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10 Educational Pathways
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750+ Expertly Crafted Videos
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800+ Hours of Student Projects
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100,000+ Happy Students
Try Self Paced for only $29 /mo or get Private Online Lessons starting at $249 /mo.
Try them both for free.
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Jo Warn, Grandparent5We love everything about CodaKid! The customer service is great. They’re flexible and easy to work with. Our... 7 year old grandson has been working with his tutor for over a year and it’s exciting to watch him learn and grow. Ethan has an incredible way of communicating and interacting with Jonathan which makes every coding class so beneficial and an exciting part of Jonathan’s education. What great instructors CodaKid choose. I highly recommend CodaKid!Show more
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Tomáš Baránek, Parent5We are very happy with CodaKid Coding Academy. Our son is learning Java and Minecraft modding. He enjoys... it a lot and made a huge leap in his skills.Show more
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Terrence Masson, Parent5I've tried several online 1-on-1 coding classes for my son (starting at age 7, he's now 9) and... CodaKid is outstanding in the quality of its instructors and ease of operation; he's doing Java coding for Minecraft mods and LOVES it. Highly recommended.Show more
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Ci Tro, Parent5My 12 year old loved their Minecraft programming course. It kick-started his interest in computer science. A huge... plus for busy parents is the outstanding and swift support from CodaKid. No frustrating long deadlock, but friendly, competent help to keep the kids going and exploring. Brilliant!Show more
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Jennifer H., ParentWe LOVE CodaKid. We couldn’t even imagine a better experience. People are amazing -- very warm, supportive and... enthusiastic. And the program that they have designed is fabulous. My kids have attended several other programs and say Codakid is far surpasses the others .Show more
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Christy Lynn, Parent5This has been a great addition to our home school curriculum! My son loves spending time in the... program and even jumps back in after school when he's finished his other work. The response to help requests is always immediate and they do a great job finding and explaining the issues he may be having.Show more
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Professional Tools and LanguagesCodaKid students learn professional languages such as Python, JavaScript, and Java while using the same tools used at companies like Google, Facebook, and Intel
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Make Learning FunCodaKid teaches kids important skills with the games that kids already love. Make professional grade software while earning badges and being awarded points!
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ACTIVITY HEROBest camps, classes and kids’ activities
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Parents’ ChoiceGold Award for Best Coding Solution
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SIIA CODiEFinalist for Best Coding Solution
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TILLYWIGBrainChild Award for Best Coding Solution
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When do I make my first payment?Once you have completed your call with our Enrollment Specialist, you will be billed for your first month’s tuition. In the event that you do not like CodaKid, we offer a full money-back guarantee within your first 2 sessions.
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Who are the people behind CodaKid?
Our CEO and Co-Founder Lauren Nguyen, JD/MBA, is a seasoned education entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience building world class education programs. She co-founded CodaKid in 2014 and has helped lead CodaKid's growth from a small brick and mortar kids coding academy to an online coding school with students in over 120 countries.
Our Director and Co-founder David Dodge is a game designer and software architect who began working in product development for SEGA in the early 90s, and who later designed top-rated games for the Sony PlayStation and the PC. David is credited on over 30 titles for SEGA, Sony, and PC. David leads product development, marketing, and school partnerships at CodaKid.
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What is CodaKid?CodaKid is a kids coding platform that teaches kids how to use real programming languages and professional tools by creating games, coding apps, programming drones, building websites, and more.
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Are these online courses self-paced or live?We offer both options through two great programs: our self-study video courses and our private online tutoring.
Our self-paced program can be taken anytime – on your schedule. Students will watch HD video lessons, pause the videos, code, design, and then test their work. Our friendly instructional team is there every step of the way with awesome, award-winning support! Just use our handy chat button inside the learning platform or email the support team.
Our private tutoring program will connect you with one of our excellent, US-based instructors from one of the top 50 universities in the country. Your instructor will guide your child through our award-winning curriculum using the Mastery Method- our unique, Socratic approach towards teaching coding. -
Where is CodaKid based?CodaKid is based in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona in the United States.
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Which computer languages do you teach?CodaKid teaches Python, JavaScript, Java, Lua, Scratch, C#, HTML, CSS, and the Unreal Blueprints scripting language - with more on the way! With CodaKid, students gain experience writing real code using the same tools that the pros use. We have a unique way of making our courses accessible to absolute beginners as young as age 7. We hope you'll give them a try!
