Category Archives: Coding Education

Coding Education

Interest in STEM Camps Grows Around the Country

There’s no shortage of kids interested in attending STEM camps. We see it year after year at CodeREV kids, but other areas of the country are seeing the same results. The Newark Advocate recently published an article titled Nearly 170 kids attend Newark school’s first STEM camp that tells the story of one camp’s incredible success.

Maria DeVito writes, “Jesse Freeman and Jacob Brechbill spent an hour coloring together last week. But they weren’t drawing just any picture. The two programmed a small robot to follow a path they had drawn with markers. The robot registers colors and will perform actions such as stopping, speeding up or turning around when it goes over certain hues.

“I had no clue this was even a thing,” said Jesse, an 11-year-old who will be entering sixth grade. “I’m not a big fan of coloring, but this is awesome.” Jesse and Jacob, a 10-year-old who will be a fifth-grader, both had limited experience with robots, but programming was new to them. “I don’t think I’d ever be able to have an experience like that ever,” Jesse said. “This is the first time that I’ve been able to play around with robotics, play around with color coding, and I think it’s just amazing.”

Jesse and Jacob were two of nearly 170 fourth- through ninth-grade students who participated in Newark’s first STEM camp last week, which focused on science, technology, engineering and math. The five-day camp’s theme was amusement parks; students designed carnival games and rides, learned coding, and worked with 3-D printers and circuits.

Rebecca Holloway, a seventh-grade science and pre-engineering teacher at Liberty Middle School, said it was amazing to watch the students throughout the week. “I love how they just take the challenge and they go,” she said. She has always taught middle school kids and was nervous to work with the fourth- through sixth-grade students, but her fears were unwarranted.

“I’ve been amazed at how they’re able to really plan things out. They’re taking the challenge. They’re going along with it,” she said of the younger students. “It excites me about what’s going to come up my way.” Maura Horgan, Newark’s director of curriculum and staff development, said the district provides camps for boys and girls basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports and wanted to offer a STEM camp as well. The camp was free to students, who also were provided a free lunch and transportation if needed. Because of the camp’s success in its first year, Horgan said the district will do it next year as well. Teaches have already started brainstorming about what they can do to improve the camp.”

Our experience at CodeREV has been incredibly similar. The kids who come to our summer camps, after-school classes, or any of our other offerings, are excited about science – some for the first time. Is your kid ready to join us?

Coding Education

Half of Today’s Top-Paying Jobs Require Some Level of Coding

What’s the most important thing kids could learn that they’re not learning in school? According to a recent article in MarketWatch titled Half of the high-paying jobs in America now require this skill, it’s a skill we’re passionate about at CodeREV: coding.

Catey Hill writes, “If terms like SQL, Python and JavaScript aren’t on your radar, employers may not be interested in hiring you. Roughly half of the jobs in the top income quartile — defined as those paying $57,000 or more per year — are in occupations that commonly require applicants to have at least some computer coding knowledge or skill, according to an analysis of 26 million U.S. online job postings released this month by job market analytics firm Burning Glass and Oracle Academy, the philanthropic arm of Oracle focused on computer science education, in Redwood City, Calif.

In simple terms, coders write the instructions that tell computers what to do; in-demand programming languages include SQL, Java, JavaScript, C# and Python. This high number is thanks, in part, to the fact that it’s not just technology jobs that now require at least some coding knowledge, says Alison Derbenwick Miller, the vice president of Oracle Academy. “Computing has become a tool in every industry,” which means that coding knowledge is now needed for workers across fields, she says. Indeed, everyone from business people who work with data to designers and marketers who create websites to scientists who conduct research now need at least some coding knowledge.

Employers and employees — even those who aren’t in the technology field — say the same. Jake Lane, a growth analyst at lawn care company LawnStarter, says that “having some knowledge of coding is essential for job seekers these days,” as it can help them understand the tasks of — and work more effectively with — other departments, including their tech and engineering teams.

