4ofus Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Hi WTM friends, My sons are taking an online FREE Intro to Programming class. It's only a few weeks long. One session starts this week & the next session starts around Jan. 6. The recommended ages are 5th grade & up. The boys started yesterday & they LOVE it! It's hosted in an online classroom (Edmodo), so if you have a computer, internet, & an email addy you're set! If you'd like to check it out go to Fundafunda.com & click on blog. You can also follow fundafunda on facebook. **I know this sounds like an advertisement, I couldn't figure out a better way :/. Please don't be turned off. This is really & truly just a good, fun, free class to take over the holiday or in January when you're getting back in the swing of things. I hope some of you will decide to check it out. Based on the buzz the Mod Design on HSBC was getting last week I thought some of you might like this while waiting to begin Mod Design. BTW, we also bought Mod Design :). ETA: I didn't include a link here, but if anyone would like a link, and it's allowable, I'd be happy to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I signed my kids up a few days ago. They will start in January. She also offers a 10-week Scratch class for $85. (Also not an advert, as we haven't even used her class yet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 She ran the Scratch class in the fall as well. I passed at the time thinking my son would just take himself through the book. Well, that worked for a while, but then he did need help & I wasn't the right person for the job :/. We'll probably end up doing the Scratch class to make use of the book I bought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Interesting. Is this a live class or video or what? Is there a specific time of day involved? I don't see that on the website - website is very vague! It's hard to tell whether my one ds's level of experience would make this boring for him. Maybe I could get the other ds going with this, however. My dd's school math class uses Edmodo, FWIW, for assignment communications and so forth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 She places assignments on a 'wall' in the classroom environment. The assignments have links to various places on the web. "Go to this link & do this. When you are done, come back here & tell me xxx." That sort of thing. You complete the assignment & push the turn in button. She gives feedback. It isn't live, there is no specific time to be there to listen to a lecture or anything. There are assignment due dates. It is very laid back & a great way to introduce an online classroom environment. This teacher loves to teach through games, so your kids learn while playing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Here is the link to the Scratch class info: http://www.eventbee.com/v/fundafunda-scratch-2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summerreading Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Thanks! I signed my 10 year old up for Jan. :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 My kids started working on their assignments for the free intro class yesterday. All I have heard all this morning is, "Can we work on our programming class now??" :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I just noticed this thread today - I hope it is not too late to start. I sent the request to register DS. Fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I know she was adding kids to the class yesterday, so I bet your son will get in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 There were about 15-20 kids start our session over the break. This is the last week & we have 10ish still working on it. It has been fantastic! She said the session that was starting today had over 100 parents register! WOW! I hope y'all's kids enjoy it as much as mine have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Yeah, in two days enrollment jumped from 76 to 129. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 DS is part of the 100+ now :) us4jones: As the course ramps up, any guesses for a reasonable weekly time allotment? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 I'd say ~ 3-5 hrs a week -ish. I think that's the way she billed it & it's pretty accurate. The 3rd week was the heaviest week for us so far. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I'm doing the assignments, too. I just have to say that my kids are way better at video games than I am. I'm stuck on something from the first day. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 just want to say thank you to the Op for this post. I signed up my dd after reading this and was not sure what to expect. She has loved it so far and learnt from it. Her younger sis wants her to teach her everything she has learnt. Thanks again OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summerreading Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I'm really impressed with this class! I think she is a great teacher and has it well organized, especially juggling 160 kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I guess we are the outliers. We started late and felt we couldn't really keep up, so I permitted DS to quit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 So happy to hear from some folks that are enjoying the class :). Madteaparty, I do think a late start could definitely be hard to overcome unless you just have lots of free time to dedicate to catching up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 We started on time and are struggling to keep up. My kids feel overwhelmed by the amount of assignments, and they are working much longer than the estimated 3-5 hours a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 We started on time and are struggling to keep up. My kids feel overwhelmed by the amount of assignments, and they are working much longer than the estimated 3-5 hours a week Thanks for posting this; I was feeling we were the only ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MASHomeschooler Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Mine, too! I think they started a day or two late, but even if we hadn't, they could not have kept up, and it was definitely more than 3-5 hours per week for them. (They had only done "hour of code" prior, so they were true beginners, but I figured that would be the expected level in an "Intro to Programming" class.) They did enjoy what they did get through, and from what I saw it did seem well-though-out, but the expected rate was just way above what they were capable of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 The code.org stuff is too much for my son, who is 10 and in 5th grade. He deosn't understand it and can't accomplish it independently. My husband spent over an hour with him yesterday, helping him work on one level of one stage. There is no way he will finish in time, and he is very bummed. My daughter, who is 11 and in 6th, is able to do the work, but she finds the amount to be overwhelming. My kids have never really spent a lot of time on the computer, so to her, 60-90 minutes on the computer is somewhat exhausting. I think it's a good course, but I think it's geared toward the older/quicker kids. I would like to see the same amount of material in a 6-week course for the younger/slower kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 I'm sad to see so many folks feeling discouraged :(. I know all kids work at different paces. We took this class on Christmas break. We weren't doing much else schooly until the final week. Reading, this class, and music practice. That's it. So we had time to dive in & discover without the added pressure of "let's be sure we get our _________ done also". :) The boys were brand-brand new to this template of class & material, but with patience, they were able to sort it out & be successful without a huge time commitment. I do think it would have been much more challenging if I had just added it on to our regular school load. We are currently doing a 6 week class & it is more time consuming, especially with our regular school schedule. There are days that I reduce the normal work load & let them dive into their website-building-class. It's something I'd like them to learn, & I don't want to teach it, so it's my decision to put some other things on hold while they discover the power of the laptop beyond "consumer device". They definitely get frustrated. But perseverance is a skill worth developing. Even though it is hard. If you're feeling discouraged & wish it would have gone better, may I suggest watching for a repeat of the class (or a similar class) during a school break? Maybe she'll offer it again in the summer & it'll feel less rushed. This is not in any way meant to be snarky. I really do wish for each of your children to find success in their endeavors. There is no feeling like the feeling of accomplishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Just curious ... what kind of programming is this? Is it Scratch or was that another class? Anyone know if she's running it again sometime? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 It's not a programming language, that I can tell. It's more programming basics, logic exercises, that sort of thing. Things that are essential to understand before you begin any language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 We are setting aside today to work on programming. Dd is going to help ds catch up with the code.org stuff. Unfortunately, we are even further behind because our furnace died on Sunday, so we spent 3 days at my dad's. Code.org didn't work there. And now my dd can't move on because she is waiting for some login info the teacher has to send. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Well, we devoted 2 1/2 days to catching up in the class. Dd spent an entire day doing nothing but helping ds, and dh helped him in the evenings. The kids are both now on track to finish the class. :) Dd even said she wants to move on to the Scratch class. :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinC2100 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 How strict is the age brackets for these classes? It's something I will keep in mind if offered again, however the programming obsessed child in my family is only 7. She already knows her way around scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Well, DS finished and will get his certificate :) Thanks for the recommendation. He had some moments of frustration, but he is glad that he did it. It was his first time managing an online course, and I think this was a good way to start that format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 My kids will get the certificates, too. :) I agree with everything you said, Penguin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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