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How long does it take to complete each course?Most of our courses can be completed within a couple of hours based on the student’s desire to build and customize their game. That said, many of our more intermediate and advanced courses can take upwards of 20 hours to complete. The amount of time it takes your child to complete any given project will depend on the course and the child's speed.
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My child doesn't have any experience. Are these courses good for beginners?Absolutely! Our introductory and beginner courses (labeled as ‘INTRO’ and ‘BEG’ on the platform) are designed for students with little to no experience. These courses start off slower and ramp up steadily. Videos can be rewound and re-watched if necessary, and the video speed can be slowed down or sped up to best accommodate different speeds. Our online instructional team is available for additional help when needed. Intermediate and Advanced courses build upon the foundation established in the beginner courses. It is highly recommended that students complete the introductory and beginner courses in each path prior to taking a higher level course.
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My child does not fall between the ages of 7 to 15. Can he still take the course?Yes! Our courses are designed for children as young as 7. Children younger than 7 may take them, but may need more support from our instructors or a parent. We have also had a number of adult students take our self-study video courses with a lot of great success.
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Do you have a free trial?Yes! CodaKid provides a free trial for both our self-study and private tutoring programs. For our self-study, we provide a 14 day free trial with unlimited access to all of our courses. If you like our service, just stay on past the 14 days and your card will be automatically billed on day 14, then every 30 days until you decide to cancel. Otherwise, you can cancel at any time during your 14 trial and pay nothing. For our private tutoring program, we offer a free session to every new family. If you decide to continue after your trial, we will charge your card right before your 2nd session and every month thereafter until you decide to cancel.
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What are your support hours?CodaKid offers online support 7 days a week! For the quickest responses, please contact us any time Monday- Friday.
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What Plan Will Be Best for My Child or Teen?If your student is an absolute beginner, we recommend our Private plan so we can give him or her a personalized introduction to computer programming. If your student is a natural born techie who wants to learn how to become an independent game developer, web programmer, or game designer as quickly as possible, we recommend our Private Accelerated plan.
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Will my instructor change week to week?CodaKid will make every effort to ensure that your child or teen has the same teacher each week. In the event that there is a family emergency or a seasonal change, we may need to find a new instructor. We will work with you and your student to make sure that the new instructor is a fit and guarantee your satisfaction.
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Do you have a satisfaction guarantee?In the event that you do not like CodaKid, we offer a full money-back guarantee within your first 2 sessions.
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Where are the instructors for your private tutoring program located?All of our teachers are located in the United States of America and across every U.S. time zone!
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How do you select your instructors?We select our instructors from the top 50 universities in the U.S. and vet them for both their programming skills and their ability to teach students! Not all programmers can teach, and not all teachers can code, but our instructors excel at both. We train our instructors in CodaKid’s Mastery Method, a socratic approach to teaching coding, problem solving, and architectural thinking.
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What concepts will my child learn in a CodaKid course?Here are some of the concepts we teach:
- Booleans
- Conditionals,
- Loops
- Variables
- Methods and Functions
- Arrays
- Switch Statements
- And much more!
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I have multiple children. Do you have a Family Plan?Yes! We offer a Family Plan for our self-study video courses, created for families with up to 3 students. Each student will receive their own account, each one of them nested under a parent account used to view progress and manage billing.
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If my child has a technical issue, how does she contact your support team?CodaKid students can use the red chat icon on the bottom right corner of the CodaKid learning platform if they ever need assistance. Most issues can usually be solved quickly through this portal, however if a student requires more assistance CodaKid will host screen share sessions with customers to solve more difficult issues.
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Do you have any specials for families with two children interested in private tutoring?Yes! CodaKid features a 2-on-1 sibling special, allowing students to invite a friend or sibling to their private class for no additional charge.
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What makes CodaKid different from other kids coding courses and platforms?CodaKid’s award-winning courses feature . Our online academy has taught over 50,000 kids and teens how to program using the same professional languages and tools used by professionals at companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. CodaKid has two great ways to learn how to code:
1) Our self-paced online courses
2) Our private 1-on-1 online lessons.
CodaKid’s self-paced online courses are great for self-starters and feature over 700 hours of student projects. CodaKid also provides awesome support from a team of engineers and teachers to help you solve problems through chat or screen share if you ever get stuck or have questions.
