Explore the Uncategorized Archives at Simply Coding for insights, tips, and resources on coding, programming, and tech trends. Learn and grow with us!

Coding For Kids What Services Are Out There?

January 28, 2020/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Seth Iorg

Scratch (MIT)

Scratch coding for kids

coding for kids has been around for a while now and is geared towards kids ranging in age 8 years

to 16 years old. It is a coding drag/drop program that was developed and sponsored by MIT and the Lifelong Kindergarten group. Scratch has the goal of allowing children to learn programming logic through their own interactive stories and animations. The user can then share their projects with the Scratch online community. What I like about Scratch, is that it is a great starting point for a young child (6 – 11) to get exposed to the logic of coding and how it works. It expresses during those early years the creative reasoning in the brain that are essential skills for a computer programmer,

or any profession for that matter, where you have to picture things in your mind and then create them on the screen. Scratch is a free resource backed by the LEGO Foundation, Google, Intel, and others. There’s also a ScratchJr for those ages 5-7. If you’re concerned about your child being on the internet, the company also provides a desktop editor that you can download here https://scratch.mit.edu/download.

IMPORTANT: One very important thing for a parent to understand about Scratch is that it is NOT “real-world coding or a genuine experience in computer Coding for Kids”. It is software that allows you to drag and drop different pieces of code, costumes and sounds onto a screen template that fits together like puzzle pieces. It is very fun and stimulating for a younger kid, but eventually will lead to the question, “What’s Next?”. It’s the perfect stepping stone like the training wheels on a bicycle. Scratch is a great way to get exposed to concepts and get their feet wet, seeing if your child likes building things online via a computer keyboard and screen. Don’t get us wrong, you can create very intricate and complicated programs from scratch. But they won’t ever be ‘yours’ in the sense they only work inside the scratch sandbox. They have a great community. There is no online chat support or customer service as it is a non-profit, which is to be expected.

CODE.ORG

Code.org was founded by Hadi Partovi and is probably the coding curriculum you’ve heard about from school teachers. I would say their goal is to get any type of coding exposure to ALL kids whether they are interested or not. Code.org boasts a high participation rate among female students and underrepresented minorities. Their program is geared toward those ages 5 years up to 18 years old. Like Scratch, it is a nonprofit and provides necessary computer science skills in every school. Their donors include Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and many more that have deep pockets and are passionate about kids learning technology. Code.org also organizes annually one of the largest Coding for Kids campaigns in the USA called, “Hour of Code”.

IMPORTANT: While their software also covers teaching logic and creation similar to Scratch, where you are dragging and dropping code blocks, they also have real coding with real syntax for the older students. However, you are still coding in their sandbox meaning the code you create won’t work perfectly except when executed inside their website. Their overall mission is to give everyone an equal opportunity to learn computer science principles at any age. Code.org is another non-profit with limited support and/or resources but a great free option.

Other popular services that are very similar to code.org are Codecademy and Khan Academy.

CODE NINJAS

Let’s take a break from the free resources and take another approach to learning Coding for Kids. There’s always this tug-o-war between parents and screen time with their children. You as a parent want the absolute best future, but they want to sneak in some lengthy video games too.

This is where Code Ninjas wants to come in and help marry these two challenges of allowing kids to have fun but also learn the important technology and computer programming for kids.

Code Ninja is a franchise with physical locations where they teach teamwork, match, logic, and problem-solving to 7-year-olds up to 14 years old. I know one of the franchisees and they run a good program. They are very much of the belief we have, which is that coding is going to be a second language for your child and will most likely be required. Code Ninjas is out to build coding centres for youth all over the nation and then into Canada and Europe. They believe that technology is advancing so fast and it’s an exciting time for kids to learn and grow whether or not they are interested in computer programming or not. The Code Ninjas courses used to teach coding are the brains of David Graham who founded Coder Camps teaching adults to be software developers. I like the fact that they provide a physical location to come and learn for those who want their kids to be part of a group where they interact at a Code Ninja facility. As it is currently code Ninjas has 428 centres in 45 states. Check them out! https://www.codeninjas.com/locations.

IMPORTANT: To participate in Code Ninjas you will have to have one of their locations near you or perhaps you’re interested in owning one yourself. The cost is set by the locally owned and operated franchise centres. So you would have to contact the center closest to you for pricing information. It averages out to be around a couple of hundred bucks a month. They teach real coding in its native environment as we do here at Simply Coding.

TYNKER

Tynker Coding for kids is HUGE with 60 million kids worldwide appealing to all kids of all

ages and interests. They have courses on how to create apps, and mods in Minecraft, make websites, build games, and even control toys. Tynker is very similar to Code.org they partner on many projects. For ages 13+ real-world coding starts with an introduction to JavaScript and Python, Web development with HTML, CSS and some minimal preparation for the AP Computer Science tests. Like the others, all coding is performed inside their website and will only work perfectly there. The reason I want to point this out is some students may not understand that coding libraries are working behind the scenes to make some of your functions work. If you are wanting to build toward creating your coding portfolio, then these options are for learning purposes only.

