Category Archives: Coding Curriculum

What grid stability means for your kids

Kids ResourcesThe population will continue to grow in the coming decades, and with that growth, the country may start to feel resource constraints. This also means that there will be a growing amount of electricity demand as this growth will increase the amount of electricity and technology in use with it. Recently, it has become clear that the grid will have to be maintained and upgraded to meet this demand.

California is already starting to do this. PGE is currently investing a large amount of money and resources in both renewable energy generation and in upgrading the grid management system. This has required the construction of new buildings, transmission wires, servers, and other associated grid components in preparation for the influx of energy generation and demand. This will form what is commonly known as a “smart grid.” Really, what that means is that more of the grid will be monitored and controlled directly by centralized computer systems controlled by knowledgeable grid engineers.  Other states need to catch on to what California is doing, and they need to do this soon, no matter the cost. Otherwise things won’t be so great. We’ll all start calling the summer “rolling blackout season”

This will be something that your children will take part in. It will be a larger problem for their generation than ours. Hopefully many of these issues will be solved by the time our children reach adulthood, but it is not out of the question for grid stability to continue to be a challenge for the US and the rest of the world throughout the coming decades. For this reason, it is wise to educate your children concerning what they can do to help. Many of these problems require high-level engineering training to be truly solved. Helping your children learn skills that can serve as the backbone for a career in energy distribution or renewable energy can give them the leg up they need in life. CodeRev Kids is a great organization in California which does just that. They teach children as young as 6 years old to love the computer, the internet, and coding through the innovative classes on fun topics like robotics, game design, web site design, and even more advanced coding topics. With a technological introduction like this, your children will be primed for the intensive problems awaiting them.

Recent teen invention prize shows the need for encouraging STEM careers in young people

pittsburghRecently, in Pittsburgh, PA, Intel hosted a large invention competition called the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which involved more than 1700 high school contestants from over 400 different schools.

Two brothers developed advanced computational software to analyze the interaction of cancer cell gene fragments with proteins. Inventions in the modern world often fall into two categories. Oftentimes, a new invention will either improve previous inventions in some way. The second type of new invention is something that is completely new. Many of both of these types of inventions end up involving applications of computer programming in one way or another. Integration of computers and programming into every part of science, technology, and day to day life is part of the forefront of innovation throughout the world. These two brothers did just that by using programming to further medical science.

While this was just one of many entrants and prize recipient projects presented at ISEF, it is indicative of the type of innovation we need in the near future. All of these teens were chosen to participate because they sought ways to perfect or innovate an old problem with new technology and know-how.

I know that you are wondering what good this does your kids. Well, if you want your children to have the opportunity to create something that may be worthy for something like ISEF, it is a good idea to start early. Instill and encourage a love of science and technology in your child outside of school. CodeRev Kids is a great Santa Monica, CA company which specializes in teaching children how to program and be creative with computer technology. Their programs for children as young as 6 years old can be a great first step in creating an enriching life in a STEM career for your child. CodeRev offers a variety of hands-on programs which cover fun areas of computers and programming, from robotics to website and video game design. They can learn great new skills than can even get them a job later in life while have a huge amount of fun. Look at those teenagers at ISEF. I bet a few of them had parents that did such things.

A Glimpse into the Future of Coding

CodingWe know that coding is the future in terms of necessary skills to succeed in the globalized economy. However, what’s the future of coding? BBC tackles this question in a recent article titled “Coding the future: What will the future of computing look like?

Padraig Belton of BBC writes, “The spread of computing to new platforms – down to your car and toaster – will bring new challenges in building bigger, more connected systems. Scripting languages tend to be loosely typed, allowing a single variable to contain a number, a bit of text, or other character. This makes writing small programmes easier, faster, and more fragile. Agile development has been another new trend, with frequent feedback between programmers and users – the gov.uk website is an example. But then you have the million-line behemoth programmes, with more opportunities for inconsistencies and bugs to creep in. Another trend has been an increased number of languages coming out of the corporate world, rather than universities. This permits companies to have more control over which direction the languages take. ‘Nowadays, by accident, Facebook have a million lines of PHP, and they wish they didn’t,’ says Alan Mycroft, professor of computing at Cambridge University.”