CodaKid’s private 1-on-1 online lessons are the fastest way to learn how to code. Working 1-on-1 over Zoom with your own private instructor, CodaKid students work their way through CodaKid’s structured curriculum and complete weekly homework assignments, receive weekly progress reports, and more. -
What happens If I need to reschedule a private session?You can reschedule your Private or Accelerated Class up to 24 hours before your session day/time.
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What happens if I forget to cancel and miss my class?Our policy is that classes must be rescheduled 24+ hours in advance. Unfortunately sessions that are not rescheduled in time are not eligible for a makeup class or refund. As CodaKid pays our teachers for no-shows, this is a strict policy.
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Is there a sibling discount?For a limited time, as a way of giving back during COVID-19, CodaKid students who enrolled in either Private or Private Accelerated can bring a sibling (or friend) to their online classes for FREE.
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How much do private classes cost?Our standard private tutoring plans start at $249 USD per month. This includes live instruction via Zoom with your private instructor, weekly homework assignments, daily progress reports, between session homework support from our teacher team, a free subscription to CodaKid's platform, and participation in our community events. For all private tutoring pricing info, please visit https://codakid.com/private-tutoring-plans/
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When will I be billed?If you sign up for our free trial, you will receive 2 free sessions of CodaKid's private tutoring. Your trial period will start on the date of your first scheduled class, and end after your second. If you don't cancel your subscription before your 3rd session, you will automatically be billed for the selected membership fee every month until you cancel or change your subscription type.
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How do I get Started?Your first step is to sign up for CodaKid’s 2 session free trial! Once we receive your signup information, we will send you a questionnaire to get your preferred schedule and other information to help us place you with the perfect instructor. Once you return the questionnaire, we will email and call you to confirm the start date and time of your first free trial session.
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Am I locked into a long term contract?No. All CodaKid Private courses are billed month to month and can be cancelled from your next billing date forward.
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What happens if I forget to cancel and miss my session?Our policy is that classes must be rescheduled 24+ hours in advance. Unfortunately sessions that are not rescheduled in time are not eligible for a makeup class or refund. As CodaKid pays our teachers for no-shows, this is a strict policy.
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How do I cancel?CodaKid offers a full, money-back guarantee with your first 2 sessions. Once this time period has passed, you may cancel your plan from your next billing date forward.
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Can I get a free trial for multiple children?CodaKid only offers one free trial per family. You can start a free trial for one student. If you like it, you can contact us to discuss adding more students.
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How long is CodaKid's program?CodaKid's program is month-to-month with no long term commitments. However, if you are looking for a world class, multi-year kids coding program, you have come to the right place! Each CodaKid level is designed to take 4 to 6 months and will generally consist of several engaging projects. We are constantly adding exciting new courses, electives, and coding pathways.
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What type of computer and other technology do I need to take your private classes?To take CodaKid's private lessons you will need a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or MacOS. If your child is taking our intro Scratch courses, you will need a mouse as well. Chromebooks and tablets are not compatible with CodaKid courses. You will need a high-speed internet connection of at least 10 Mbps. If you have any further questions, please email us at [email protected]
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What is the recommended age to take CodaKid's private lessons?CodaKid's private lessons are designed for ages 6 to 18.
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Can I pause my account if we go on vacation?Yes, you may pause your account and resume when you return.
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What is Roblox coding?
Roblox coding refers to the process of making interactive, fully functional online games using the Roblox platform—particularly the Roblox Studio editor. With CodaKid’s Roblox Coding Courses, kids will learn how to use Roblox tools and real Lua programming to create professional games, design adventure maps, map out race courses, program infinite runner games, and more.
Rest assured that using a gaming platform and third-party studio/scriptwriter will not compromise the validity or quality of the programming knowledge your child gains from our course. Our coding with Roblox courses will still use valid coding language, and will still cover important programming concepts such as:
- Conditionals
- Loops
- Variables
- Functions
- Arrays
- Switch statements
—and more.
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What is the Roblox Studio? Do I have to pay for that?
No—Roblox Studio editor is 100% free!
It's an immersive creation engine from Roblox that allows users to create custom games specifically for play on the Roblox platform. In fact, many users agree that you can create virtually anything on this custom utility software—from role-playing stories to obstacle courses (also called "Obbys"). The studio’s capabilities, complexities, and intuitiveness can be adjusted according to the skill level of the programmer, making it an ideal tool for coders of all skill levels.
CodaKid's Roblox Coding courses range from an introductory course (making your own obstacle courses) to more advanced lessons (developing a Fortnite-style Battle Royale game). Whatever the intensity, Roblox Studio editor can (and will) meet the demand.