IMPORTANT: Tynker is famous for their coding camps all over the world and is a very large organization so it is somewhat hard if you are a newbie parent trying to figure this all out for the first time. Customer support is limited and if you need the personal touch, or communication via live webinar or live chat for your child or even a phone call for you, this may not be the best option. The last thing you want is for your child to get frustrated during their first exposure to computer programming. This can discourage very fast and be an uphill battle with parent and child from day one. I also did not find on their site exactly where the mini-coding camps are located, which could mean Tynker is now pushing online more and more. There are subscription plans on the website ranging from $7/mo to family plans of $30/mo.

BITSBOX

Now Bitsbox is something you’ve probably never seen before and very different from any of the others. Just think of those delivery meal companies for a monthly subscription where it just shows up on your door each month and you open it up and enjoy! Bitsbox is all about getting kids prepared for the future of technology and do it by providing a box on your front porch once a month. Their motto is, “Your child may become a coder someday, or they may not. Either way, because tech is the future, Bitsbox will have them prepared”.( https://go.bitsbox.com/ ) As featured on SharkTank, the Bitsbox comes with instructions for the child and you as a parent that will help your child login online and start coding awesome projects. Bitsbox values on their website state: focus & attention, problem-solving, confidence, typing, together time, and creativity. The brains behind Bitsbox were two ex-Google engineers who wanted to teach their Coding for Kids

IMPORTANT: Bitsbox is a high-quality company with very appealing marketing materials from the outside of the box to colourful instruction cards. Subscriptions start around $29.95 per month, but if you purchase the 12-month package you can get your price down to $24.95 (https://subscribe.bitsbox.com/details/basicbitsbox.html). Bitsbox is limited to children between the ages of 6 and 12.

ID TECH

iD Tech is the oldest and one of the very first technology camps Coding for Kids and Teens since its inception in 1999. They have about 60,000 students per year with a very good track record. Nowadays for any Coding for Kids ID type of tech company to last beyond a decade is amazing. iD Tech is doing it. They boast of having big partnerships with Adobe, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Epic Games, and Unity. It’s a straightforward process as they host in-person summer camps on college campuses. You go to the website: https://www.idtech.com/ and then click on “locations” and see if there’s a camp close to where you live. Their mission is “to create life-changing tech experiences that embolden students to shape the future.” (https://www.idtech.com/about)

IMPORTANT: iD Tech only provides summer camps on campuses with a vetted summer staff of college students. From the looks of it, iD Tech ranges from ages 7 to age 19 with all-girl camp options and specialty camps for robotics, Coding for Kids, and game development. iD Tech provides 2 types of camps: A day camp ranging around $849 per week and an overnight camp for an additional $579 for room and board (meals included). Here are more pricing and camp schedules https://www.idtech.com/tech-camps.

Simply Coding

This is us! So where do we fit in?

We offer a coding pathway for youth (ages 11+) giving them a real computer science experience. They have access to live mentor chat support. Mon – Fri and email support after hours. All of the coding and work they do will be saved on their computer, it’s theirs forever. Our students create an online portfolio of their work and host it live via github.com. This is important as they’ll be able to show potential colleges and/or internships what they can do!

For more information see: https://simplycoding.org/coding-for-kids

IMPORTANT: Simply Coding’s Coding for Kids pathways are self-directed with online chat support or screen share help. Students can either engage in the lessons through text-based learning and interactions or by watching the videos. Every lesson shows examples, video explanations, interactive learning experiences, and embedded practice editors. Each lesson concludes with a step-by-step activity to add code to your project on your computer’s workspace.

Coding Camps for Kids on Campus is Great for College Recruiting

July 26, 2019/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by dustin mower

Today I thought I would write a little bit about how we think summer coding camps for kids on College and University campus is a great recruiting tool. Allowing kids ages 11 through 18 years of age to be on the campus physically is proving to be a huge success in the recruitment of those same Coding Camps for Kids when they’re older for many universities and colleges all over the U.S. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I want to cover 3 reasons of why it works in today’s blog post. Let’s jump in!

REASON #1: GOOD MEMS ALL AROUND Coding Camps for Kids

Anytime I talk with my buddies about the past we always state “Good mems!” The main reason is that if you think about a child whose brains are developing so rapidly in their younger years, they associate places, things, sounds, and smells with either great times or possibly even bad times. A College or University creates a wonderful atmosphere for kids to come and experience walking around campus and then sit in a computer lab where they see all those computers and cool gadgets, robotics stuff surely leave a profound impression on those video gamers when walking out of the campus computer lab!

REASON #2: START EDUCATING THEM NOW WITH LIVE EXPERIENCES

Most everyone associates with a mentor or someone they look up to and it’s usually the person that taught them how to work, play, and have fun while doing it. By providing computer programming camps for kids on your campus you have already begun the education process for these young fellas to learn! As the kids look to the University as almost a mentor, they will only want to continue with concurrent enrollment classes in high school, and other continuing education classes because they’ll already be comfortable having been to summer camps.

