Purpose of the Course

Coding for Noobies is a course for children aged 8-12 to learn the basics of coding and programming languages. Students will learn the fundamentals of a range of commonly used programming languages and will write their own code in useful and engaging on-hands exercises. They will learn typical applications of these programming languages and how to put them to use to solve problems.

While the students will not become experts in the topics covered by the course, they will have a good understanding of the field of coding, programming languages and algorithms.

Learning to code also trains skills like problem-solving, discipline and concentration. Since the class will be taught in English, students will also learn a substantial amount of technical lingo.

About the Teacher

Robert Bethge, the teacher and developer of this course, is a freelance web developer with a Master’s degree in electrical Engineering from the Technical University in Berlin, Germany. Robert has worked in the High Tech industry in the Silicon Valley in California for 7 years. He now develops websites and plugins for clients from a range of different countries. His focus is payment gateways and complex APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).

Format of the Course

The course is a combination of presentations given by the teacher and the students gaining on-hands experience by writing their own code. The students will be given small and larger tasks, where they can put their coding skills to the test. The teacher will work with the students and assist them to make sure that they get the code right.

Topics Covered During The Course

Programming Languages for Web Development

The Web is everywhere and dominates our lives…but what are the programming languages that deliver all this compelling content?

HTML

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is a syntax to deliver content to web browsers. Any website you see on computers or cellphones is coded in HTML. Because of its simplicity, HTML is a good candidate for exposing aspiring programmers to the world of coding.

CSS

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the code that makes a website pretty and easy to navigate. It determines the look of a website.

JavaScript

JavaScript is the most commonly used website on the planet. JavaScript is used for many different applications, including delivering a website from a server. In the context of a webpage, JavaScript is mostly used to streamline the user interface. Have you ever seen a pop-up on a web page, e.g. to confirm that you’re ok with accepting Cookies? That’s JavaScript at work!

jQuery

While there are many JavaScript libraries out there, jQuery is by far the most popular. jQuery is often used to improve the user interface of a website or to add animations.

Content Management Systems (CMS)

Content Management Systems (CMS) make writing, editing and delivering content with a website easy. CMS usually combine a database (e.g. mySQL), a server-side programming language like PHP with a front-end for entering and editing content. WordPress is the most widely adopted CMS on the planet.

WordPress

WordPress, being the most popular CMS in the world, makes setting up a website and filling it with appealing content easy. While originally developed for blogs, WordPress nowadays is used for many kinds of websites. Even e-commerce websites can be created using WordPress.

General Purpose Programming Languages

While certain programming languages serve certain applications (e.g. PHP for server-side web programming), other programming languages can be used for many different applications (e.g. desktop programs, servers, finance, gaming, …). Because of their widespread use, having a basic understanding of these languages can be useful. These programming languages can also be used to illustrate programming principles that apply across many different applications.

Scratch

Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch is the ideal entrance for youngsters into the exciting world of coding.

Python

Python is the most commonly used programming language after JavaScript. The Python syntax is simple and programs can be written easily and quickly. Python supports a variety of programming styles, making it one of the most versatile programming languages. If you want to learn one programming language only, learn Python.

Algorithms

Algorithms are recipes that tell computers how to solve a certain problem. They can be written in different programming languages and are often at the heart of a computer program. Simple algorithms can be used for sorting and searching of data of any kind.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming style where the program tries to model the real world. This approach centers around defining objects. The characteristics of the objects are described using attributes, and the activities performed on the objects are methods. A program written in OOP tends to be easy to read and easy to extend, update or maintain.

Java

Java (not to be confused with JavaScript) is an object-oriented programming language, similar to C# (pronounced C Sharp). Programs written in Java can be run on many different operating systems, like Windows, iOS, or Android. Java is a good choice when learning object-oriented programming.