FOR PARENTS: You can download Roblox and Roblox Studio editor for free from their official website.
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Is Roblox a game or a programming language?
Roblox is an online game platform that simultaneously hosts games and game creation. Users can either access the gallery of games created by other Roblox users or create their own unique games using Roblox Studio. CodaKid’s Roblox coding for kids courses include a short set of Roblox Studio tutorials that will help your child master the basic controls of Roblox Studio—the first step to creating their very own game!
Simply put, Roblox is a game (or a library of games)—not a programming language.
But it does use one!
Users can make their Roblox game creations come to life using the Lua scripting language—a popular programming language that's very similar to Java. In fact, a lot of programmers often blend both languages to form a unique scripting language. Lua is particularly popular because it's one of the easiest scripting languages to learn and work with.
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Will my child be playing Roblox or learning a skill?
By learning to code with Roblox, CodaKid students also learn essential 21st century skills. Using an online gaming platform to teach coding for kids is an approach known as the "carrot-stick" method—a method that many educators actually approve of.
The carrot-stick method basically leverages the promise of a reward (or the reward itself) to motivate learners. Learners put forth the effort to achieve their goals because they want the gratification that comes with accomplishment—and the prize. It’s a gentler, more encouraging teaching method that’s more effective and sustainable than its counterpart, which basically uses the threat of failure to motivate the student.
So although Roblox Studio editor can be a bit challenging to master at first, students will ideally be inspired to keep going and overcome the hiccups they encounter when they create their first advanced obstacle course or full-fledged tycoon game. And since they’ll be working with Lua—which is a simpler, more laid-back programming language—they won’t be too challenged or too frustrated with the actual coding.
Learning the fundamentals of programming will also introduce them to some true-to-life skills they can take with them in the real world, such as patience, perseverance, problem solving, situational analysis, and a bootstrapped version of the scientific method (formulating a hypothesis and then testing it, basically).
Through Roblox coding for kids, there’s much less technical jargon and much more fun learning.
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What are the Roblox Coding course schedules?
CodaKid's online Roblox Coding for kids courses don't have set schedules. They are all self-paced and fully accessible, 24/7. This means that your child can take them and work on them whenever it suits their schedule—whether that’s only on the weekends, only three times a week, after school … you get the idea.
Regardless of their (and perhaps your) availability, your kids should have no problems whatsoever accessing the content whenever and wherever they feel like it (as long as they have an internet connection and a computer!)
CodaKid also has an unlimited Help Desk Support feature that puts you directly in touch with an online team of friendly, certified teachers. If your child or student ever gets stuck, rest assured answers are immediately available.
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What is Roblox?
Roblox is an online game platform and game creation system that was first launched in 2007. Current users total 178 million and counting, with 64 million active users every month. Advertised as an "Imagination Platform," Roblox is quite a unique system: it allows users to play multiple games hosted on the platform or create their own.
In fact, all of the games on Roblox are created by Roblox players. Truly a website “for gamers, by gamers,” Roblox is actually home to some of the most popular games worldwide: Jailbreak, Theme Park Tycoon 2, Royale High, Dungeon Quest, and Murder Mystery 2, just to name a few.
As of 2020, there are roughly 40 million Roblox games available. All of these games are free to play. Likewise, Roblox and Roblox Studio editor can also be downloaded at no cost.
It's also worth noting that Roblox game creators, despite the platform being free to play, can earn money from their creations. In fact, according to Roblox’s website, the top developers can earn over $2M a year thanks to in-game purchases.
As a free platform that encourages community creativity and provides the tools to make it possible, it’s no wonder that Roblox has grown as big as it has. There are several reasons why we endorse it as an ideal tool to teach kids coding, but the creativity and accessibility are perhaps two of the biggest factors.
The Roblox app can be downloaded for PC, tablets, Android, and iOS devices. It’s also available for Xbox One and Amazon.
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Is Roblox safe for kids?
This is a question we get from a lot of parents. The short of it is, yes; in a controlled environment, Roblox is 100% safe for your kids as long as you take the necessary precautions.
Although there are some games on Roblox that may be too graphic for younger audiences, Roblox does allow you to filter your search results and pick games that are more suitable for children. In fact, some games will ask for your age up front before allowing you to play it—a good sign that the game may not be child-friendly. So as long as your child stays on the rated G side of Roblox (as they will on all CodaKid Roblox Coding courses), there should be no issues.