Learning a bit of computer science on campus for kids over the summer proves to be extremely beneficial for the parents as well. What parent doesn’t want to see their child graduate from the same University they did? Well… instead of sending them letters every year to donate to their alma mater, why not send a letter and say you’re offering a summer coding camp for kids for their child who want to learn how to program video games and websites or develop apps that make robots move? I mean you already have the computer labs and with Simply Coding you can use their curriculum and live chat support. Now all you need is have a page where they can register and possibly a teacher aide that needs to be in the room for adult supervision. Educating kids now on your campus is a very smart idea for any continuing education department looking towards the future students that you will want to attend. Experience is everything! I just saw this coding camp out in Singapore.

A LITTLE EXTRA FUNDS

REASON #3: A LITTLE EXTRA FUNDS

I don’t know if this falls into a reason why, but I have to mention it anyway as for the smaller colleges and universities, they may want to make a little money on the side over the summer. With a revenue share model, the continuing education department can receive some money from the camps that then in turn can be used for advertising of the camps or funding other summer camps for kids. Coding isn’t the only thing that kids are interested in nowadays, it’s just the majority. But there are lots of little girl cooks like my daughter who would die to go to a summer camp where they learn the basics of cooking instead of watching Cupcake Wars or Bobby Flay all day. As a parent myself I have no problem paying a couple hundred bucks for my daughters to go to a summer camp on the campus of my alma mater!

CONCLUSIONS

I remember when I went to a basketball camp when I was around 10 years old on the campus of my Dad’s alma mater. I’ll never forget it. It left an impression on me that made me want to grow up and go there when I’m older. Just as sports camps for kids did this for me, so do coding camps for kids, and others produce that same feeling of the memory. And guess where I ended up? Yup! Right where my Dad went to school! It is my opinion that there is no stronger recruiting tool for a college or university than to run summer camps for kids! It’s easy. It’s turnkey. It’s fulfilling. It’s affecting the lives of children in their social skills, confidence, and maturity. And most importantly it’s allowing the kids to feel and experience the wonderful culture your school is all about! Heck, give them a cool T-shirt with your logo and colours or a cool slogan! Any swag you can think of? That’ll go a long way! Other interesting summer STEM camps for kids I saw out there were Sylvan, Idtech summer camps, and Tynker stem camps. Be sure to look at all of them to make the best choice for your school! And of course, we are here to answer any questions as we know all of them!

Have questions about coding camps for kids? We’re here to help! Just click on the live chat or give us a call. For more information on how Simply Coding works with colleges and universities with summer camps, you can just click on this link.

Till next time, this is D signing off!

Is Code.org Bad or Good for my Student or Child

July 15, 2019/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by dustin mower

In today’s post, I want to cover whether Is Code.org Good or Bad for your student or child. I’ve heard both sides and there’s a lot of misinformation out there online that is not giving the parent or teacher the right idea about exactly what is Code.org computer science curriculum. So hopefully I can clear this up once and for all and address the worries of parents. I think the real worry for parents and teachers comes down to this: Is my student or child wasting their time on the computer and just playing games? Well…I promise if you keep reading you’ll stop feeling guilty as a parent like I did and see that computer screen time can be for learning and enjoyable.

About Code.org Mission

Code.org is a computer science curriculum for schools that is run as a non-profit. Their vision is to bring coding to every student all over the USA. You can read more about their vision here: https://code.org/about.

What we here at Simply Coding like about Code.org is that it gives the kid or student a nice introduction to the world of coding specifically through their program called, “Hour of Code”. But as I write this I want parents to understand the differences between real-world coding for kids and what we like to call visual programming languages. I’ll do the best I can to explain in parent language.

2 Types of Programming Languages

Visual Based Computer Programming (not real coding environment)

I like to refer to this as the drag-and-drop method of coding games. It is easier at first when you are just learning the logic or syntax to simply have a student click the mouse and then drag and drop either images or pieces of already written code into blocks. It’s also great for those who do not yet know how to type and are trying to gain exposure to see if coding may be something they will like. Most kids start here. However, if you notice your child starting to get bored, then it may be time for something more challenging. Code.org is instant gratification for kids, which is why they like it! You simply log in online and start clicking and dragging and instantly can see your projects! However, the downfall is that you cannot go further than this, thus progression stops for the child and creates boredom. This is mainly because most kids who are into coding have the brain to want to keep going and designing their games or projects beyond their imaginations. Just dragging and dropping blocks is simply not going to cut it for them. Because it is a non-profit there is no customer support, which can lead to a first-time frustrating experience for some. The child is on their own. So parents just be aware of that. And I almost forgot that because they host all kid’s projects on their libraries (website) you can’t save your work and post it wherever.

Examples of visual-based coding: Code.org Blockly Hour of Code, Khan Academy, CodeCademy, Scratch MIT program

Bottom Line: Blockly and other similar programs are great for introducing logic or syntax. They are fun to do for kids and great to expose them to how coding works and the cool stuff you can make with it. It is more like you’re playing a game right off the bat. I relate it to perhaps a “theory” class of learning the piano or learning how to play one song without really learning the notes. I can still play “In the Jungle” by Lion King and don’t know a single note!

Text-Based Computer Programming Code.org (real live coding environment).