Angela Copeland, who majored in computer science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY but subsequently moved to a marketing career, agrees: “Although I transitioned away from computer programming and into marketing, having a coding background has really helped me. First, when I’ve worked on website projects, it’s easier for me to communicate directly with developers. In the end, this causes my projects to get done faster and more accurately.”

At CodeREV, none of this is a surprise. We know that coding can help kids with their school work today and can help improve their job prospects in the future. That’s why we offer everything from after-school classes to summer camps.

Coding Education

Google Teams Up with Libraries to Teach Kids to Code

Google knows how helpful it can be to teach kids to code, which is why they teamed up with some New York Libraries. The article titled Google Teams Up With Queens Library to Offer Free Coding Classes for Kids offers some insight into the program.

Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska writes, “About 300 kids will get a chance to study computer programming with Google, which has teamed up with the Queens Library to offer free programs for them this summer. The classes, created for children from fourth through eighth grade, will initially be available at 26 branches, the library said, but more locations will be added in the fall. The Queens institution is the first library partnering with Google to offer its CS First Program, according to Joanne King, a spokeswoman for the library.

“Google approached us […] and we jumped on it because we are always looking for partnerships which will enhance the library’s STEM programs and bring more computer literacy to people in Queens,” King said.  Google will provide free coding classes to children from fourth through eighth grade at 26 Queens Library locations this summer.  Google will provide free coding classes to children from fourth through eighth grade at 26 Queens Library locations this summer. View Full Caption Getty Images

As part of the program, kids around the borough will be learning a programming language called Scratch for two weeks (for about an hour a day, four days a week). Children will follow different curriculums at various branches, using coding for several activities, including designing computer games, learning animation as well as exploring fashion and art. The overall goal, the library said, is to increase kids’ confidence in using computers and to encourage them to try new things. The program also seeks to show them how computer science can impact their future careers.

“Computer Science skills are critical to for the success of our youth and our country,” William Floyd, Google’s head of public affairs for New York, said in a statement. “By 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be 1 million more computer science jobs than graduating students who qualify to fill them.” In addition, a group of 20 high school students will be trained as apprentices to help kids in the program over the summer and later in the fall, the library said.”

At CodeREV we think this is a great problem but the good news is that you don’t have to live in Queens to get your kids involved in coding. Check out our summer camps and after-school programs designed specifically to help kids get excited and interested in coding and computer technology.

Coding Education

No Surprises: Early Access to STEM Classes Has Significant Impact

At CodeREV we’re big supporters of kids having access to hands-on STEM experiences as early as possible. A recent article is showing that when this happens in undergraduate courses, it has a rather expected effect on graduation rates. The article titled Hands-On Science in the Classroom Boosts STEM Retention Almost 25 Percent in Photonics Media lays it all out.

The author writes, “A recent study found that a student’s chances of completing a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degree significantly increases when he or she participates in course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), which engage students in hands-on research at a large scale. Researchers from the Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science analyzed data from more than 4,000 students who participated in the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at the University of Texas. Using propensity score-matching to control for student-level differences, the researchers tested the effect of participating in FRI on students’ probability of graduating with a STEM degree and their probability of completing a degree in six years. In students who completed all three semesters of FRI, likelihood of graduating increased from 66 to 83 percent, and likelihood of graduating with a STEM degree increased from 71 to 94 percent.

The results, which were similar across all demographic groups, indicate that potentially for every ten students who participate in FRI, two will graduate who would have otherwise dropped out or taken longer than six years to get an undergraduate degree; and almost three more students will earn a STEM degree because they participated in the program.

FRI puts first- and second-year undergraduates in faculty-led labs where they perform discovery-based research on questions and problems of interest to the scientific community. Students choose projects from more than 25 different areas in the life sciences, physical sciences and computer science. They have the opportunity to make discoveries that are relevant to stakeholders outside the classroom and engage in troubleshooting, problem solving, and building off one another’s progress in ways that resemble the practice of STEM.”