Another big concern regarding Roblox is that it can be played online. In fact, people who are playing cooperatively or prefer to optimize the community aspect of Roblox will prefer to keep their communication lines open.
FOR PARENTS: Thankfully, Roblox provides safety settings to help parents control their kid’s online experience and keep them safe. You can check them out in full here.
Rest assured that all CodaKid coding Roblox games courses take place in controlled, sanctioned environments, where all student’s communication settings are set to “no one.” We discourage online bullying and do our best to protect our students from it. We also encourage safe play and best practices, such as using whitelisted servers or family-friendly servers.
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How do CodaKid Roblox Coding Courses work?
CodaKid's Roblox coding course teaches kids the basics of coding by guiding them, step-by-step, through the process of creating their own games on the Roblox Studio editor. Students will learn the basics of coding and the fundamentals of the Lua programming language by learning how to create obstacle courses, design infinite runner games, build entire playable worlds, and other cool lessons.
First, we walk our students through the download and installation process (again; Roblox is free to download and free to use). We highly recommend the parents be present for this stage. Then we walk them through setting up and accessing the Roblox Studio editor.
Once the student has everything installed, they’re ready to begin coding Roblox games. Our progressive coding curriculum allows them to go through the entire course at their own pace. Activities include:
- Watching exciting video tutorials
- Engaging in interactive practice activities
- Watching animated concept videos
- Taking end-of-chapter quizzes for skill/knowledge assessment
- Chatting with the teacher team via chat widget
FOR PARENTS: all chat conversations that your child has with the Desk Support Team/Teacher Team will be automatically CC’d to your email.
CodaKid includes a free 14 day trial to see if it is a fit for you!
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What is Minecraft coding?Minecraft coding (also referred to as"Computer Programming with Minecraft" or "Minecraft Modding"), is a creative process performed by programmers to make changes to the Minecraft game.
At CodaKid, we teach students how to access Minecraft`s source code and edit it to create their own custom blocks, tools, biomes, weapons, worlds, enemies, and more. In fact, with enough knowledge, practice, and patience, they can modify the whole Minecraft game!
Coding with Minecraft introduces kids to the Java Programming language in a way that is fun, entertaining, and instantly gratifying. What’s great about it is that it doesn`t compromise the validity or integrity of the lesson, either. Minecraft coding for kids still covers important programming concepts such as:
- Conditionals
- Loops
- Variables
- Methods
- Arrays
- Switch statements
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What coding language does Minecraft use?Minecraft was written using the Java programming language. With CodaKid`s Minecraft Coding courses, students will learn how to code using Java, which is arguably one of the most popular programming languages in the industry. They’ll also learn how to use a professional text editor called the Eclipse IDE, a tool widely used by professional engineers at companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Java is also a "platform-independent" language, which means it can be run on almost any modern computer or processing software. This is one of the main reasons why we widely endorse using Java in coding for kids classes. Once your child masters Java, mastering other languages or programming on other platforms will be a breeze for them.
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What is the Minecraft Coding course schedule?CodaKid`s online Minecraft Coding for kids courses are self-paced and fully accessible, 24/7. That means that they can be taken (and re-taken) whenever it suits your schedule. So whether your child wants to tackle coding immediately after school or they`re only free for coding on the weekends, there’ll be no problems whatsoever accessing the content.
CodaKid also has an unlimited Help Desk Support feature that puts you directly in touch with an online team of friendly, certified teachers. If your child or student ever gets stuck, rest assured answers are immediately available. -
How do CodaKid Minecraft Coding Courses work?CodaKid`s Minecraft Coding course teaches kids the basics of coding by teaching them, step-by-step, how to modify the popular sandbox video game, Minecraft. By learning how to edit existing code and effectively coding Minecraft mods (and other cool stuff), students of the course will learn actual Java programming.
By using the Eclipse text editor, they’ll gain important skills in writing code and debugging—especially since they get to see the code in action, real-time.
First, students download an installer from the CodaKid website. This installer contains everything they need to take the CodaKid Minecraft Coding Course. Simply follow instructions to unpack the contents (and don’t forget to reach out to our friendly Help Desk Support Team if you get stuck).
Once the student has everything installed, they’re ready to begin coding in Minecraft. Our progressive coding curriculum allows them to go through the entire course at their own pace. Activities include:CodaKid includes a free 14 day trial to see if it is a fit for you.