Once your child is bored, then it is time to move into text-based computer programming to keep feeding his or her imagination of creations. This is real-life coding where your child or student will download a text editor onto their computer (which is free by the way) and write or type in letters, numbers, symbols, etc. to then upload to the internet and display their games or projects. A text editor is like Notepad or Microsoft Word but for computer programming for kids. The downfall is it can be kind of boring to start as one doesn’t know the basic instructions or rules. However, at Simply Coding we have come up with 3 useful games (pong, fish, Mario) in the first lesson that we use as a medium to teach the kids coding. This helps with the boredom. We also do live chat support and live weekly webinars to help the child through any frustrations they’re having to try and make it a great first experience. The downfall is that the student does need to know how to type 15 words per minute and this is because we want it to be a great experience and finger typing won’t get the job done and be frustrating for your child and you as the parent. The other thing to be aware of is that there is no forgiveness in text-based coding for kids. If you put a semi-colon in the wrong place or forget a letter somewhere, the computer will not have the right instructions to move an object and the code will fail. But nowadays there are so many tools that check the code and tell the student where the errors are. Just like if you were to hit the wrong key on the piano. Also unlike other sites, we do NOT host your kid’s projects at all. They get to learn how to post it on Git Hub and create their portfolio of stuff. This way they take it with them and it’s theirs forever!

Examples of text-based coding for kids: Javascript game design , Python multiplayer, building websites in html css

Bottom Line: Text-based computer programming is the real deal. You actually type the code and then see it come to life! There are no boundaries. The more you learn, the more you can do that eventually leads to a skill and a job or career! I would relate this to actually reading music and playing the piano and not just learning a song to where you eventually can pick up a sheet of music and play anything. At least that makes sense in my head.

Which Coding for Kids Course Best for my Child or my Students?

This is actually quite easy to answer. It really depends on their age and or grade in school, their previous exposure to any type of coding, and typing skills. If the child is in elementary school or 11 years or younger, then they probably most likely don’t know how to type yet either and would benefit from code.org or scratch coding programs for initial exposure and to learn some logic. If on the other hand your student or child is 12 years old to 18 years old and can type, then the dragging and dropping will become very boring very quickly and the free coding resources out there is not going to cut it.

Conclusions:

I hope this was explained well enough to a parent, but if you have any questions, please hit us up on chat or email us at support@simplycoding.org or heck even give us a call. We are parents too and totally get it. Simply Coding for kids is all about turning those computer gamers into programmers and coders. Feel free to watch our video series on this here. It will go through 4 short videos of what we exactly do at Simply Coding!

Signing off,

Dustin

Is Fortnite Bad for Kids or a Path to Coding Careers?

June 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by dustin mower

Is Fortnite bad for kids?

Can a child that plays Fortnite all day really learn how to code video games and then actually get a job and/or career?

I tried to think what I would title this post for the week as I stumbled upon some Fortnite coding ads that I thought were funny. Now I’m a parent and have to admit that I’ve never played Fortnite and probably never will! Actually, my daughter Shay just walked into my office and saw me searching up on google “fortnite” and blurted out, “That’s the lamest game ever! It has a lot of violence!”.

She’s obviously our most obedient child. Hahahaha!!!! So I read up a little bit here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortnite.

If you don’t want to read through it then I’ll sum it up for you in my daddy language.

MY DEFINITION:

Your child basically creates worlds and battle arenas inside the video game and fights other kids till the last man is standing! Which is funny to me because really there is no ending to the game. So there really isn’t a last man standing. I guess that’s how my parent brain once again thinks. Perhaps people can comment below and help me better.

THEIR DEFINITION:

Now fast forward to current years and there are actually 3 versions:

Fortnite: Save the World is designed as player-versus-environment game, with four players cooperating towards a common objective on various missions. The game is set after a fluke storm appears across Earth, causing 98% of the population to disappear, and the survivors to be attacked by zombie-like “husks”…..From missions, players are awarded a number of in-game items, which include hero characters, weapon and trap schematics, and survivors, all of which can be leveled up through gained experience to improve their attributes.

Fortnite Battle Royale is a player-versus-player battle royale game for up to 100 players, allowing one to play alone, in a duo, or in a squad (usually consisting of three or four players). Weaponless players airdrop from a “Battle Bus” that crosses the game’s map. When they land, they must scavenge for weapons, items, resources, and even vehicles while trying to stay alive and attack other players, eliminating them….This forces remaining players into tighter spaces and encourages player encounters. The last player, duo, or squad remaining is the winner.

Fortnite Creative is a sandbox game mode where players are given complete freedom to create anything they want on an island, such as battle arenas, race courses, platforming challenges and more. Epic Games reviews some of the most popular creations from Creative and rotate these into the Battle Royale map in an area called “The Block”.[1] Featured creations are also shown in the “Creative Hub.”

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortnite

FROM GAMERS TO CODERS… REALLY?

So now that we know what it is…. I want to get back to the Advertisements that I saw online about how Fortnite can help your son or daughter learn how to code.

Here is one below:

And here’s another:

In this ad it states video game developer, strategic planner, architect, & project manager expert are some of the jobs that you can get by playing the game. However, we know this is just advertising and a hook to really get kids to use the medium of gaming and convert it into real life skills of computer programming and coding. That’s why I love working here at Simply Coding. We have the same philosophy of “Don’t Consume It! Create It!”

