Coding Education

6 Skills Kids Can Learn by Studying Robotics

Do kids have fun studying robotics? You bet they do! But one of the best things about this field of study is that it can teach them a variety of skills – many of which kids may not even know they’re learning. At CodeREV Kids we’re always excited to see kids develop on their own and here are six ways they can do that by studying robotics.

1. Kids build their scientific knowledge

When kids work with robotics, they learn all sorts of scientific concepts like light, force, speed, sound, electromagnetics, and more. They learn how to use the right tools for different purposes. They learn not just how to use these concepts within the world of robotics but beyond.

2. Kids learn more about technology

It’s no surprise that kids learn technological skills while studying robotics but you may be surprised by how far these skills can take them. Believe it or not, programming is becoming a highly sought after language and kids can learn everything from Android to Apple. They’ll learn the basic tenants of coding and how what they do can create robotic movement.

3. Kids get a solid foundation in engineering

Do you think your kid is too young to learn about engineering? Think again. By engaging in robotics, kids will learn how to create a problem statement, how to analyze it, and how to design and test solutions. These are the same steps that professional engineers take when faced with a problem.

4. Mathmatic skills are increased

Applied mathematics is an integral part of every CodeREV Kids class. No matter where they are in their math skills, we can help improve them simply by teaching them robotic skills. They’ll learn everything from measurements to creating and using formulas.

5. Kids will learn how to collaborate

Does your child have trouble working win groups? Whether they’re simply shy or they prefer to work alone, by learning robotics they’ll also learn how important it can be to collaborate to solve problems, plan solutions, allocate tasks, and execute tasks as a group. Similar to how they would perform a team sport, they’ll divide tasks and rotate to complete them throughout a specific project.

6. Kids can learn the basics of marketing

Depending on the specific class your child takes with us, they may prepare and present their solution and their robotics program to the other groups. This requires them to think critically in a different way and can boost their marketing knowledge.

Coding Education

A Parent’s Guide to Minecraft Modding

If you’re one of the many parents who’s heard about Minecraft modding from your kids but aren’t exactly sure what it is, then CodeREV Kids is here to help. Believe it or not, your kids are learning a lot from this process but there are ways you can ensure they get the most from this learning experience.

What exactly is Minecraft?

Often compared to Legos, Minecraft is a game that takes place online and allows players to build and then explore worlds they create out of 3D blocks. Anything your kids imagine can be built. One of the reasons this game is so popular is because it’s completely open-ended, which allows them to use their imaginations to make it whatever they want it to be. It’s also a great way for them to learn about the power of perseverance and troubleshooting.

The basics of Minecraft modding

Modding can involve everything from minor changes like making rainbow-colored chickens, to significant changes that impact the entire game. Modding is a way for your kids to build structures with code instead of having to use one block at a time. In fact, they can make their own game within the game if they’re able to program new sets of rules and situations.

There can be issues with Minecraft modding

At CodeREV Kids we’re big fans of Minecraft modding but it can be very challenging for non-programmers – which is why there are many ways for kids to “learn” modding. The problem with these programs are aplenty:

  • They don’t really teach kids to code
  • Kids simply use pre-made mods they download online and copy and paste the files
  • There’s no natural progression that allows kids to evolve as modders
  • Parents are forced to pay for servers and set up files
  • These servers could be insecure or unsafe.

Work with CodeREV Kids for a totally different experience

When you send your kids to coding classes with CodeREV kids, we don’t just give them codes to copy and paste, we teach them to code and create their own Minecraft mods. We do this in ways that are fun and creative and show them how coding can be a tool that will bring their imagination to life. We cover everything they need, from tools to servers, and your kids can learn at their own pace. To learn more about our many options, contact us today!

Coding Education

You May Be Surprised by the Ways Coding Can Help Your Children Excel

If you’re like many parents, you may think of coding as a technical skill. While it certainly is a technical skill, it’s also a lot more. It helps kids interact with the digital world in a different way and encourages them to become makers instead of doers. Studies have shown that coding improves computational thinking skills, which can give incredible advantages you may not have thought.

Coding is a great way for your children to practice math in the real world

People used to say that if a person is interested in programming then they should get good at math. Now it looks like the opposite may be true. Parents and educators alike agree that when kids learn how to code, their math skills are naturally improved – and they claim that math is more fun. Indeed, it certainly ends that age-old question kids typically have of math: When are we even going to use this?