- Watching exciting video tutorials
- Engaging in interactive practice activities
- Watching animated concept videos
- Taking end-of-chapter quizzes for skill/knowledge assessment
- Chatting with the teacher team via chat widget
CodaKid includes a free 14 day trial to see if it is a fit for you. -
Will my child be playing Minecraft or learning a skill?CodaKid students are learning essential 21st century skills in our Minecraft coding courses. Using Minecraft to teach coding for kids is an approach known as the "carrot-stick" method that many educators actually approve of. This method basically uses the reward (or the thought of the reward) to motivate learners to accomplish their goals.
It`s much preferable—and much more rewarding—than the alternative method, which uses the threat of failure as motivation.
When students find out how fun and satisfying it is to make Minecraft mods, they’ll then be willing to put in the hard work to learn Java. They`ll learn the fundamentals of programming, essential coding concepts, and coding best practices by coding Minecraft mods. So instead of seeing programming as a linear, standard course with a lot of technical jargon and little to no instant entertainment, they’ll see coding as a means to achieve so much more.
So, that`s a yes to both questions. By playing Minecraft, they’ll learn important computer science skills such as coding and debugging. In fact, learning how to code also inspires a myriad of other valuable life skills: problem solving, solution testing, attention to detail, and so on. -
What is Minecraft?Minecraft is a sandbox video game that was released back in 2011 by Mojang Studios. In less than a decade, Minecraft has taken on the title of best-selling video game of all time. It boasts over 126 million active users every month, and has successfully sold over 200 million copies across all platforms.
Minecraft is a sort of open-world environment that encourages players to explore and be resourceful should they wish to survive (or even progress) through the game. By discovering raw materials, crafting tools, and honing building skills, players can build whole structures and—eventually—whole cities.
Minecraft is loved by a lot of people because it encourages creativity and gives complete autonomous freedom to the players. There is no linear storyline or fixed timeline that the player must adhere to. They’re free to experience Minecraft at their own pace and on their own terms (much like our Minecraft Coding classes!)
In Minecraft, players can cooperate with other players to build thriving cities. They can also compete against them to steal their resources. Players can also choose to race against time and tide in Survival Mode or stay safe and practice building in Creative Mode. And because it’s such a huge world with tons of potential, Minecraft has plenty of replay value. -
Is Minecraft safe for kids?This is a question we get from a lot of parents. The short of it is, yes; in a controlled environment, Minecraft is 100% safe for your kids. In fact, the game is rated suitable for ages 7 and up.
As we detailed in the previous question, Minecraft gameplay is centered more on exploring, hunting, and building. What’s more, the graphics are blocky and simplified. There are no graphic depictions, no inappropriate language, no questionable concepts. At its core, Minecraft is actually quite wholesome.
The biggest concern, of course, is that Minecraft can be played online—especially since there are cooperative modes. This is an avenue that parents cannot control, as we cannot control who sits on the other end of the computer screen.
However, rest assured that all CodeKid Minecraft Coding courses take place in controlled, sanctioned environments. We discourage online bullying and do our best to protect our students from it. We stay mostly in single-player game mode, which means there’s no need for cooperative play (and thus no need to play or chat with others online). We also encourage safe play and best practices, such as using whitelisted servers or family-friendly servers. -
Are your Minecraft Coding courses basically typing classes in which the teacher just tells the students what to write?Far from it. Our Minecraft Coding courses are highly intuitive, and our staff highly interactive. At CodaKid, we encourage creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Through coding with Minecraft, kids will have to make creative decisions that have a definite, visible effect on gameplay.
In addition to learning how to use pixel art tools to create custom items, students will also develop situational analysis and on-the-spot problem solving as they create, change, and rewrite code. They’ll have to make a myriad of decisions and successfully implement said decisions through code. For instance:
- How Minecraft mods behave
- How fast enemies move
- Which mobs are friends
- Which mobs are foes
- What items should drop from a Lucky Block mod
- What crops will grow in certain areas
- What dimension the gameplay will happen on
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Do I need to purchase Minecraft for my child to take these Minecraft Coding courses?No. Everything that you and your child will need to take our Minecraft Coding for kids courses is included in our installer, which will be given to you upon admission. You won’t have to purchase a retail version of Minecraft to test and play your Minecraft mods in Single Player mode. The installer also includes the Eclipse IDE tool that your child will be using for text editing, so you won’t need to purchase that, either.
