Starting a Program in Your Library
If you are a librarian and would like to start one of our programs in your library, please read the information below. Starting a coding program is a collaboration between your library and our organization.
Libraries in the Bay Area
For libraries in the Bay area, we take care of all the logistics.
Some of the things we provide:
What do we need from libraries?
Libraries outside of the Bay Area
For libraries outside of the Bay area, we provide training through Skype/WebEx to the librarians and teen volunteers to get them started on selected workshops.
Libraries in the Bay Area
For libraries in the Bay area, we take care of all the logistics.
Some of the things we provide:
- Online registration and finalizing the student list for workshops
- Managing student list and attendance
- All email communication with students on what they need to bring for the session/how they should prepare
- Creating a flyer for the program with your library logo included
- Projector and projector screen
- Loaner laptops for students who do not have laptops
What do we need from libraries?
- Advertise the program (online/flyers)
- Access to desktops/community room for 2 hours a week for the duration of the workshop. It is ideal to do these programs using library desktops. But, if the library is not able to provide desktops, we can still do this program by requesting the kids to bring their laptops
Libraries outside of the Bay Area
For libraries outside of the Bay area, we provide training through Skype/WebEx to the librarians and teen volunteers to get them started on selected workshops.
Starting Coding For Kids Workshop
Coding for Kids is primarily targeted towards elementary school children. The goal of the program is to teach concepts of computer science and programming using various visual programming languages like Tynker and Scratch.
Duration
To get a good understanding of visual programming, we advise that the workshops consist of 3-4 1.5 hour sessions. Schedule the sessions on weekends to maximize the attendance.
Equipment
In these workshops, Kids learn programming using online resources. Ideally, it would be good to reserve the technology room for these workshops and have one desktop per student. The desktop just needs to have an internet connection. If the library does not have desktops to spare or if the library cannot reserve it's technology room for these sessions, the other option is to request kids to bring their own laptops or Chromebooks.
Teen Volunteers
Teen volunteers best teach the coding sessions. To run a Coding for Kids program, volunteers do not need any programming experience. The material is very simple to learn and teach. If the library is located in Bay Area, we can help you find volunteers through a Volunteer Match program or through our contacts. If the library is located outside of the Bay Area, please try to find volunteers by advertising in Volunteer Match (http://www.volunteermatch.org) or by contacting local high schools students. It is nice to have a volunteer to kids ratio of 1:5. So, if the library can host 20 kids for this program, we advise that they have four volunteer teachers.
Once we identify the volunteers, we go over the program details with them either face to face or through Skype and give them enough information to run the Coding for Kids sessions on their own. We also give them access to all the materials and projects we have created so that they don't have to worry about preparing the class material on their own.
Workshop Details
The basic structure of the sessions are as follows:
Session 1 ( Introduction to Visual Programming)
Session 2 (Game Design)
Other Support
Duration
To get a good understanding of visual programming, we advise that the workshops consist of 3-4 1.5 hour sessions. Schedule the sessions on weekends to maximize the attendance.
Equipment
In these workshops, Kids learn programming using online resources. Ideally, it would be good to reserve the technology room for these workshops and have one desktop per student. The desktop just needs to have an internet connection. If the library does not have desktops to spare or if the library cannot reserve it's technology room for these sessions, the other option is to request kids to bring their own laptops or Chromebooks.
Teen Volunteers
Teen volunteers best teach the coding sessions. To run a Coding for Kids program, volunteers do not need any programming experience. The material is very simple to learn and teach. If the library is located in Bay Area, we can help you find volunteers through a Volunteer Match program or through our contacts. If the library is located outside of the Bay Area, please try to find volunteers by advertising in Volunteer Match (http://www.volunteermatch.org) or by contacting local high schools students. It is nice to have a volunteer to kids ratio of 1:5. So, if the library can host 20 kids for this program, we advise that they have four volunteer teachers.
Once we identify the volunteers, we go over the program details with them either face to face or through Skype and give them enough information to run the Coding for Kids sessions on their own. We also give them access to all the materials and projects we have created so that they don't have to worry about preparing the class material on their own.
Workshop Details
The basic structure of the sessions are as follows:
Session 1 ( Introduction to Visual Programming)
- Do an Hour of Code with the kids using Code.org
- Set up Tynker accounts and two simple projects to get students acquainted to Tynker
Session 2 (Game Design)
- Kids code a simple game (one of the 12 projects we have developed using Tynker) along with the teacher volunteers. At the end of this project, kids have basic understanding of the elements involved in a game design (like adding characters, making characters do different things, scoring the game etc)
- Kids will be taught slightly more advanced topics in games/stories/puzzle development.
- At the end of the session, kids are formed into teams of 2-3 for the final project. Kids discuss with their teammates and come up with an idea for the final project
- Teams finish coding their projects
- Teams demonstrate their projects to the entire class
- Volunteer teachers pick 2-3 innovative projects as winning projects
- All kids get certificates of completion and goodies
Other Support
- We are always available (through email and Skype sessions) to answer any questions/queries.
- We will provide the templates for Flyer, Certificate of Completion etc.
- If the library does not have online registration system, we can open up registration using Eventbrite or we can show you how to open up the registration yourself.
- For libraries in the Bay Area, we will attend 1-2 sessions and make sure the sessions are going as planned and kids are getting the most out of it.
Starting Other Workshops
All other workshops (Java, Python, Advanced Java, HTML, App Development and Robotics) require teen volunteers to have previous background/course-work related to the programs.
Our Support
Our Support
- We created a comprehensive and innovative curriculum that consists of classroom teaching and the unique online course. The online course consists of an innovative study guide with many multiple choice questions and exercises.
- For the Bay Area sessions, we identify and train all the volunteer teachers.
- For libraries outside of the Bay Area, please advertise in the Volunteer Match website or in the local high schools for volunteers.
- After volunteers are identified, we will give them special one-one training and make sure they are ready to teach. We provide them with all the material, so they do not have to prepare any of the material themselves.
Starting After-School Coding Clubs
Many middle and high school librarians have contacted us expressing interest in starting after school coding clubs in their local school libraries.
Starting a coding club is a piece of cake with the amount of online resources available for teaching kids programming. Gather a couple of students who have some programming experience and request them to be part of the club. Having some club members with programming knowledge is helpful - in case some students have any questions or need help. Even basic knowledge of any programming language is okay. The clubs can meet once a week. Activities could be picked based on popular interest.
Suggestions for Activities (with Links to Online Resources)
Starting a coding club is a piece of cake with the amount of online resources available for teaching kids programming. Gather a couple of students who have some programming experience and request them to be part of the club. Having some club members with programming knowledge is helpful - in case some students have any questions or need help. Even basic knowledge of any programming language is okay. The clubs can meet once a week. Activities could be picked based on popular interest.
Suggestions for Activities (with Links to Online Resources)
- (1-2 weeks): A few hours of code for students who were never exposed to any programming language before. Students should try to do all the exercises here
- (3-4 weeks): Web design is very popular among middle and high school students. Students can learn web design (create a simple web page and add elements to it) here
- (3-4 weeks): For students with no programming background, Python is probably the easiest language to learn. Try the tutorial here where students code in Python in an interactive way. If students really like Python, they can also learn on their own by taking the CodeAcademy class here
- (3-4 weeks): Highly motivated middle school students can also learn Java online using the resources here.
- (3-4 weeks): JavaScript is another programming language that is widely used in web applications and for creating games/apps. Students can learn JavaScript at Khan Academy class here and other online resources here