; enter etc.

Dislikes:

The parent section was really boring.

His recommendation:

If you want to learn JavaScript, buy this book, as it has worked really well for me so far.

code for teens, glossary

code for teens book cover

 

Code For Teens: The Awesome Beginner’s Guide to Programming (Volume 1)
Code for Teens.
Coding, JavaScript, teens,
Code For Teens, programming, computer programming,

Geared for teens.  Great for adults as well.  
Pricing information found here

 

Code for Teens has been reviewed by 65 members of the crew of a variety of ages. Please click below to read what their comments are.

code for teens click banner

Code for teens can also be found on facebook. 

 

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews Tagged With: coding, computer Learning, Curriculum, TOS

Review: Secrets and Sequences

May 20, 2017 By Annette1 2 Comments

Do you want a painless way to interest your students or children in coding?   Secret Coders has come out with a series of graphic novels to intrigue and entertain.   Mystery mixed with coding.  It’s a good thing eh?   Last year I reviewed another Secret Coders book, and today I have Secrets and Sequences to share with you.   Learn coding through reading a graphic novel!   Neat Idea eh? 

Hopper and the gang have a mystery to solve.  What’s going on with Professor Bee, who is one-zero and still.. where is Hopper’s Dad?   Will they get closer to figuring this out?
As the gang works through the mystery they make new friends (who would have thought!) but danger does make for strange bed fellows.  🙂   They learn how to code better (even Josh) and before you know it, they have worked out more of the mystery’s answers!  WOOT WOOT!!!

They learn to work together all the better, though sometimes it’s not so easy.

I love how the graphics are simple and not hard on the eyes like the graphic novels of old.   These are clearly legible, with simple colours that don’t detract from the storyline.

This graphic novel does what many do well… leave you hanging so you want to get the next book so you can solve the mystery.   Will they be able to see it through?   Will the gang solve the code?

Do I recommend it?
For sure.  It’s an easy read that introduces coding to your students AND if they decide they are interested, they can visit the secret coders website and learn more!  Pretty cool that!  🙂

Title: Secrets and Sequences
Author: Gene Luen Yan
Illustrator: Mike Holmes
Series: Secret Coders
Publisher: First Second Books
Pages: 112
Age: 8-12 years
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

 Where can you find it?
 Amazon.ca – Secret Coders: Secrets & Sequences

 Amazon.com – Secret Coders: Secrets & Sequences

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Book Review, Books for Middle School, Books for Upper Elementary, coding, computer Learning, Raincoast, Review

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