Coding can help improve writing skills

Above all else, coding is creative. It allows children to combine their love of technology with a (sometimes) newfound love of art. Kids can tell interactive stories, they can create their own storytelling parties, and they can learn new skills that will improve their writing – all while having the time of their lives.

If you want to boost creativity then coding is a great place to start

There’s plenty of research out there that creativity isn’t just something we’re born with – it’s a skill that can be taught and that can be developed. When kids learn coding, they cultivate three qualities that can all improve creativity:

  1. Whole-brain thinking
  2. A desire to become a creator
  3. The mindset of an experimenter

Confidence is important and coding can help increase it

Don’t get stuck thinking that the only reason you’d want your kid to learn how to code is because you want them to grow up and become a programmer. While it’s true that it may open up doors in the future – in a variety of fields – it’s also true that psychologists agree that the way to boost confidence in kids is to boost independence and problem-solving. Coding can do all that and more.

Are you ready to learn more? CodeREV Kids is here to teach your kids the fundamentals of this exciting, invigorating, and creative field.

Coding Education

Top 4 Reasons to Give Your Daughter Coding Lessons

At CodeREV Kids we believe that every child can benefit from learning to code. Unfortunately, we live in a world where boys are often encouraged to go into STEM fields more than girls are. We urge the parents of girls to get them involved too! Here are just four of the many reasons it’s a great move.

1. Coding is a lot of fun!

Once your daughter learns how to code, she’ll be able to express herself in totally new ways. She can design games, build her own apps, and turn almost any idea into a virtual reality that’s within her reach. It can be used for all sorts of school work from art projects to math problems. Teaching girls to code gives them a feeling of ownership and a sense of pride in what they’ve created.

2. Coding teaches critical thinking skills

When a kid learns to code, they’re learning more than just how to copy and paste. They’re actually developing logic and analytical reasoning intuitively. This can help your daughter excel in any area she’d like to explore in the future. She can transfer these skills from the computer to the real world. And that’s a win-win.

3. It’s the language of the 21st Century

Did you know that some schools are starting to allow kids to take coding classes and counting them toward their foreign language credits? That may seem crazy to someone who hasn’t ever learned to code but the truth is that coding makes it easier to learn other languages and it promotes some of the other elements that are considered advantages of learning another language. It helps kids learn roots, structures, and critical thinking – all of which are part of learning another language.

4. It shouldn’t be thought of as a “boys field”

Today there are tons of organizations that exist just to encourage girls to code. Why coding? Because it boosts self-esteem. Because it encourages both independent thinking and group-working. Because it’s a way for kids to not just use technology but interact with it.

At CodeREV, we think these are all worthwhile reasons for anyone to learn coding but we feel it’s especially important for girls to know that they’re welcome and encouraged to be a part of this field. Are you interested in getting your son or daughter involved in coding? CodeREV’s classes are designed to do just that!

Coding Education

Where Do You Stand? Should Coding Be Counted as a Foreign Language?

There’s a movement by some parents and a group of lawmakers to get computer coding classes counted as foreign language credits in schools across the country. While it did hit a snag recently, those who feel strongly that they should be counted as school credits aren’t giving up. Then again, neither is the side that thinks they shouldn’t be counted. Where do you fall?

The current hubbub is going in Florida, where a former executive at Yahoo has proposed a bill that would have allowed high schools to provide coding classes and to have them counted as foreign language credits. Supporters say there are a lot of reasons to do this, including the fact that more kids would sign up for coding and they’d gain essential skills for the workplace. The bill actually passed the state Senate but wasn’t able to pass in the Florida house. Other states are considering it too, including Georgia and Washington.

In Texas, high school students have been able to count computer science classes as foreign language credits for several years – but the student must have already taken a foreign language class and not done well in it. Supporters of that type of bill state that it’s a great choice for kids who don’t have an easy time with foreign languages.

Those who support proposals to allow any student to use a coding class in place of a foreign language have some solid points to make. First, they point out that most students don’t take enough foreign language classes to become fluent and most don’t ever use what they’ve learned again in their life. They also say that coding is a language – and that it can be useful for kids for the rest of their lives.

Of course, those who don’t support the measures have their own strong points too. For example, they say that exchanging a skill isn’t the same thing as learning a foreign language. They also say that learning a language isn’t the only reason for foreign language classes. They’re also designed to teach students about different cultures and different ways of communicating.

Where do you stand? At CodeREV Kids, we’re on the record as supporting the idea that kids need to learn coding. In fact, we have a convenient description of exactly why coding is important. We’re also here to help your kids learn, whether your public schools offer options or not.