These are some pretty impressive statistics but it stands to reason that if you get kids involved at an even younger age, the results could be even more impressive. And that’s why CodeREV has made it our mission to do just that. Check out our summer camps for more information.

Coding Education

A New Way for Kids to Learn Coding

There’s plenty of evidence that coding is an important thing for kids to learn, yet many kids simply don’t have the resources to do so. Not everyone lives near a CodeREV program, and most parents don’t know how to code. An interesting new program may be on its way that could encourage kids to get involved. Digital Trends published an interesting article titled This Free 3D Robot Game Could Redefine How Kids Learn to Code and we’re interested to see how it all shakes out.

The article says, “It’s hard to get kids to code. Up until very recently, it was largely inaccessible, with little curricula in place and few teachers qualified to teach it. And even today, with all the progress we’ve made, it’s still complicated — I mean, come on, it’s literally a new language. But if coding could be as easy as playing a 3D game, maybe the children of the 21st century would have a whole new incentive to pick up a skill that is only becoming increasingly important. So here to save the day is Code Warriors, described as “a new 3D coding game designed with special analytics tracking for students and teachers to learn coding in and outside of the classroom.”

A product of Kuato Studios, already heralded as “the world’s leading learning-through-games studio,” Code Warriors is a JavaScript based game that is redefining how children can learn to code, but at school and at home. Available on Windows and Apple browsers alike, the new game is actually an extension of Hakitzu Elite, Kuato’s first coding game.

To play, kids must teach their robot warriors how to successfully complete a series of missions, all by way of JavaScript. Set in what the Studios call “a futuristic combat arena,” players learn how to “input increasingly sophisticated code” in order to help their avatars make their way across the arena and attack. “At the same time,” the company notes, “the player learns how to write and debug their program, and sees how using the most efficient code is beneficial.”

Is this the way of coding in the future? It’s hard to say. While it may get kids interested in coding – and that’s always a good thing – CodeREV believes in providing children with hands-on, supervised experience that encourages them to ask questions, branch out, and really let their curiosity shine.

Coding Education

Job Prospects for Coders: A Nearly 100% Placement Rate

The economy is not the best it’s ever been and tuition costs are on the rise across the country. Many of today’s young folks are worried that by the time they graduate high school and get out of college, the job market will be even worse. A recent article in Fox Business puts these fears to rest for one job in particular: Want a $70,000 Job? Head to Coding School.

The author of the article makes a strong case for coding: “With the student debt crisis ballooning, more and more students are looking for educational opportunities other than college. Tuition and fees at private universities can cost upwards of $30,000 per year and over $20,000 at public universities according to data from the College Board. But multiple studies of recent graduates have shown that the return on their expensive college investment has been weak, leaving them unemployed, underemployed and in debt.

The student loan debt management website Student Loan Hero found that approximately 14% of recent graduates did not think that their college education was worth it and 38.6% said they weren’t sure about the worth, surprisingly high percentages for a hefty investment like college.  But most still think that college is the only option for obtaining a job and financial success. So that’s why Adam Enbar co-founded The Flatiron School in New York City. The school teaches coding courses ranging in price (still a fraction of the cost of college) and boasts close to a 100% graduation rate.

Enbar tells FOXBusiness.com that coding is hard work and that anyone can do it, but he looks for passion in applicants. After graduating from Flatiron, students have excellent job placement prospects at places like Goldman Sachs (GS) and Intel (INTC) with starting salaries of upwards of $80,000.”

As you can see, there are serious prospects in the world of coding. At CodeREV we provide both after-school coding programs specific spring classes that teach kids about coding and coding-related activities in interesting, inspiring, and unique ways. Of course, you can also check out our summer camps that provide an immersive environment that’s perfect for beginners and experienced kids. Do you want more info on how coding can benefit your kid? Contact CodeREV today!

Coding Education

Why Are We Pitting Coding Against Foreign Languages?

Education as a whole is in a crisis in this country. Throughout the globe, other countries are racing past us, especially in the areas of math and science. This has led to the necessary push for more coding education.

