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Have a conversation about programming with your student to help get them started.
Start the conversation about programming
Programming careers attract people with all types of skills and interests. They can involve things like gaming, art, and math. Programming careers attract people with all types of skills and interests. They can involve things like gaming, art, and math. You can program on your own or as part of a group. You’ll often see engineers discussing ideas with each other to find the best way to solve a program. You may also see them coding on their own – it just depends on what the job or the project requires. There are a lot of careers that involve computer programming where you don’t need an engineering degree. One example is programming a website. You can create a website without being an engineer. If you don’t have any experience in computer programming but want to help your child or another learner get involved in computer programming, you can. There are many resources available on our Start Programming page that you can introduce them to and you can also provide them with encouragement and moral support when necessary. There are so many amazing learning tools out there to learn computer programming without having to be in a classroom. Check out the Start Programming section of our website to see what works best for you or your learner. One great thing about coding is you can get started at almost any age. There are even options for learning programming without a computer if you are concerned about too much screen time for younger learners or don’t have easy access to a computer.
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Did you know?
While learning computer programming, you or your student may come across these terms. Code is a written set of instructions that tells the computer what to do. When you put the code (or instructions) into the computer, it can read those instructions and will do what you asked. A computer program is a group of instructions or a bunch of lines of code that execute a specific task. This could be as simple as calculating a few numbers or could be more complex, like building Facebook. Websites, games, and apps are all examples of computer programs. Computer science is the study of how to write the code in the best way and to understand how computers work. People often use coding and programming to mean the same thing – as each are the act of writing code. Programming also includes thinking through how the code is organized as it is being written. Just like how there are many languages that people speak in the world, there are many computer programming languages. The difference between languages people speak versus computer programming languages is that different programming languages do different things. For example, to build a website you might use the languages Python, HTML, CSS or JavaScript. For a mobile app, you might use Java or Objective C. For video games, you might use C++. The language that is selected depends on what you are trying to create and what you are trying to get the computer to do. The internet is a gigantic network of computers all interacting with each other. Code runs each of the individual computers and also makes it so they can communicate with each other. An app (or mobile application) is a computer program on your phone. Many people download apps, like games, maps or Facebook onto their phones using the internet.
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Words you may hear
In the Start Programming section of this website, you will find resources, including online classes, events in your area, games, and many more tools to learn computer programming. Many of our resources are free or low-cost and are organized by age, skill level and types of resources so you can find the best fit for your students. Click the ‘Start Programming’ button below to find great resources for learning computer programming.
Get matched with tools to learn programming
Get them learning
For some students, a great method to learn computer programming is in groups, where they can support each other throughout the learning process. Create a group of friends, classmates or others in your community. Get together weekly or monthly to work through TechPrep suggested resources. Find online communities, summer camps and other group activities in the Start Programming section of this website. Visit local libraries or schools that may have computers that groups can use to learn coding.
Learn in a group
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Explore the Start Programming section to find online classes, after school activities, summer camps, and community events. Libraries will often have computers available for use and sometimes offer computer classes. You can also find books and magazines on programming at the library. Visit local science or technology centers in your area. Find centers in your area here. Subscribe to different technology channels on YouTube, then watch these videos with your children and discuss the topics together. Here are a few to start: Consider dedicating a small, consistent time period each day, week or month for coding practice. Shorter sessions each day or every other day, are far more effective than longer sessions every once in a while. This is an excellent way to build a consistent routine which will promote improvement.
Learn at home
Ask your student’s teacher: Are computer or programming classes available during school? After school? How often does my child use computers or other technology in class? Ask your student’s principal: Do teachers get training on how to use technology in their classrooms? Can my child use a computer after school? Does the school sponsor an Hour of Code? Ask your student’s counselor: What kinds of classes or activities could help my child become a computer science major in college? Are there any opportunities for my child to talk to or meet a programmer?
Talk to your school
Help them succeed
The resources found on this website are designed to make learning how to write code interesting, enjoyable and rewarding. Your student may find the resources engaging, but they may also have times when the going gets tough and problems will need to be worked through. Learning a new skill involves hard work and overcoming obstacles. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Help them succeed
Take the next step and become a mentor yourself. In this role, you can experience computer programming and help family, friends and/or community members discover the joys of it as well.
Becoming a mentor
TechPrep matches you with tools to learn programming