Coding Education

How Important is it to Teach Children to Code?

Coders are highly paid, in high demand, and have opportunities at some of the biggest companies in the world. You’d think this would be enough for schools to start teaching coding but it’s not the case in countries like Australia – or in many parts of the U.S. Though a recent article in PC World, We must teach kids coding: The keys to a digital future focuses on Australian children, it’s just as applicable here in the states.

Kids are especially suitable to get into coding

Today’s children grow up with technology, for better or worse. They are essentially natives of the digital age and are especially poised to take on the challenges of today’s coding jobs. That said, the article points out that this experience could actually be part of the problem. Kids of yesteryear were passionate about finding ways to improve technology but today’s advances are so impressive that they’re no longer wondering how to do so.

There are many reasons it’s a good idea to get kids involved in coding

The article lists a number of reasons that it’s to everyone’s advantage to get kids involved in coding. First, the author discusses how it’s a great way to get kids inspired. There’s no question that the great advances of the past were a result of curious, inspired individuals. When kids get involved in coding, they’re engaging not just with the power of it, but with how it can help to both control and change the world.

It’s also a great way to help kids get ready for a future that will surely be full of interconnection at every turn. For example, when kids learn coding they’re not just being creative but are actually experiencing that creativity. They learn that that computer programming is fun. Whether they’re building robots, learning Minecraft, or something entirely different they’ll be challenged by technology like never before – and more in tune with the different processes that work together to create their favorite games.

There’s an easy way to get your kids involved

The good news is that you don’t have to wait for your local school to get on board with coding. Instead, turn to CodeREV Kids and let us inspire and teach your children. We have classes designed for kids of virtually every age and we also offer summer camps to get kids immersed in technology. Are you ready to learn more? Give us a call today!

Skills

Why Should You Choose CodeREV’s Vanilla Minecraft Server

Your kids love Minecraft and you love to know they’re safe and protected. CodeREV Kids has the perfect option to combine these two needs. Our vanilla server lets your kids play Minecraft with other kids, learn more about the platform, and play in an online environment that’s completely safe and always monitored.

Your kids will have access to popular plugins

Of course, the best safety in the world won’t work well if your kids want to log on to another server because they can’t get what they want. That’s why we offer not only the most popular plugins that kids play with online, but some we made just for our server. We have a truly expansive hub world and an enormous amount of fantastic stuff for kids to enjoy. There’s always something new to be discovered.

Some of the features you can expect with our Minecraft server

When you choose the CodeREV Kids vanilla Minecraft server, your kids will have access to a ton of features including:

  • A full economy that’s totally player driven.
  • A server that’s constantly monitored to ensure kids get a positive, clean, safe experience.
  • Minigames (in the process right now).
  • Only players we’ve approved have access to our server.
  • A huge player hub.
  • Block protection.
  • Anti-triefing plugins.

You have options in Minecraft servers

We know you have many options but we know we’re better than your other choices. Why? For a number of reasons, including these three:

  1. We’re smaller than many others which gives us more control when administrating the server.
  2. We’re super active in both building and helping players.
  3. We offer custom plugins that aren’t available anywhere else.

Our staff knows Minecraft in and out, from building to designing to engineering and beyond. Whether your kid wants to create a sprawling city or functional computer, we can help. We have filled our world with landmarks for kids to discover or they can become builders and create their own landmarks. We are highly versed in what needs to be done to ensure a safe, fun, educational experience for every child.

Of course, our server is hosted on blazing fast SSDs, a huge amount of DDR4 ECC RAM, the best Intel Xenon processors available, and an entire gigabit connection to ensure an incredible experience. Are you still not sure if this is the right choice? Take a look at our available Minecraft modded servers too.

Skills

5 Reasons Minecraft is Great for Kids

Minecraft, a build-and-survive game currently owned by Microsoft, is widely popular amongst children. This may give parents pause but the truth is that this is actually a great game for kids to get involved in. Here are five reasons CodeREV Kids thinks Minecraft is great for kids.

1. It boosts their creativity

Think of Minecraft like Legos for the computer. Your child can build virtually anything they set their mind to, but the great thing about it is that they can build even if they have no experience. Just like with Legos, they may start off with simple structures and blocks, but as they gain confidence there’s no limit to what they can create.

2. The skills it teaches can be used in the real world

There are many skills kids will learn while mastering Mindcraft that can be very useful in the real world. For example, resource management is integral to creating anything in the game, cost-benefit analysis is needed constantly, patience is a must, perseverance is required, and teamwork can also be learned if your kid plays online.

