Intro to Computer Programming
Intro to Computer Programming is a course for anyone who wants to learn about coding, even if they have no programming experience. Students learn to code in JavaScript to create many fun animations and games. Students also develop the foundational skills of debugging, problem solving, and designing. At the end of the course students create their own game/applet to show off the skills they've learned.
Current lesson plans - please note these can change as necessary and are dynamic in nature
Unit 1 - Intro to Programming Concepts in JavaScript
Students will be introduced to Karel the Dog to help them grasp JavaScript concepts
Commands
Defining vs. Calling Methods
Designing methods
Program entry points
Control flow
Looping
Conditionals
Classes
Commenting code
Preconditions and Postconditions
Top Down Design
Unit 2 - Karel Challenges (Project)
Several Karel challenges to tie everything learned in the Karel module together
Unit 3 - JavaScript & Graphics
Variables
User Input
Arithmetic Expressions
Graphics
Unit 4 - JavaScript Control Structures
Booleans
For Loops
Conditionals
Nested Control Structures
While Loops
Unit 5 - Functions and Parameters
Functions with and without parameters
Functions with and without return values
Nested Control Structures
Local variables and scope
Unit 6 - Final Project
Final Project: Students will use what they learned in the course to brainstorm, plan, and implement a JS graphics program that draws a picture. Students will go through a brainstorming process, and then select their final idea. They will establish milestones in the completion of their project, pseudocode their project before they finally implement the code to complete their goal.
Review of JS graphics
Review of functions
Review of top-down design
Note: The instructor may add more supplemental materials to each unit as deemed necessary