Belton also gives a glimpse into the future of Britain’s students in terms of coding. He writes, “Worldwide, the number of people working in programming is in the order of 15 million. This number is not rising fast enough, even though the number of things to be programmed is. India produces roughly 100,000 computer science graduates annually. By comparison, Britain produces roughly a tenth of that. Good news for qualified programmers, less so for tech companies facing talent shortages. ‘That’s why we work with organisations like Code Club, Young Rewired State and Raspberry Pi to inspire young people to get involved with coding and digital technology,’ says Eileen Noughton, managing director of Google UK.”

Here in Santa Monica, we’re doing our part at CodeREV. Our CodeREV Kids program offers customized coding education to students through afterschool programs and summer tech camps. All of our Tech/Coding classes and camps are project-based, meaning students are applying computational thinking to each coding skill they learn. Also, they are using the highest level processing skills as identified by the Common Core for true comprehension of the material they are learning to use and apply.

Contact us and make your child a CodeREV Kid today!

More and More Schools are Recognizing the Importance of Coding

Coding KeyboardIt’s no secret. Coding is becoming more of a necessary skill to have as every week goes by. In order to compete in a global economy, it is becoming essential. In some cases it’s the difference between getting an opportunity and not getting it. Schools are recognizing this and some are taking steps to address the lack of coding education in their institutions. Phys.org takes a look at this in a recent article titled “An education for the 21st century means teaching coding in schools.”

Leon Sterling of Phys.org writes, “There is merit in school students learning coding. We live in a digital world where computer programs underlie everything from business, marketing, aviation, science and medicine, to name several disciplines. During a recent presentation at a radio station, one of our hosts said that IT would have been better background for his career in radio than journalism. There is also a strong case to be made that Australia’s future prosperity will depend on delivering advanced services and digital technology, and that programming will be essential to this end. Computer programs and software are known to be a strong driver of productivity improvements in many fields. Being introduced to coding gives students an appreciation of what can be built with technology. We are surrounded by devices controlled by computers. Understanding how they work, and imagining new devices and services, are enhanced by understanding coding.”

The Huffington Post explores trying to implement coding in the classroom in a recent article titled “How to Implement a Coded Curriculum in Your School.” Peter Hutton of the Huffington Post writes, “So how have we done this? Two years ago we decided to teach students to write code as a problem solving tool in geometry. Geometry is a course where logic, spatial reasoning and problem-solving are the big skills we’re trying to build, and all of those skills can be built through coding. It seemed like a great place to start; the plan was to eventually expand this approach into various other classes in order to fully integrate coding into our curriculum. Surprise! Within two months, teachers in every department in every grade were finding ways coding could expand possibilities for work in their disciplines. English students used code to digitally act out scenes from Macbeth and analyze poetry; art students created drawings like this one; modern language students used code to make vocabulary flashcards; 7th grade history students coded historical statistics. At the end of the year, we discovered that every student in the school had had at least one meaningful experience with writing code.”

While coding in the classroom will go a long way towards advancing the prospects of students throughout the country, customized coding education programs are what will take them to the next level.

CodeREV’s STEM focused courses and tech camps provide the basis for a much deeper education in technology than what students receive at their schools. Our instructors are all industry tested STEM and coding professionals. All of our Tech/Coding classes and camps are project-based, meaning students are applying computational thinking to each coding skill they learn. Also, they are using the highest level processing skills as identified by the Common Core for true comprehension of the material they are learning to use and apply.

If you’re looking for the best coding education for your child, your best bet is CodeREV. Contact us so your child can become a CodeREV Kid!

Coding: a Significant Economic Force

KeyboardWith the explosion of the internet in recent decades, programming has become a significant economic force. In America especially, it’s just getting bigger. With the expulsion of a large portion of the labor-based jobs in the United States, both hardware and software have replaced many other industries in America. More and more people work with computers, at home and as part of their occupations. Computer proficiency requirements for jobs are more and more common these days. Even the IRS would rather that you filed your taxes online. More and more people code and program these days, both for fun and as a career.

More and more young people work and found start-ups at a young age these days. Silicon Valley has become one of the economic centers of the country in the last few decades and it is centered around breeding and creating the next big app, website or widget. PayPal and Bitcoin are now an essential component of the revenue streams of many businesses.

