8-week program every Saturday from 4-6PM from April 8th to May 27th. For ages 10+ (age is flexible depending on attention span.)

Week 1: Introduction to coding
In this session, students will first learn what programming is. They will also study what an algorithm is, and how it relates to coding a computer program. During this introduction to coding, they will practice coding by themselves in a variety of unplugged and computer activities.

Week 2: Drawing and colors
Students will learn what a programming language and a computer program are and how they relate to each other. They will use the Processing software and language to develop different drawings by creating simple shapes with code.

Week 3: Variables and animation basics
We will learn what loops are, and discover how to create and use variables to hold values and animate drawings.

Week 4: Interactive programming
Students will discover events, boolean expressions, and conditional statements. They will learn how to use these to create interactive programs. The final product will be their first project utilizing all concepts learned.

Week 5: Creating websites
In this session, students will learn the basics about how the Internet works, and practice with a related unplugged activity. After this, they will learn what HTML is and how to use it to make simple websites.

Week 6: Adding CSS and JavaScript to websites
Students will learn what CSS is, and how to add this to a website to style it. They will then learn how to convert their existing Processing projects to JavaScript and include them in their website to create their second project.

Week 7: Mobile applications/sneak peek to virtual reality
Students will create their own mobile apps. If they own an Android phone, they will be able to keep and distribute the app they create. They will also get to have a sneak peek at virtual reality and creating their own virtual worlds.

Week 8: The computer
In this session, students will learn the components inside and outside of a regular computer. They will take a look at a Raspberry pi and use it both to review all code breakers’ content, and to create their final project.

All software provided but please bring a laptop that can be used to connect to the Internet.

Instructor Norma Rivera holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science from University of Texas at El Paso. She is an accredited coding instructor and led our Girls Who Code club in 2016.