One Day Academy

Computer Programming Courses

Intro to Game Programming

Suggested Age

10-18

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Prerequisites

Microsoft Office for Kids OR Microsoft Office for Teens

& Typing at 10 wpm

 

Process/Purpose

This course is intended for advanced middle schoolers who excel in math and programming, and teens who have not yet been introduced to programming or want to refine their skills.  Students will learn basic to advanced computer programming & logic

skills while having fun CREATING THEIR OWN COMPUTER GAMES!

 

1st semester:

Scratch, a fun, free, beginner-friendly programming environment, is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge. You drag and drop blocks of code to build programs. Students will also be able to share their game with others online, too.

 

2nd semester:

Python: A typed, command-line programming language. Whether you're new to programming or an experienced programmer, it's easy to learn and use Python. And it's Free.

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Homework: 1-3 hour per week

 

Curriculum/Materials

• Laptop computer required w/Windows 7 or later  (Some instructors may be able to provide one, if needed)

• 2 Textbooks:

  • Coding Games in Scratch: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide to Building Your Own Computer Games (Computer Coding for Kids) Paperback – August 6, 2019 by Jon Woodcock 

  • Coding Games in Python (Computer Coding for Kids) by DK 

• A USB flash drive is required to store student programs

Advanced Game Programming

Suggested Age:

15-18

 

Prerequisites

Intro to Game Programming OR instructor

approval

 

Purpose

In Learn to Program with Scratch, author Majed Marji uses Scratch to explain the concepts essential to solving real-world programming problems. The labeled, color-coded blocks plainly show each logical step in a given script, and with a single click, you can even test any part of your script to check your logic. You’ll learn how to:

• Harness the power of repeat loops and recursion

• Use if/else statements and logical operators to make decisions

• Store data in variables and lists to use later in your program

• Read, store, and manipulate user input

• Implement key computer science algorithms like a linear search and bubble sort

 

Hands-on projects will challenge you to create an Ohm’s law simulator, draw intricate patterns, program sprites to mimic line-following robots, create arcade-style games, and more! Each chapter is packed with detailed explanations, annotated illustrations, guided examples, lots of color, and plenty of exercises to help the lessons stick. Learn to Program with Scratch is the perfect place to start your computer science journey, painlessly.

  

Curriculum/Materials

• Laptop computer required  (Some instructors may be able to provide one, if needed)

• Textbook:  Learn to Program with Scratch: A Visual Introduction to Programming with Games, Art, Science, and Math Paperback by by Majed Marji

• A USB flash drive is required to store student programs

Java Programming

Suggested Age

15 -18 (or 12-14 with strong math background)

 

Prerequisites

• No previous computer programming courses are required.

• The student needs to be comfortable with a computer, able to download and install files from the internet.

 

Purpose

An introduction to computer programming using a modern language (Java). Students will learn the basics of programming techniques including object-orientation, design and algorithm development in a fun environment. This is a prerequisite to the advanced mobile game computing course.

 

Curriculum/Materials

• You will need to purchase the book: "Beginning Java for High School Students" through the website:
  http://computerscienceforkids.com/JavaforHomeschoolKidsProgrammingTutorial.aspx

 

The cost is $29.95. The book is an online book only. The book content is formatted as Word documents. You do not have to purchase Microsoft Word, there is free software available to view Word documents on any operating system.

 

• The software to run and develop the Java code is all free to download. The development environment will be available on a USB flash drive for students to copy on the first day of class.

• Laptops for the class are required.

 

Animation Programming with Alice

Suggested Age

14-19

 

Prerequisites

Microsoft Office for Teens and/or Web Programming for Teens OR instructor approval

 

Purpose

 We will use Alice 2.0 to learn the basics of object-oriented computer programming. Alice is an innovative 3D programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web. Alice is a teaching tool for introductory computing. It uses 3D graphics and a drag-and-drop interface to facilitate a more engaging, less frustrating first programming experience. Alice 2.4 is FREE to download to use in class & at home. 

 

Curriculum/Materials

• Laptop computer required  (Some instructors may be able to provide one, if needed)

• Textbook: Learning to Program with Alice 2.0, 3rd Ed., by Dann, Cooper & Pausch  (click this link to look inside the textbook)

• A USB flash drive to store programs on

 

Computer Science Principles

Suggested Age

15 -18

 

Prerequisites

• The student must have successfully completed a first-year high school algebra course with a strong foundation in basic linear functions and composition of functions, and problem-solving strategies that require multiple approaches and collaborative efforts.

• Students should be able to use a Cartesian ( x , y ) coordinate system to represent points in a plane. It is important that students understand that any significant computer science course builds on a foundation of mathematical and computational reasoning that will be applied throughout the study of the course.

 

Purpose

The Computer Science Principles course is designed to be equivalent to a first-semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking skills vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course engages students in the creative aspects of the field by allowing them to develop computational artifacts based on their interests. Students will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills by working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and will discuss and write about the impacts these solutions could have on their community, society, and the world.

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Curriculum/Materials

• Laptop computer required  (Some instructors may be able to provide one, if needed)

• There will be extensive homework that will be assigned and access to the internet outside of class is required. Public internet access points are available at libraries and coffee shops.