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

So we get back to the question if Fornite is bad for kids. Now obviously, parents we want to be careful with our children and make sure there are not becoming addicted to playing FortNite or other video games. Because too much of one thing is never a good thing. Not sure who said that or who I’m quoting, but it is TRUE! However, I feel that some parents may just go “cold turkey” on the video games with their kids and then actually be depriving them of the actual computer screen time that could very well have led to their talents and gifts God has given them to become the next Microsoft genius or Facebook programmer.

CONCLUSIONS:

Now I’m not here to tell you what to do with your child. That is not the reason for this post. Plus there are hundreds of debates online that you can find on whether FortNite is good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, etc. etc. Just google, “fortnite bad for kids” and it will come up with 35 million results!

Here at Simply Coding for kids we can tell very quickly with in the first 3 months if a child has the ability to become a great coder OR he or she just likes playing video games and learning to code is not his/her thing and should probably pursue something else. That kind of investment of a mere $60 bucks to find out if my child has what it takes is totally worth it in my opinion.

This post is going a bit longer than what I wanted. If you want, we actually do a whole video series though on this conflicting guilty feeling of a parent who has a child that plays video games and says they want to design video games for a living.

YES this is a real thing!

You can check it out here. If anything, it’s very informative and feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help!

It’s our passion to help YOU help YOUR children discover their passions in the technology careers of tomorrow and it’s never too early to start. Trust Me!

Till next time. Signing off…

Every Kid Needs Coding – Don’t Be Left Behind

April 17, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Seth Iorg

The skill of the future & why every child needs coding

Look around you Every Child Needs Coding, computers are everything. I bet you can’t name a job that doesn’t include using a computer – I dare you. It just doesn’t happen. So why not understand
learn coding by bill gates Every Child Needs Coding them? In a recent report, by the year 2020 5 million jobs will be lost to automation. Now, it’s not that you can’t get a job in the future if you don’t know any basic code, but it is saying that it will be very hard to get one of those jobs. Why play Texas Hold ’em with 1 card? Instead, choose to play with pocket aces, and learn computer coding. The time is now! kids are creative and smart. They are open to new learning strategies and have the chance to learn a valuable skill right now!

“Learning to write programs stretches your mind, helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.” –Bill Gates

Coding for Kids – Regardless of Profession

Computer developers are not the only people who use code. This is a common misconception. Marketing/Advertising, Public Relations, Sales, Human Resources and many other jobs often ask for applicants to have some background in coding. If you do coding for kids Every Child Needs Coding n’t believe me go to glassdoor.com (or any job search engine) and search for jobs in any of these fields. Under skills, most will ask for a basic knowledge of JavaScript, HTML or CSS. An applicant without any of these skills is instantly placed at the bottom of the list. It isn’t enough to understand social media or to be familiar with just tech. Knowing how to use a computer is not the same as knowing how a computer works. Every Child Needs Coding to make sure they stand out for the future.

With coding, children gain a deep understanding of the digital world around them, empowering them with the ability to innovate and problem-solve in a technology-driven society. For example, in marketing or sales, knowing how to code allows employees to better understand website functionality and user interface, and even develop unique strategies for reaching and engaging audiences online. Coding skills are increasingly becoming an asset across various industries, not just technology.

We give your child a head start

Stop allowing your kids to waste entire summers playing video games and watching YouTube. Give them the chance to learn a new skill while still having fun. With summer camps available all summer long, they can finally start getting familiar with code. Whether they try it for one week or do a whole month, we can help them start understanding code with fun, interactive methods like learning JavaScript through modding Minecraft. Every Child Needs Coding to better understand computer programming languages and the courses allow them to create using all of them.

At these camps, children are not just learning how to code—they are developing critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills that will benefit them for years to come. Many coding camps now focus on providing a hands-on experience that keeps kids engaged and makes the learning process enjoyable. Minecraft modding, for example, allows children to see the direct results of their coding efforts, which is both fun and highly rewarding.

ALSO…A FREE GIFT for You!

If you haven’t already we are offering our “techie” dictionary. THE “TECHIE” DICTIONARY FOR PARENTS WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND THEIR KIDS’ COMPUTER JARGON. Have you heard your children use words like Scratch, MMO, Javascript, Minecraft Mods, Github, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or even Java? Well… we’ve compiled a list of the TOP 70 computer jargon words you need to know as a parent in this FREE parents guide. Think of it as a “computer terms for dummies” type read, but entertaining! CLAIM IT HERE.

Don’t Let Your Kids Waste Another Summer! Take Coding Classes This Summer

April 4, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Seth Iorg

A summer of learning

Imagine this scenario: a Summer Coding where your child plays video games and learns a new valuable skill. Here at Simply Coding, this isn’t just a dream scenario, but a reality. Let’s be honest, it can be challenging to find something in the Summer Coding that challenges children while at the same time allowing the children to enjoy what they are doing. We understand this, which is why what we are doing is revolutionary. Our summer programs allow your children to not only learn computer coding skills but also let them play Minecraft while they learn!

