Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
Knowing your way around a computer is more important than ever – and I think you need to know more than just the basics. That’s why I was excited for the opportunity to review the Coding for Kids Annual Membership by Simply Coding.
First of all, unless your student is Bill Gates, Coding for Kids has something that will help grow your student’s tech knowledge. Check out all these courses!
My Little Man went for these classes. These most interested him initially, but there are lots more.
If learning more about digital media is your thing, there are also lots of classes available in this area. I’m jealous of his ability to take these and have a feeling My Big Helper will be checking these out soon. These are fantastic programs to be able to use!
Again, if you need to start at the very beginning, the Simply Tech Essentials area is for you. These courses include popular programs and skills. Knowing how to use these programs will allow your student to do the important work with them. I’ve been using word processing programs since I was 8 years old, and I forget how much there is to learn – but the learning curve is high. How can you turn in a research paper – think footnotes and citations and bibliographies! – if you don’t know how to create them?
I feel like these are the ‘everything else’ classes, but that makes them no less important. These are classes that can get you started with all the others – how great that they’re here, all in one place, where you can learn at a steady pace with the help you need?
I decided to check out the Publisher class, because that’s one I’m unfamiliar with. I love how the modules go step-by-step and walk you through the layers of the material.
After checking out several courses, My Little Man decided to start with JavaScript Game Design. He has some experience with Scratch and other kid-friendly coding programs but hasn’t used a real coding language yet. I’m glad he’s being introduced through Simply Coding, though, because it’s incredibly well done.
The video lessons and clear directions are critical. My Little Man was asked to do things that he’d never done before even in setting up his computer for the first lesson, and he was able to get everything ready on his own. After that, he said very little, except, “Can I do another coding lesson?”
My Little Man loves his JavaScript lessons! He was able to start to create games quickly, and he loved asking us to play them. He showed us how he could alter the code to change the parameters of the games, too.
My Little Man was excited about his Pong game. He didn’t know what Pong was before taking the class, as we don’t do video games here, but it’s been a ton of fun for him – both the creation of it and the altering of it so that he can make it do new things.
Simply Coding offers online chat services during certain hours, so your student can talk with a teacher and troubleshoot or ask questions. During non-business hours, students can receive help via email.
These classes were created for kids ages 11 – 18, and it’s clear that they’re very student friendly. Classes are sorted into three levels: beginner, intermediate, and expert. This allows students to start at the beginning and choose classes for which they’re ready while still giving them choices about which to take. You don’t have to take them all or in certain orders, but some classes do have prerequisites, and these levels simplify that process.
Simply Coding is well worth the money. There are a wide range of classes available for students with any experience level. The skills being taught are valuable, both for educational purposes but also for hiring potential. I’m happy that My Little Man is learning with Simply Coding, and I can’t wait to see what he creates next!
Don’t take my word for it, though. Click on the graphic below to read other reviews of Simply Coding on the Homeschool Review Crew’s blog hop.