What does this mean for your children? Well, it means that you need to make sure that they are well trained in the ways of the internet and computers. You can’t stop at making sure that they know how to use computers, apps and the internet, you should ensure that they learn how to make this virtual world work for them. One of the best ways to place your children ahead of the technological learning curve that everyone must master these days is CodeRev. Their fun and interactive programs help kids learn STEM and programming skills quickly and with joy. CodeRev can help your child find their niche within coding and programming, from website design to robotics, or it can simply give them skills they will assuredly need in this brave new world to thrive in whatever career they choose.

The explosion of the coding industry

LaptopThe state of labor has changed and evolved in many ways in the last century. Manufacturing, farming and other traditional American industries are currently experiencing a period of decline after a boom following WWII. As a result, unions which were once powerful in influencing policy and worker pay are now smaller and boast a much smaller sphere of influence. In the last 75 years, many jobs have been made obsolete in one way or another.

At the same time, the use of computers in the United States has exploded. These days, many people work with a computer, and a significant portion of them do so for the entirety of the work day. The internet and smartphone applications have become a consistent and even essential part of many people’s day to day life. Almost everyone owns multiple devices and many children become acquainted with computer technology at a young age now.

More and more of the American economy is based in these virtual worlds. PayPal and Bitcoin effect the stock market in real ways that we sometimes hear about on the news. Make sure your kids take advantage of this new world order. If you can instill computer proficiency and interest early in life, your child will greatly benefit later on as they enter the job market and her career.

CodeRev is a California company which has mastered the art of teaching children to love computers, programming, and science. Their spring and summer camps, along with their after school programs are specially designed to catch the interest of any child. Programs vary from computer games, apps and web design, to robotics and more interesting coding projects. Children can start as young as 6 years old and by the time they are done, they will probably know more about computers than you will! What’s more, the programs are specially designed to teach critical problem solving and teamwork skills along with knowledge that will help them succeed in STEM classes, the common core, and other areas. It’s one of the best gifts you can give a child.

How Modern Schooling Needs to Change

SportsThere are many problems these days in modern schools. Costs are being cut everywhere in municipal budgets across the country. In many places

Teachers often bear the brunt of less and less funding. Often when one teacher is fired to account for a smaller budget, two other teachers who still work for the school are forced to take on a larger student load. This means that every student receives less attention than previously, which has a direct effect on how well any child learns. Art and music programs in some schools across the country are being cut out of the curriculum outright, and what programs that do exist in public schools are often underfunded. This also has a detrimental effect on the creative growth of students

Science and Math programs in our modern schools in the United States are not up to par.  Essentially, in this area, we are behind the times. As further evidence computer science and coding programs are nearly non-existent in public school in the country. As parents we have to make sure that we do our best to help our kids learn about STEM topics of all kinds, even if school isn’t going to help very much. CodeRev Kids is a great California organization which runs both after school and summer camp programs which are aimed at teaching children real computer skills that they will be able to use later in life. With the way technology is progressing, even if your child doesn’t end up becoming a full-time programmer, it is highly likely that she will need to know it as a part of her professional life as an adult.

It’s crazy that these days, even some sports programs are getting cut. No one takes auto shop, wood shop or any other trade class in high school anymore because those programs don’t exist in many schools where they once did. This means that more and more kids that don’t go to college don’t have anywhere to go when they graduate from high school. College shouldn’t be the only place you can go after high school, we should be doing better to help every child find what they need in their lives.

Learning In California

San FransciscoOf all the states in the USA, California is a great place to raise a child. There are many reasons that California is so good for growing kids, and I will try to hit the high points in this short article. One of the most important parts of being a parent is trying to foster the development and learning of your child without smothering or being overprotective. We all want to help a child do what they want, and one of the most critical ways that we do that is by finding great activities which stimulate our kids’ minds. California is wonderful in that this journey of learning can reliably start in the public school system. The schools will be able to expose your child to a variety of ideas and subjects, but there are some things which may not be covered in class. Never fear, there are great afterschool programs and camps in California to further your child’s learning and career in areas that school might miss. CodeRev Kids is one of my favorite examples of these programs. They do a great job of making learning about computers and coding fun for kids in both after school and camp programs. If someone had put Minecraft in front of me when I was young, I might have learned to code too!