3. It can be played anywhere

Most video games work on specific systems or require specific hardware to work. On the other hand, Minecraft can be played just about anywhere, including on computers, tablets, smartphones, the vast majority of video game systems, and a number of handheld gaming systems.

4. It’s a kid-friendly option

Many parents don’t feel comfortable with the violence that’s present in many video games. While there are some elements of fighting in Minecraft, the graphics are made of blocks and there is no blood. There’s also a “peaceful” mode that can be turned on. If you choose it, your kids will play without enemies and it will be all but impossible to die.

5. Everyone in the family can get involved

Not only is it a great game for kids to play but their parents, siblings, and other family members can get involved too. You can teach them how to be good sports when things don’t go as planned, you can turn the game off when it’s time, and you can help give them advice. You can even create a character of your own and jump into their game from a smartphone, tablet, or other computer.

Are you interested in getting your kid involved in Minecraft? Let CodeREV Kids help pave the way!

Skills

Tips for Improving a Child’s Problem-Solving Skills

It’s important that kids know how to solve problems yet many adults aren’t sure exactly how to teach them. For many people, problem-solving is something that’s simply done – we don’t always think about the processes we follow. Here are some tips to help get your kids on the right track with essential problem-solving skills.

Start by teaching your child to evaluate problems

Before a problem can be solved, it must be identified. Just stating what the problem is can help a child develop. Once they’ve identified the problem, the next step is for the child to think of several possible solutions. Look to brainstorm three or more possible solutions, discuss each solution’s pros and cons, and then together work with your child to decide which of the solutions is best. Stress that if they choose a solution that doesn’t work, they can try another solution.

Discuss problems with your child

When your child encounters a problem, avoid the urge to solve it for them. If you see them struggling, allow them the chance to solve it on their own. If they aren’t able to do so, then step in and help them find the solution themselves. Try role modeling problem-solving to give your child ideas on what to do in real life. Work together with your child on the solution. Praise them when they do well. Talk about their progress and go back to solutions if one doesn’t work.

Allow your child to experience consequences

When a child has to deal with natural consequences, they’ll have to make a choice and face the consequences themselves. Obviously you don’t want to make them face any consequences that put their safety at risk, but if they want to spend all their money, or they want to skip their homework, allowing them to do so and then not bailing them out will teach them more than punishing them.

Enroll your child in classes that promote problem-solving

There aren’t problem-solving classes but there are great options that naturally teach kids how to identify and solve problems. CodeREV Kids offers coding and robotics classes that help kids gain confidence, learn useful skills, and yes, improve their problem-solving skills. Learn more about why coding is a great choice for kids and then reach out to us with questions. We look forward to helping your child learn how to solve problems on their own.

Coding Curriculum

Book Recommendations for Kid Coders

More and more kids are getting interesting in coding and that interest is spilling out in other areas of their lives. One of the things we get so excited about at CodeREV Kids is that kids don’t just learn to code but they learn to think critically, solve problems, and work independently within a team. We’re excited to see how many books are being released that deal with kid coders. Here are a few that have come across our radar recently.

Ruby Wizardry: An Introduction to Programming for Kids by Erin Weinstein

In this lovely book, the author includes lesson on programming as well as an introduction to it by introducing Ruby, a free, open-source platform. Initially the lessons are pretty basic but they get more challenging as the book continues. As a result, it’s a good choice for both beginning and advanced coders.

So, You Want to Be a Coder? by Jane (J.M.) Bedell

Do you have a kid who’s interested in coding but has a lot of questions about what a job in the industry would really look like? Then this is a great choice for them. It includes short interviews with people currently working in the industry – including a few teenagers who have started businesses of their own. There are also quizzes to help kids decide if coding is a good choice for them, along with ideas for future education and coding camps to increase experience.

Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas

Part picture book and part activity book, this work follows Ruby as she goes through her world and solves problems she encounters. The story itself doesn’t actually teach coding – it reinforces the skills and ideas that are so important in the coding world. For example, Ruby looks for patterns, breaks large problems into smaller, solvable ones, makes plans, and adapts when plans don’t come together as expected. In the second half, there are activities that kids can use to practice the skills Ruby showed in the story. These are thinking, problem-solving activities that don’t require a computer.

Books are great but there’s no substitute for hands-on experience

At CodeREV Kids, we love the idea that books can spark an interest but we believe there’s no substitute for real, hands-on experience. That’s why we offer a number of online classes for kids to code. Contact us to get more information about your options.