Recommended resources for starting General Purpose Programming

In the Australian Curriculum for Digital Technologies, students are expected to begin coding in a text-based General Purpose Programming language by the end of Year 8.

Which language(s) are General Purpose?

Note, this list is not exhaustive.

Python is a popular language in classrooms due to its relatively simple syntax (punctuation, etc.).

It can be used to code some classroom robots and electronics.

It also allows for Object-oriented Programming, such as defining classes.

JavaScript is also popular in schools. It shares similar syntax with industry languages like C++ and C#, and is used to make webpages interactive.

It can be used to code some classroom robots and electronics.

It presents as a full Object-Oriented language, allowing classes to be defined.

Visual languages like Scratch and Blockly are expected in Primary years, but not required in Secondary years.

Specialised languages like Game Maker script, MATLAB, SQL and Excel formulas are not considered General Purpose, though they can be used to teach many programming principles and skills.

HTML and CSS are for layout and presentation, not function. They are not considered General Purpose languages.

Resources to learn and teach Python

Visual-to-text coding at Digital Technologies Hub

Transition from Scratch to Python with slow-paced video tutorials designed for Australian teachers.

Python Tutorials at Digital W3 Schools (free)

List of interactive tutorials, a great place to look up any given concept but too broad to be suitable as a course

Python Fundamentals for Secondary Teachers at Teacher Training Australia (paid)

A course to help teachers make the first steps into teaching Python in the classroom

Python Programs and Applications for the Secondary Classroom at Teacher Training Australia (paid)

A collection of engaging Python activities that teachers can choose from for lessons and assessment tasks

Resources to learn and teach JavaScript

Visual-to-text coding at Digital Technologies Hub (free)

Transition from Scratch to JavaScript with slow-paced video tutorials designed for Australian teachers.

Computer Science Discoveries at code.org (free)

Large US-based site teaching coding and other computer science topics, this course for Middle-High school students includes activities with the Game Lab and App Lab systems.

Hour of Code with JavaScript at CodeHS (free)

Computer Programming course at Khan Academy (free)

Introduction to JavaScript at Codecademy (free)

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