But if your child would like to send their mods to their friends and play them out on a server, you will need to purchase a retail version of the Minecraft game for Mac or PC. -
What are the technical requirements of these coding for kids Minecraft courses?CodaKid`s Minecraft Coding courses are designed for PC and Mac computers. Keep in mind, however, that there are two (2) main parts to them: the video tutorials and the hands-on practical.
Our video tutorials can be viewed on any device capable of streaming or supporting video playback.
The coding can only be performed on PC or Mac computers.
We`re happy to report that Minecraft mod coding and Minecraft coding in general doesn’t need as much processing power or memory space as it did a handful of years ago. However, for best results, we do recommend a minimum of 4GB of RAM for all programs to run and stop smoothly. Another general note: your computer must be capable of running Minecraft.
Our CodaKid installer supports Windows 7 or newer and Mac OS 10.9 or newer. -
What is Scratch coding?Scratch coding (also referred to as Scratch Programming or Scratch Game Development), is a creative process in which students use MIT`s Scratch 3.0 visual block coding platform to make games, stories, animations, and more. Scratch coding teaches students important computer science concepts such as conditionals, loops, variables, functions, and more, while teaching kids to build exciting projects. The visual block coding employed by Scratch approach allows kids to snap together visual coding blocks similar to virtual Legos and avoid the frustration of typing written code.
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What coding language does Scratch use?Scratch uses the Blockly visual block coding language which allows kids to easily drag coding functions onto a workspace and snap together coding blocks like virtual Legos. Perfect for beginners, Scratch coding features an icon based horizontal UI that is color coded and easy to use. It is designed so that students can avoid frustration with the keyboard and create interesting projects without having to type out text-based code.
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How do CodaKid's Scratch Programming Tutorials work?CodaKid`s self-paced online Scratch programming courses can be taken anytime on your schedule. We include unlimited Help Desk support from a friendly team of online teachers if your student ever gets stuck or has a question.
In order to take CodaKid`s Scratch tutorials, students will need to set up a free Scratch account at https://scratch.mit.edu/. Then the student will progress at his or her own pace through our curriculum by watching exciting Scratch video tutorials, engaging in practice activities, watching animated breakout videos on important coding concepts, taking end of chapter quizzes, and asking questions to our online teacher team through our chat widget. All chat conversations are automatically emailed to the parent`s or teacher`s email address.
Best of all, CodaKid includes a free 14 day trial to see if it is a fit for your student. -
What makes CodaKid's approach different than the approaches used by other Scratch books and worksheets?This generation of students is the YouTube generation. They love video, follow YouTubers, and frequently turn to video tutorials to help them learn new skills. While books and worksheets can be somewhat effective ways to teach Scratch, engaging video tutorials are preferred by today`s students. From an educational perspective, video tutorials have the added benefit of breakout segments that teach important coding concepts through easy to follow animations and clear presentations that are often absent from books and worksheets. At CodaKid we have taught thousands of students using both books and video. In our experience, video is simply a superior platform.
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Will my child be playing games or learning a skill?CodaKid students learn essential 21st century coding skills while taking our Scratch programming courses. During our Scratch tutorials, students will learn how to code using visual blocks which teach essential coding concepts found in professional programming languages. Common coding concepts learned in CodaKid`s Scratch tutorials are booleans, conditionals, loops, functions, variables, and more. Students also learn the valuable skill of debugging which develops their problem solving skills. Students are rewarded at the end of each project with a completed game, animated story, or puzzle that they can play and share with friends.
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Do I need to purchase any software to take these Scratch coding courses?No. Scratch 3.0 is free and can be run on nearly any device that runs a web browser.
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What are the technical requirements of CodaKid`s Scratch programming courses?CodaKid`s Scratch programming courses are designed for PC, Mac, and Chromebooks. For optimal user experience, we recommend using a computer with a large enough screen size that you can open two windows simultaneously - a Scratch 3.0 window and a CodaKid video window.
Alternatively, you can watch the video tutorials on a tablet and code on a laptop or desktop. Or even better, you can use a computer with two monitors (this is what many coding academies that use CodaKid do). -
What are programming games for children, and why are they important?
Programming games for children are educational video games designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer programming and coding in a fun and interactive way. These games are important for several reasons:
Engaging Learning: Programming games make learning coding concepts engaging and enjoyable for kids, fostering a love for technology and problem-solving from an early age.
Critical Thinking: They promote critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, which are essential in today's digital world.
Preparation for the Future: As technology becomes increasingly integral to our lives, early exposure to programming can prepare children for future career opportunities in the tech industry.
