KarenNC Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 My great-nephew is in 5th grade and loves using Scratch to create video games, but is ready for the next step according to his parents. Where should he go next? It needs to be free and able to be self-studied. I know about Alice and suggested it, but that might be outdated advice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 This page from Code.org lists their courses and also other resources for middle schoolers. Might be helpful as a starting point? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Tynker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Python. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 1, 2017 Author Share Posted March 1, 2017 Are there specific free sites that teach either Tynker or Python? I am fairly clueless in this area but am hoping to pass specific resources on to my step-niece for her son. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 The OP wrote that he is in the 5th grade. He may be old enough to jump into the adult world and begin learning some serious skills. There are probably a bunch of free (MOOC?) courses for Python, which was mentioned in post #5? Another option, which can be very low cost if you buy an older PC that is Used or Refurbished, would be for him to install a Linux Distribution (CentOS, Ubuntu, etc.) on it and then he can install whatever he wants and if he wants to learn a Programming Language or the Linux OS (Operating System) or whatever, he can do it and it is free and legal. I mentioned to my DD yesterday that I am trying to figure out what I need to change in the CSS so I can make some minor adjustments in the Header in the Theme of a new WordPress site. She suggested this web site to me: https://www.w3schools.com/css/ There are probably a lot of web sites where he can learn things he is interested in, free. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Are there specific free sites that teach either Tynker or Python? I am fairly clueless in this area but am hoping to pass specific resources on to my step-niece for her son. Tynker is a website where kids can learn to code with multiple languages including block languages (like scratch), python and Java. It is for free and parents can monitor. I don't allow mine to do anything with Minecraft, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 Tynker is a website where kids can learn to code with multiple languages including block languages (like scratch), python and Java. It is for free and parents can monitor. I don't allow mine to do anything with Minecraft, for example. Are certain sections of it free? What I'm seeing are plans that start at $8 a month https://www.tynker.com/parents/#/plans-pricing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 (edited) duplicate Edited March 2, 2017 by KarenNC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 The progression for us has been Scratch, some NXT stuff, then code monster, then codeyear and making their own website before tackling Java and Python. Sent from my Z988 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Are certain sections of it free? What I'm seeing are plans that start at $8 a month https://www.tynker.com/parents/#/plans-pricing Those are classes. You can do beginning classes and projects for free. DS has been doing it twice a weeks for over a year without buying anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenaInTexas Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Alice.org is something I am looking at. It is free and Java based. There are also free classes to go with it. Can't say much about it because I am in the research stage myself...kid ready to grow out of scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 My son went from scratch to CodeCademy but that was before Code.org existed and I think Code.org is more user friendly for younger kids. As far as a language I think Python is the best for him to learn next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waimate01 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Scratch is such an awesome tool, it really is hard to find a good next step after it. Python is a common one, but presents some awkwardness if you want to do graphical games. It's also highly desirable that kids can get their friends to play their completed games on their smartdevices, and Python can't do that in any meangful way. Javascript is a good next step because it's ubiquitous, and has a syntax that leads in all sorts of other directions. The problem is finding a tutorial pitched at the right level. http://s2js.com is a Javascript tutorial aimed at kids who are very comfortable with Scratch. Instead of teaching all of HTML and javascript, it aims to teach as much as you need to produce the sort of games you were doing in Scratch, but more scalable and able to the run on your smartphone. S2JS is tutorial, development environment and deployment platform in one. It explains Javascript in terms of Scratch, showing equivalent examples in each. Free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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