The outdoors are a great place too. No matter where you live there are a number of great outdoor activities for you child from the mountains to the oceans. If you child shows a significant amount of athletic talent, California boasts an amazing density of national and state parks and locations, as well as world class museums. The Exploratorium is one of my favorites in San Francisco. There are even great trade and craft programs all over the state. Take advantage of the great the state school and community college systems in California as they often offer great programs for your younger kids which might spark interest in them early in life.

Spring Camps a Success So Far!!

This Spring Tech Camp has been a huge success!  Many of our students have told us this is the best camp they have ever been to, and have even changed plans to keep coming next week.  We will be posting students’ creations shortly, so stay tuned to see some of the wonderful things our students have designed and coded!!  We are so proud of our guys!!!

We will be holding another Spring Tech Camp this coming April 6-10, so if you haven’t had a chance to try us out, this is a perfect time to come see what all the buzz is about.  As of today, we have a handful of spots left in our Creative Coding Center in Santa Monica.  Our Spring Coding Camps include many different programs to choose from, ranging from robotics to modding in Minecraft, to learning coding through 3D Video Game Design, to creating 3D animations, so come check us out for an experience that will change your child’s perspective on technology and learning forever!  Or, if you can’t make it this Spring, come join our Summer Tech Camps this summer for a chance to get in on the creative fun!

In addition to creating on the computer, we have sessions throughout the day in which students learn to plan out their projects before hopping on the computer, we have creative brainstorming sessions with peers and instructors, and we hold incredibly fun outdoor games our campers play which involve running outside and teamwork.  Students enjoy a bit of everything, and even go home with the ability to create on their own and a newfound confidence with the technology they have learned.

Coding Boot Camps Trending Through the Country

Techie Bootcamps 1Coding boot camps are trending all throughout the country. This is a clear indicator of the importance many are putting on young people being able to code as a job skill. Miriam Jordan of the Wall Street Journal touches on this in a new article titled “Coding ‘Boot Camp’ Opens High-Tech Doors.”

Jordan writes, “A few months ago, Edgar Cordova was a college student piling up debt and struggling to balance his studies with odd jobs. Today, the 20-year-old is working for a Boulder software developer. ‘For the first time, I can afford things I need,’ said Mr. Cordova, the son of a janitor. What changed his trajectory is SeedPaths, a computer-coding “boot camp” that runs an eight-week course for low-income adults, with the help of federal funds. The Denver company partners with county workforce centers, which tap the federal Workforce Investment Act to cover the $6,000 cost. Tech companies, the health-care industry and other sectors are competing fiercely for individuals proficient in software languages used to build everything from websites to mobile apps. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that hiring of software developers, who earned a median $90,000 in 2012, will grow at a rate twice as fast as the average for all occupations through 2022. To meet this demand, coding academies are sprouting up, offering training stretching from a few weeks to several months and costing as much as $20,000.”

The Deseret News also looks at coding boot camps in an article titled “The few, the proudly employed, the coding boot camp graduates.” Matthew Jelalian of the Deseret News writes, “According to SkilledUp.com, there are over 70 coding boot camps nationwide. Most of them are found in the Western United States with a few in Canada and Europe. Coding boot camp coursework can last anywhere between six and 12 weeks and cost around $5,000 to $10,000 to complete. The best-selling point of these boot camps, however, is their job placement. Coding Campus — a newer boot camp in Provo, Utah, with smaller class sizes of five to 10 students — claims a 93 percent job placement of graduates. According to Coding Campus’ program director, Sariah Masterson, the prospects of employment is what motivates students to get into the program and finish.”

With so many possibilities for coding careers, it’s no wonder people are seeking out special training. When it comes to providing an informative and fun coding education experience, no one does it better than CodeRev Kids. We customize lesson plans for each student and offer programs that teach kids how to make apps, video games, robots, and much more. CodeRev Kids offers both summer and spring camps, as well as our after school program.

If you’re interested in providing your kid with a comprehensive, engaging coding education experience, your best bet is CodeRev Kids!