In Silicon Valley, one entrepreneur is taking this to the “Hunger Games” level. Consider a recent article for TakePart titled “Can the ‘Hunger Games’ of Coding Solve America’s Tech Worker Shortage?” Joseph Williams of TakePart writes, “It seems like the perfect solution to a national crisis: At a time when the United States needs a million computer science graduates within the decade—and college costs are spiraling upward—a French telecom billionaire is about to open a state-of-the-art, tuition-free computer coding academy in the heart of Silicon Valley. The innovative school, simply called 42, doesn’t care about secondary school grades or SAT scores and provides free dorms for up to 300 low-income students. Although it has a goal of educating 10,000 coders over the next five years, 42 won’t have faculty or a syllabus, but it will have classrooms stocked with the latest Apple computers.”

In other cases, there are arguments for whether coding should count as a second language. While making coding a necessity is a good idea, we have an obligation to prepare our students for a globalized economy. Part of being able to succeed in a globalized economy is providing our children with all the tools to communicate and collaborate with people from all throughout the world. For the most part, these future partners come from different backgrounds and life experiences. One of the best ways to create a path for communication is being able to speak other languages. Why would we want to replace that skill when we could invest in both?

In many cases, this means investing in programs outside of the school system where children can receive mentorship from qualified, experienced teachers. If you’re looking for the best of these programs, CodeRev Kids is the place for you. At CodeRev Kids, we offer customized coding education that focuses on computational thinking. Our programs allow students to engage in robotics, website creation, and app making.

In addition to offering immersive coding programs, we also put an emphasis on having fun. As a result, our students stay engaged while they learn.

If this sounds like the place for your child, sign up for one of our classes today!

Coding Education

Coding Coming to the Aid of the Homeless

While it would be easy to dismiss coding as the trendy thing right now and more of a buzzword than a solution, the reality is that it is one of the great equalizers. Coding jobs are the future for many, and they could solve some of the problems of the present for a number of people throughout the country.

One of these major, epidemic level issues is the homeless crisis. From city to city, state to state, more and more people are finding themselves living in shelters, couch surfing, and even on the street because they don’t have any other options. While it is certainly important that we need to provide more resources to serve this growing problem, that is ultimately a survival strategy. It addresses the immediate needs. The real question is, how do we help people move forward and reverse this horrible trend?

Coding could be the answer for some. WCVB takes a look at this in a recent article titled “Boston homeless shelter empowering teenage girls through coding.” The author of the article writes, “A homeless shelter in Boston is empowering its teenage girls in an unprecedented way: by teaching them how to code. During the past school year, a dozen or so girls have been coming together one night a week to take coding classes in the humble basement of Brookview House, a homeless shelter and affordable housing complex in the Dorchester Center neighborhood of Boston. The girls, ages 13 to 18, learn how to code small programs, apps and video games in Scratch and Python, according to Deborah Hughes, the shelter’s executive director. She explained that all the girls in the club are either homeless or at risk of homelessness. ‘We decided to start this club two years ago because we believe in all the beautiful possibilities for these girls,’ Hughes told ABC News Wednesday. ‘We know getting girls into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field is a challenge, but we know what are girls are capable of and that they can overcome any challenges.’”

If you are looking to help others gain coding skills, the first step is to gain that knowledge yourself. The best way to do this is to start young.

At CodeRev Kids, we offer customized coding education for youth. Our programs include robotics, app making, and website creation. Get your child signed up as soon as possible so he/she can learn and have fun in one of our many exciting programs!

Coding Education

How Prince Quietly Launched a Coding Program for Youth

People throughout the country and the world are still reeling from the news of Prince’s passing. They are also finding out about all the things the man touched that were never previously made public. One thing that the famed artist had a passion for was coding. Consider a recent article for Quartz titled “Prince quietly helped launch a coding program for inner city youth.”