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How do programming games benefit children's cognitive development?
Programming games offer various cognitive benefits for children:
Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: These games require players to solve puzzles and overcome challenges using coding logic, which sharpens their problem-solving abilities.
Improved Mathematics Skills: Coding involves mathematical concepts, and as children experiment with programming, they naturally develop better math skills.
Logical Thinking: Programming games encourage logical thinking and sequencing, helping children to approach problems in a structured way.
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What age group is suitable for programming games, and are there different levels?
Programming games are typically designed for children aged 5 and above, though some simpler games can be introduced to younger children with adult guidance. These games often have varying levels of difficulty to accommodate different age groups and skill levels:
Beginner Levels: These are suitable for kids aged 5-8 and introduce basic coding concepts using simple commands and block-based coding interfaces.
Intermediate Levels: Geared towards kids aged 9-12, these games delve deeper into coding principles, teaching more complex algorithms and problem-solving strategies.
Advanced Levels: Designed for teenagers and older children, these games challenge players with advanced coding concepts and encourage them to create more complex programs and games.
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Are programming games suitable for kids with no prior coding experience?
Yes, programming games are ideal for children with no prior coding experience. In fact, they are specifically designed to be accessible to beginners. Here's why:
User-Friendly Interfaces: Programming games often feature user-friendly interfaces with drag-and-drop or block-based coding, making it easy for kids to get started without typing complex code.
Step-by-Step Tutorials: Many programming games offer step-by-step tutorials that guide beginners through the basics, gradually building their coding skills.
No Coding Jargon: These games avoid overwhelming beginners with coding jargon and focus on teaching concepts in a simple and understandable way.
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How can parents and educators support children in learning programming through games?
Parents and educators play a crucial role in facilitating a child's learning journey through programming games:
Choose Appropriate Games: Select games that match the child's age and skill level to ensure an enjoyable learning experience.
Set Time Limits: Encourage balanced screen time and set limits on gameplay to ensure a healthy balance between coding and other activities.
Engage in Discussions: Discuss the concepts and challenges the child encounters in the game to reinforce learning and provide guidance.
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What are the safety concerns associated with children playing programming games?
While programming games can be educational and entertaining, parents and educators should be aware of safety concerns:
Online Interaction: Some programming games offer online multiplayer options, so it's important to monitor and restrict online interactions to ensure a safe gaming environment.
In-App Purchases: Be cautious of in-app purchases within the games, and consider disabling them or using parental controls to prevent unexpected charges.
Screen Time Management: Ensure that children do not spend excessive time on screens by setting healthy screen time limits and encouraging breaks.
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Can programming games be a stepping stone to a career in computer science?
Yes, programming games can serve as a valuable stepping stone to a career in computer science or related fields:
Early Exposure: By starting to learn coding concepts at a young age through programming games, children can develop a strong foundation that will benefit them in more advanced computer science studies.
Passion Development: These games can ignite a passion for coding and technology, motivating children to pursue further education and careers in computer science.
Portfolio Building: Some programming games allow children to create their own games or projects, which can be showcased in portfolios when applying to educational programs or jobs in the tech industry.
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Are there any resources or online communities for parents and children interested in programming games?
Yes, there are numerous resources and online communities available for parents and children interested in programming games:
Educational Websites: Many websites provide reviews and recommendations for programming games suitable for various age groups.
Online Forums: Online forums and communities allow parents to connect with each other, share experiences, and seek advice on incorporating programming games into their children's learning.
YouTube Tutorials: YouTube hosts a wealth of tutorial videos and walkthroughs for popular programming games, making it easy for both parents and children to learn together.
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How can programming games encourage creativity in children?
Programming games can stimulate creativity in children in several ways:
Game Modification: Some programming games allow kids to modify existing games or create their own, giving them the freedom to express their creativity through game design.
Problem Solving: Encouraging children to find unique solutions to in-game challenges promotes creative thinking and innovation.
Storytelling: Some programming games involve storytelling elements, allowing children to create narratives and characters, fostering their imagination.
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Do programming games align with educational standards?
Many programming games are designed with educational standards in mind, making them a valuable addition to formal education:
STEM Education: Programming games align with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum goals, enhancing students' understanding of these subjects.
Coding as a Skill: As coding becomes increasingly recognized as a valuable skill, programming games contribute to the development of this skill in line with educational standards.
Problem-Solving: These games promote problem-solving skills, which are a fundamental aspect of educational standards in various subjects.