What Will Be Taught in This Course?

• This course will introduce students to the foundations of Python coding/programming, through lectures, assignments, and a mini project. 

• What will be covered: variables, statements, expressions, operators, environment diagrams, conditional logic, loops, nested conditionals and loops, lists, functions, and nested functions.

• What will not be covered: advanced topics (such as, recursion, object oriented programming, and inheritance).

• The curriculum is structured as a serious course (and not simply as an after-school "club") -- it is modeled along the lines of CS1 level introductory programming taught at the college level.

Who Can Take This Course?

• High schoolers and middle schoolers who've completed Math 7 (or Advanced Math 6) can take this course.

  • As far as possible (subject to student availability), students from similar age groups/math levels will be placed in the same section, to ensure comfort and maturity level.

• No prior coding/programming experience is needed. This course is designed to teach foundational topics to middle schoolers and high schoolers.

• This course has been offered four times before, to 10 sections of middle and high schoolers (ranging from rising 7th graders to 12th graders). Students from all grade levels who kept up with the work were able to follow the material (click here for testimonials). As long as you request additional help as needed, this should not be difficult.

Benefits of Taking the Course:

• Regardless of what field you choose to pursue in college and beyond, a basic knowledge of coding/programming is very beneficial and almost essential. You may have heard of data science and technology now dominating most fields of science and humanities -- coding/programming is an important essential tool in data science and this is a great way to pick up some skills.

• Knowledge of basic coding/programming can help you go above and beyond school courses. 

  • Such as coding-related school clubs, research projects, & competitions - e.g., NCSEF, USACO.

• If you intend to take AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A in high school, this will help you get a head start.

Structure of the Course:

• 14 lecture summer course, with 2 live classes per week held virtually (over zoom). 

  • July 23, 2024 - Sept 5, 2024

  • Several T/Th evening slots are available:

    • 5:45 - 6:45 pm, T/Th

    • 7:15 - 8:15 pm, T/Th

    • 8:30 - 9:30 pm, T/Th

• 1-2 hours of homework per week, on average.

• Section sizes will be kept small to allow for individualized attention.

• Additional meetings can be set up for individual help.

• Lecture recordings will be available upon request for accommodating vacation travel or occasional conflicts.

Why THIS Course (vs Others)?

• This is a concise course that teaches the foundations of serious Python coding/ programming to high schoolers and middle schoolers. (Many other online options either cover less serious/deep material, or are too advanced to complete over a summer/semester).

• All material has been designed under the guidance and mentorship of Computer Science professors at a leading public university, and is modeled along the lines of introductory programming taught at the college level. 

• The course offers live zoom classes (rather than recorded lectures).

• You can find testimonials from previous offerings in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

• The initial offerings of this course were part of a research effort in bringing rigorous programming education to middle school and high school students. The findings have recently been published at the premier conference in Computer Science Education (ACM SIGCSE).

Qualifications of the Instructor:

• Incoming CS Freshman at Stanford University.

• Five years of coding/programming experience.

• Have taught this course for three years, to 58 middle and high school students over summer/fall of 2021-2023 (grade levels ranging from rising 7th to 12th grade). Click here for testimonials.

• President of the Coding Club at Chapel Hill High School.

• Used Python coding/programming in conducting research in 2020-2023, and have won five state-level awards at research competitions such as the NC Science and Engineering Fair.

• Have completed the content, assignments, and tests of a college-level introductory programming course, and have developed several games.

• Have completed advanced Math and Computer Science courses, including AP CSP, AP CSA, AP Calculus BC, Multivariate Calculus, & Linear Algebra.

How to Register:

• Please fill out the registration form at:  https://forms.gle/KFdgpAgDziiMSmDB9 

• Early Registration deadline: May 31 30, 2024.

  • Early Registration fee is $375 for the entire 14 lecture course, and is due at the time of registration (through venmo or zelle).

  • Sibling discount: Additional students from the same family (same parents) can register for the course for $275 each.

• Late Registration deadline: June 30, 2024.

  • Late Registration fee is $400 (additional siblings can register for $300 each).

• Registrations will be filled up on a first come first served basis. 

• Scholarships are available for those with financial need. Please contact me for details.

• I will be glad to offer a pro-rated refund to students who want to drop the course in the first week of classes.