Why Summer Coding Works

We developed our software with the realization that children get a real sense of satisfaction if they relate to what they create. By working through Minecraft, the kids can compare what they create to what they have already experienced. They get excited to see the things that they create in a game that they already know and love. As the children evolve in their coding skills, they enjoy the art of coding itself, unlocking their true creativity.

How does playing a video game teach code

Minecraft, the game, is written in Javascript code. Javascript is one of the three core languages of the World Wide Web, which means that it is very used and very valuable. By understanding Minecraft’s code the kids are learning to read and manipulate Javascript code. The kids will learn to build websites and write code all with their knowledge that started by learning to make mods in Minecraft.

See for yourself

Our summer programs have gone on for a couple of years now. During this time, we’ve perfected and refined our curriculum so that children learn the essentials of coding while also enjoying showing up daily to improve their projects. These lessons encourage kids to upload everything they do to their own personal portfolio on github.com, giving them something to show future schools and employers. To see other games made by real students, go to the student page on the home screen and under the student tab, click on code dungeon. Just as platforms like lyrabet focus on user engagement and continuous improvement, we aim to create an interactive learning experience that keeps students motivated and proud of their work.

Our goal is for these kids to be career-ready one day while enjoying the learning process right now.

To learn more about the summer camps, or to reserve a spot, contact us here.

Stay Safe on Social Media

March 30, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Seth Iorg

3 Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Kids Are Social Media Safe

Whether it be Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, social media can be a really fun way to interact with friends. It provides a platform for sharing experiences, keeping up with trends, and maintaining connections with loved ones. As much fun as they can be, we need to always remember there are real threats to using these tools. Social Media can be dangerous too, especially for children who might not fully understand the risks. Cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to inappropriate content are just a few concerns that parents need to be aware of.

So, how do we protect ourselves, and make sure our kids are protected too? Here are a few practical tips to help teach your kids about social media safety while fostering a sense of responsibility and awareness.

1-Don’t let young kids roam free

First things first, if your child is under the age of 13 make sure all of their accounts and passwords are connected to your device or computer. This is a critical step in ensuring their safety. By having total access to their accounts, you’re in a better position to oversee their activities and manage potential risks.

However, this doesn’t mean you should micromanage or invade their privacy by reading every message they send or receive. Instead, focus on being a guide and a protector. You should have total access to them. I’m not saying you should log on and read their messages, but you should be able to block or unfollow anyone that you feel could be a danger to them. It’s important to trust your kids, it’s even more important to make sure they are safe.

Remember, there are some nasty things on social media, and you never know what is happening if you don’t have full access to your children’s accounts. Social media is full of content that can be inappropriate, harmful, or even predatory, and it’s difficult to know what is happening if you don’t have full access to your child’s accounts. So be smart, don’t allow your kids under 13 to have total reign over their accounts.

2-Stay private

Privacy is one of the best tools for ensuring safety on social media. Always encourage your kids to set their accounts to private, which allows only approved friends to view their posts. This simple step can significantly reduce the risks of strangers gaining access to their personal information or photos.

REMEMBER: IF YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO FOLLOW YOU THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW, YOU ARE NO LONGER PRIVATE. Make sure you monitor the people your child allows to follow them. If you don’t know who they are, ask. Being social media safe means constant checkups to stay social media safe. If you have any questions on how to make your social media accounts private, this should help. Building an ongoing conversation about social media safety is key to staying protected.

Social media safety also requires consistent checkups. Regularly review privacy settings and ensure they are up to date. Some platforms frequently update their privacy policies, which can unintentionally expose personal information if not managed properly. Take time to explore the privacy settings together with your child and explain why each setting is important.

If you’re unsure how to make accounts private, don’t hesitate to look for guides or resources online to help you navigate these settings effectively.

3-Parody accounts are a wild card

Accounts that are created for memes and other funny internet things are usually accounts trying to build a large following to earn money through ads. Make sure you know what parody accounts your children are following. Once these accounts have a large enough following, they will often post inappropriate content for an easy buck. Don’t fall into the trap of a couple of stupid jokes just to put your child at risk of seeing something that they shouldn’t. Remember being social media safe means preventing the problem before you have to deal with the problem. Don’t let social media teach your children about the birds and the bees.

We’d love to hear about other ways to protect our kids on social media. Leave us a comment and let us know how you do it! Being social media smart is a joint effort.

Internet Safety; Is Your Child Safe on the Internet?

March 27, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Seth Iorg

6 Tips to Help Parents Understand Proper Kids Internet Safety

The Internet can be a dangerous place. Without the proper precautions, your child’s safety could be at risk. From inappropriate content to cyber predators, the risks are real and ever-evolving. With one click even kids can access things that would give most adults a stomach ache. So how can you make sure that what they are viewing is safe?

The best way to combat the dangers of the internet is to know what they are! Educating yourself about potential threats and staying proactive can make a huge difference. Your Kids Internet Safety should be the number one goal. By setting clear boundaries and staying involved, you can create a safe online environment for your child.

Here is a list of the best ways to make sure that your children are safe while using the internet.

