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