FREE 6-session Javascript class at the Somerville Fab Lab
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Katie Gradowski
Apr 30, 2018, 5:37:26 PM4/30/18
to Sprout Discuss
This is in the email I just sent out, but I wanted to share it as a separate email that was easier to forward. A few months ago I posted to this list about useful resources for computer programming, and we got a lot of incredible feedback.
Intro to Programming: 6 sessions
A six-session introduction to the basic concepts of computer programming using Javascript and the p5.js programming environment. Javascript is a flexible and powerful programming language that can run in every web-browser. These features make it a popular tool for developing software of all kinds as well as a convenient and accessible environment for learning how to program.
For details, email con...@partsandcrafts.org
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Among other things, the feedback reinforced for us that this is an important thing to work on. This class is a direct result of this conversation! If you are connected to lists for new coders, please share this widely! One of our key goals this year is building up the Fab Lab as a place to teach and learn programming and to help new coders develop the skills they need to go further.
I'd be grateful if folks in the maker community could help signal boost!
All best, and thanks!
Katie
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Learn to Code with Parts and Crafts at the Somerville Fab Lab
Intro to Programming: 6 sessions
Thursdays, May 10-June 14, 6:30- 8 pm
Week 1: What is Code? Thursday May 10, 6:30-8 pm What is code, and how do we write it? We’ll see what code looks like in various forms, where it’s found on the web, how it goes from being “written” to being “run”, and we’ll write simple programs to run in our web browser using the p5.js web editor. Topics: using a text-editor, writing/running code, basic program syntax, color and pixels
Week 2: Drawing and Animating with Numbers. Thursday May 17, 6:30 - 8 pm Drawing and animating with numbers. Everything on your computer screen is controlled in the background by relationships between numbers. By modifying and changing these numbers we can change what’s on the screen and make things happen. Topics: variables and arithmetic, structure of commands and functions
Week 3: Logic and flow. Thursday May 24, 6:30-8 pm. Programs are, at their core, a list of actions for the computer to take and decisions for the computer to make. Through loops and logic we can have control over these actions and decisions. Topics: loops, iteration, variables and conditionals (if-then-else statements)
Week 4: Functions: putting the pieces together. Thursday May 31, 6:30-8 pm. The most powerful aspect of computer programming is that we get to build our programs out of pieces of code that we, or other people, have already written. This week we’ll learn how to simplify our projects by defining our own commands. Topics: functions, program composition
Week 5: Structured data: Lists. Thursday June 7, 6:30-8 pm. Computers are very good at doing the same thing over and over again, so we solve lots of computer programming problems by turning them into repetitive tasks. By organizing our variables into lists of related data we can simplify our programs and automate repetitive tasks. Topics: lists, arrays, loops, iteration
Week 6: Structured data: Objects. Thursday, June 14, 6:30-8 pm. As we put all of these topics and ideas together our programs get more and more complicated and they become harder for us to read and understand. Computer science offers many different tools and techniques for managing this complexity and confusion, one of which is called “Object Oriented Programming.” Topics: objects, functions, arguments, and resources for further exploration
Week 2: Drawing and Animating with Numbers. Thursday May 17, 6:30 - 8 pm Drawing and animating with numbers. Everything on your computer screen is controlled in the background by relationships between numbers. By modifying and changing these numbers we can change what’s on the screen and make things happen. Topics: variables and arithmetic, structure of commands and functions
Week 3: Logic and flow. Thursday May 24, 6:30-8 pm. Programs are, at their core, a list of actions for the computer to take and decisions for the computer to make. Through loops and logic we can have control over these actions and decisions. Topics: loops, iteration, variables and conditionals (if-then-else statements)
Week 4: Functions: putting the pieces together. Thursday May 31, 6:30-8 pm. The most powerful aspect of computer programming is that we get to build our programs out of pieces of code that we, or other people, have already written. This week we’ll learn how to simplify our projects by defining our own commands. Topics: functions, program composition
Week 5: Structured data: Lists. Thursday June 7, 6:30-8 pm. Computers are very good at doing the same thing over and over again, so we solve lots of computer programming problems by turning them into repetitive tasks. By organizing our variables into lists of related data we can simplify our programs and automate repetitive tasks. Topics: lists, arrays, loops, iteration
Week 6: Structured data: Objects. Thursday, June 14, 6:30-8 pm. As we put all of these topics and ideas together our programs get more and more complicated and they become harder for us to read and understand. Computer science offers many different tools and techniques for managing this complexity and confusion, one of which is called “Object Oriented Programming.” Topics: objects, functions, arguments, and resources for further exploration
Why Take This Class? Computer programming is a very broad field with lots of different tools used to solve lots of different problems in lots of different ways, but they all share certain fundamental ideas and use a set of basic skills. The class will be aimed at complete beginners with little to know programming experience and an interest in learning about what writing code is like and how it is done.
You might be interested in this class if:
- You're considering a longer, more in-depth programming/computer science course. This class is a great way to "get your feet wet" and get a taste of what coding is like before going deeper
- You work with programmers and programming in a non-programming capacity and want to know more about how the programming side of the work is done
- You have a software project or idea that you want to work on but don't know how to get started
- You're just curious -- you want to know more about how computers work, how software is written, or you think it just sounds fun!
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