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Courses

Status

Open

Estimated Completion Time

18 weeks

Overview

Middle School Coding 1a: Introduction

Do you find yourself wondering how your favorite apps, websites, and games were made? Maybe you want to try building your own. Well, now you can! In Middle School Coding 1a, you will get an introduction to the basics of computer science, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. You’ll leave the course with a portfolio of work you can show off!

Course Requirements

Required Software:
Obvibase
Scratch
Lucidchart
OnlineGDB
Google Docs

Major Topics and Concepts

Unit 1: Crack the Code!
Create algorithms to solve word games and puzzles
Identify the components of a computer system
Define the term algorithm and explain how it applies to computers
Distinguish between problems that are better suited for humans to solve than computers and vice versa

Unit 2: There’s Nothing “Soft” about Software!
Define the term “software” and explain how software helps businesses perform tasks
Understand why file types are necessary and describe the content contained in different file types
Compare and contrast types of software and recommend the software that’s best suited for a task
Improve keyboarding skills by typing frequently using symbols in code
Explain the purpose of a database and perform common database operations

Unit 3: Let’s Play!
Learn how to code with block-based programming
Create simple programs in Tynker
Define and apply the three main programming constructs—sequence, selection, and iteration
Debug a program

Unit 4: It’s All Greek to Me!
Describe how and why computers use binary
Convert between binary and decimal number systems
List and discuss the four components of programming languages
Identify and use two common approaches for program design

Unit 5: Snake Charmer
Comfortably use an online IDE to write code
Use variables containing different data types and correctly type cast
Receive and process user input
Understand the role of a project manager
Create documents using word processing software

Unit 6: Flexing Our Python Muscles!
Regulate the flow of a program by using if statements
Understand and use for loops to repeat a block of code a specific number of times
Understand and use while loops to repeat a block of code until a condition is satisfied
Increment a variable to keep count

Credits .5

Competencies

Computer and Coding Basics
Students will demonstrate an understanding of computer and coding basics by creating algorithms, identifying components of a computer system, comparing types of software, recommending software that is suited for a task, explaining the purpose of a database, and performing common database operations.
Coding Foundational Concepts
Students will demonstrate an understanding of coding foundational concepts by using block-based code in Scratch to create simple programs, applying the three main programming constructs, and debugging a program.
Programming Basics and Number Systems
Students will demonstrate an understanding of programming languages and number systems by explaining how and why computers use binary, converting between binary and decimal number systems, describing the four components of programming languages, and using two common approaches for program design.
Intro to Python
Students will demonstrate an understanding of programming with Python by receiving and processing user input, regulating the flow of a program using if statements, explaining and using loops, using variables containing different data types, and type casting.

Pre-Requisites

None

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MS Coding 1a (Python / Javascript)