1. Computer location is key

Make sure the computer is located in an area of non-privacy, like the front room or kitchen. Having the device in a shared space not only promotes responsible usage but also provides an opportunity for parents to observe their child’s browsing habits in real-time. This prevents kids from wandering the internet (like clicking random links) without parental supervision.

Kids Internet Safety depends much on how daring they are willing to be and they are much less likely to take chances if someone else can see what they are doing. Consider setting up family usage hours to encourage transparency and limit excessive screen time.

2. Be a part of their cyber world

Know what types of social media and forms of entertainment your children use. Stay informed about trending platforms and apps to better understand their online behaviour. Follow their social media accounts and check their posts and comments somewhat regularly.

Make sure you know who is commenting and liking their photos and posts. If you don’t know who someone is, ASK! Encourage open discussions about their online friends and guide them on recognizing potential red flags, such as strangers asking for personal information.

3. Account privacy is most important for Kids Internet Safety

Teach your kid not to share passwords, even with their best friends. You never know who else will find out. Reinforce the importance of using strong, unique passwords for each platform and updating them regularly.

Keeping information private is the best way to stay safe on the internet. Teach your kids to log out of computers, even if they are personal or home computers. Also, make sure to check your search engine settings. Most search engines allow parental controls that will help narrow the list of possible choices that appear when your children are surfing the internet.

In addition, consider enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) on accounts to add an extra layer of security.

4. Keep up with software

Use antiviruses and pop-up blockers. There are plenty of free or pay-for-use pop-up blockers and antiviruses available on the Kids Internet Safety. Regular software updates are essential to patch security vulnerabilities that could put your child’s data at risk.

Antiviruses keep your computer safe from bugs and malware. This is just like putting up a fence to keep your toddler in the yard. It’s a precaution if everything else goes wrong. Additionally, parental control software can help track online activities and block harmful content proactively.

To find the best antivirus for Windows, click here. Of the top ten, nine are pay-for-use, however, if your budget is tight there is a free one too.

Here is a link to the same site but for Mac computers. All on this list are paid, but fear not, here is another link for free Mac antiviruses. Be sure to choose software that suits your family’s needs and preferences.

5. Don’t just ban, understand

One in four children see porn by the age of 12. Try to understand why this is and make sure you stay in constant communication with your children about what they are viewing on the internet. If something goes wrong on the internet, don’t react by blaming your child. Instead, make yourself available for conversation if anything that they stumble on makes them uncomfortable.

6. What is put on the internet stays on the internet

Make sure that your kids know that whatever they put on the internet, even if deleted later, is still on the internet. This makes anyone think twice about whatever they think they want to post on the internet.

Let us know what you think about this list and if you have another way of keeping your children safe. Together, we can make the Internet a child-friendly zone!

#kidsafeinternet

Test Scores VS Skills Set. What’s Better for Homeschoolers?

March 7, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by dustin mower

The Changing Education Landscape: Moving Beyond Test Scores vs Skills

I was at lunch with our Founder and President, Seth Iorg, a few months ago, and we were speaking to a gentleman who works for a highly reputable online charter school. (I won’t mention the name). But he started to tell us that this notion that “it’s all about Test Scores vs Skills (i.e., ACTs, high school exams, SATs, etc.)” is no longer the driving force of academic success. School exams aren’t even the focus anymore. The new phrase they use now is “College and Career Ready.

Helping kids of today’s day and age become ready for college and know exactly what they want or need to study OR preparing them for future careers is what matters now. This shift in focus from standardized tests to real-world skills and career readiness reflects the evolving job market and the increasing demand for practical, hands-on expertise.

It’s no longer just about getting into college; it’s about providing children with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce. The old model focused primarily on academic performance as a measure of success, but we now recognise that students need a more comprehensive preparation that includes career exploration and practical skills.

Our Vision: A Real Coding Pathway for Youth Test Scores vs Skills

This had quite an impact on both of us. We then decided to coin the phrase underneath our logo, and it has now become our company motto! We want to provide a REAL coding (computer programming) PATHWAY for youth, so by the time they turn 16-18 years of age, the child knows where to invest his/her time. Is it to pursue college? Is it to go directly into a career that may not require college? Whatever it may be, the parents will feel confident that their good money is not wasted.

Simply Coding, Inc. has been designed around this concept. We believe that the traditional education system often fails to offer students the practical skills they need to succeed in today’s tech-driven economy. That’s why we focus on teaching coding in a way that is hands-on, engaging, and directly relevant to the real world.

We put kids in a real coding environment (HTML, CSS, javascript, java, python, etc.) and allow them to create THEIR portfolios on GitHub of their projects and games to show to future employers, internships, and so much more! This approach not only equips them with the skills they need but also builds a tangible portfolio that demonstrates their capabilities in a competitive job market.

Why Coding is Essential for Career Readiness

In today’s world, coding has become a vital skill for many industries. From web development to game design, software engineering to data science, coding is integral to the innovation that drives our economy. With technology becoming increasingly central to every industry, teaching kids to code gives them a head start in understanding the building blocks of our digital world.

At Simply Coding, we teach children how to write code in popular programming languages like JavaScript, Python, Java, and HTML/CSS. By learning these foundational languages, they gain the tools to create websites, develop apps, and build games, all while building essential problem-solving skills. In addition to these Test Scores vs Skills, coding also fosters creativity and resilience, as students learn how to troubleshoot and iterate on their work.