Olivia Goldhill of Quartz writes, “Though many would say Prince changed the world through his music, the artist also took a hands-on approach to changing the world beyond music. The global superstar was the inspiration behind YesWeCode, an Oakland nonprofit, which works to help young people from minority backgrounds enter the tech world. The idea for the program came from a conversation between Prince and his friend Van Jones, who heads Rebuild the Dream charity, following the 2012 shooting of teenager Travoyn Martin. ‘Prince said … ‘A black kid wearing a hoodie might be seen as a thug. A white kid wearing a hoodie might be seen as a Silicon Valley genius. Let’s teach the black kids how to be like Mark Zuckerberg.’’ Jones told CNN. The program is aiming to teach 100,000 low-income non-white teenagers how to write code, and was launched at the 20th Anniversary Essence Festival in New Orleans in 2014—which Prince headlined on the condition that YesWeCode was included in the event. The organization now has 15 technology companies working with youth to help prepare them for Silicon Valley Jobs. Currently, the nonprofit’s website has a page dedicated to thanking Prince. ‘When you think about how great he was as a musician, just please understand that’s a part of the greatness,’ says Jones in a statement. Since Prince’s death, Jones, a former White House advisor on green jobs, also revealed that Prince helped fund environmental group Green for All, another nonprofit founded by Jones, which aims to bring solar panels to Oakland.”

When it comes to customized coding education, your best bet is CodeRev Kids. At CodeRev Kids, our lessons focus on computational thinking, which encompasses a wide variety of programming languages and concepts.

Our lessons build upon one another and we adjust starting points to each student’s level of expertise. Thus, the entire curriculum is customized. We are known for saying we are the most educational tech camp out there, but we also keep the focus on having fun. As a result, students stay engaged while learning to blend creativity with technology.

Sign up for one of our camps today!

Coding Education

16-Year-Old Takes Coding to the Next Level

When you learn coding early on, you can impact your community in a variety of ways, even at a young age. Consider a recent article for the San Jose Mercury News titled “Coding: 16-year-old Fremont student writes AP test-prep book, creates online course.”

Sharon Noguchi of the San Jose Mercury News writes, “Moksh Jawa, 16, captures the essence of Silicon Valley startup thinking and energy. ‘Why not?’ might be his motto. As a seventh-grader, he studied up on the Internet and taught himself coding. As a freshman, after studying on his own, he passed the AP Computer Science A exam with a 5, the highest score possible. As a sophomore, because his Fremont high school didn’t teach coding, he developed his own online course and shepherded classmates through it. As a junior, he distilled those lessons into a 450-page test-prep book, now sold on Amazon. What’s next? Lots more. Jawa is a young man on a mission to spread the wonders and dispel fears of computer science. Quickly. On Tuesday, leaders of tech, government and education petitioned Congress to invest in computer science education. Even if Congress responds, it could take years for schools to see any funds, juggle schedules, hire teachers and enroll students — even as the University of California steadfastly refuses to credit computer science as anything other than an elective course, a stance that discourages high schoolers from enrolling. But Jawa is in too much of a hurry to wait for institutional action. ‘I’ve never met a Mark Zuckerberg or a Sheryl Sandberg, but that’s the type of drive Moksh has,’ said Mike Jan, who advises the computer science club that Jawa started at Washington High. His interest started in middle school, when his father gave him a link to Codeacademy, an online coding boot camp. He learned Python, an intermediate programming language. ‘I just fell in love with computer science,’ Jawa said. He found everything he needed to know online: ‘Every time you encounter a problem, the chances are that someone else has, too, and has figured it out.’”

If you’re looking for quality, customized coding education, your best bet is CodeRev Kids. At CodeRev Kids, our lessons focus on computational thinking, which encompasses a wide variety of programming languages and concepts.

Our lessons build upon one another and we adjust starting points to each student’s level of expertise. Thus, the entire curriculum is customized. We are known for saying we are the most educational tech camp out there, but we also keep the focus on having fun. As a result, students stay engaged while learning to blend creativity with technology.

Sign up for one of our camps today!