By creating projects and coding games, students get to see their ideas come to life. This not only boosts their confidence but also gives them a sense of ownership over their learning process.

Building a Portfolio for Future Opportunities

One of the most significant advantages of learning to code at a young age is the ability to build a portfolio of projects. 1649793477063 Portfolios provide concrete evidence of a student’s skills and accomplishments, making them invaluable when applying for jobs or internships in the future. At Simply Coding, we guide our students to use GitHub to upload their projects, creating a personal portfolio that can be shared with potential employers or college admissions teams.

Portfolios serve as an ongoing showcase of a student’s growth and development in coding. They become a reflection of the hard work, creativity, and problem-solving skills that students apply as they move through different coding challenges and projects.

Having a portfolio of completed projects is also helpful for students who choose to enter the workforce immediately after high school. Employers often value practical experience over formal education, and having a strong coding portfolio gives young people an edge in securing internships or full-time positions.

Empowering Parents with Confidence Test Scores vs Skills

As parents, it’s natural to want to ensure that your child’s education and extracurricular activities are worthwhile. Investing in coding education is not only a smart choice of Test Scores vs Skills; it’s an investment in your child’s future success. When you enrol your child in a coding program, you’re giving them the tools to succeed in both colleges and the career world.

Our mission at Simply Coding is to offer a pathway to real-world outcomes. We want parents to feel confident that their children are learning valuable skills that will help them achieve their dreams, whether those dreams involve higher education or a fulfilling career.

Conclusion: Preparing Youth for Success Test Scores vs Skills

The world is changing, and so is education. At Simply Coding, we are committed to ensuring that kids are “College and Career Ready” by providing them with practical, real-world coding skills. By offering a comprehensive coding education, we empower children to take control of their future, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in the digital world.

Top 5 Things Learned at Great Homeschool Convention

March 6, 2017/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by dustin mower

Just got back about a week ago from our first Great . It was a great time meeting all the wonderful parents there who passed by our booth and saw the passion they have for their kids. Just got back about a week ago from our first Great Homeschool Convention. It was a great time meeting all the wonderful parents there who passed by our booth and saw the passion they have for their kids. We were inspired by the incredible dedication these parents showed in providing the best for their children’s education. What great Christian beliefs and friendly people. The event highlighted the power of community among homeschoolers, and the excitement in the air was palpable.

Here are the key takeaways from our Homeschool Convention experience:

1. Parents Want Family Discounts for Online Coding Pathways

One of the most frequent requests we heard at the Homeschool Convention was for family discounts. Parents want to be able to enrol multiple children in our online coding pathways without breaking the bank. After listening to their feedback, we’re happy to announce that we’ve implemented a new family membership option. Now, you can easily add family members to your regular monthly membership. Plus, if one of the kids decides coding isn’t for them, you can downgrade later without hassle. We love making coding accessible for everyone, and this new feature is a step in that direction.

2. Homeschool Parents Are Truly Awesome

We discovered just how dedicated and caring homeschool parents are at the Homeschool Convention. Their commitment to their children’s education goes above and beyond, and it’s clear that they prioritize equipping their kids with essential life skills. From one-on-one teaching to fostering creativity, these parents are building strong foundations for the future of their children. It was incredibly humbling to witness the level of care and attention they put into their children’s learning experiences.

3. Every Child Needs Coding

Every Child Needs Coding As we thought more about the benefits of coding, it became crystal clear at the Homeschool Convention that coding is an essential skill for the future. We researched job postings on websites like Monster.com and were shocked at how many positions, even entry-level ones, required knowledge of coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Whether your child is interested in tech careers or not, learning these fundamental coding skills early can open up countless opportunities in almost every field.

Level ONE coding is a must-have for anyone’s resume! The more we think about it, the more convinced we are that teaching kids coding is one of the most valuable things we can do for their futures. Coding equips kids with critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills needed in every profession.

4. Age Isn’t the Best Indicator for Coding Readiness

We also learned at the Homeschool Convention that age isn’t always the best factor in determining whether a child is ready to start coding. Instead, typing skills are a much better indicator. We found that if a child can type around 15 words per minute on Nitrotype, they’ll likely have a good experience learning coding. This typically happens around age 10, but it’s important to focus on typing ability rather than just age. Kids who can type quickly can dive into coding without frustration, making the learning process smoother.

If your child is ready to type, they’re probably ready to code. It’s not about age, but about skills and readiness. So, if your child is eager to try coding, but they’re still working on typing speed, you might want to focus on improving their typing first.

5. Twix Was the Preferred Chocolate at Our Booth

And lastly, we learned a very important lesson at the Homeschool Convention: when it comes to booth candy, Twix reigns supreme. We had a variety of candy available at our booth, but Twix was by far the favourite among visitors. Baby Ruth, unfortunately, came in last place, so we’re already considering a different candy lineup for next time. It’s these little moments that make conventions so much fun. We never expected candy preferences to be such a big talking point, but it was a crowd-pleaser!

To Your Child’s Success,