Introductory programming courses

gkm said:
I know some of the Coursera ones you can join while they are running, but then you have to work fairly hard in the beginning to catch up. Many of them also run roughly back to back, so if you missed one, put it on your watch list for when it starts again.
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Ah ok! Where do you find the cutoff date when you have to be done with the course?
 
goofball said:
Ah ok! Where do you find the cutoff date when you have to be done with the course?
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They don't make it clear. With coursera its best to start in the beginning. If the course is over, you can add it to your watchlist and they will let you know closer to the time when they offer it again.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
They don't make it clear. With coursera its best to start in the beginning. If the course is over, you can add it to your watchlist and they will let you know closer to the time when they offer it again.
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Ok thanks. I'll wait for the next courses to start then. Or just start the Python one in March so long.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Go over to coursera.org and get your son to do those courses. Also udacity and edx.

All free and all university grade (you can read up on those sites all about how they work) but this is the future of education.

I'm currently doing an Android course at coursera (just submitted my assignment 10 minutes ago), a Java and HTML5 one at Udacity.

Coursera & Edx works with strict deadlines and you have to wait months for a course to be reoffered. This might put your son off. Udacity is learn at your own pace, which is great.


With all these courses you get a certificate of accomplishment. If your son ends up doing some higher level ones then its worth signing up to their paid system as it allows his qualifications to be audited. Also you can list them on your CV and Linkdin.


EDIT: I'm also a UNISA BSc student and a full time senior developer, I find these courses to be on par with what I'm studying (and paying a lot of money for) and I'm finding great value in my job as well.
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Hey thanks!! I just signed up for an Android programming course at coursera, starting tomorrow! :)
 
Just received this in the mail. Sound just what I'm looking for to hopefully inspire a youngster. Your views on Scratch and Javascript would be greatly appreciated.

JUST CONFIRMED!

Be a kid who codes!

Are you inspired by Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and other techno wizards of the information age?

Start your coding adventure early… join the Kids who Code team on a 10-week coding course at the Cape Town Science Centre (CTSC). Using Scratch and JavaScript, this team of bright young coders will guide you and provide hours of fun learning in an interactive stimulating environment…. and you get a year’s membership to the CTSC.

Two groups:
Thursday’s Group
Age: Grade 10 and older (Age 15+)
Time: 15:30 to 16:30
Dates: 20 February, 6 & 13 March, 3 & 10 April, 8,15,22 & 29 May

Friday’s Group
Age: Grade 6 to 9 (Ages 11 to 15)
Time: 15:30 to 16:30
Dates: 21 & 28 February, 7 & 14 March, 11 April, 9,16,23 & 30 May

JOIN US for not 1 but 2 INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS on
Saturday, 8 and/or 15 February 2014 anytime between 10:30 and 14:30 in the CTSC Multimedia room and meet the team.

Cost:
● Non- members - R745 (includes an annual membership to the CTSC & 10hrs of tuition using CTSC computers)
● Members – R500 (10hrs of tuition using CTSC computers)

Sign up today to avoid disappointment – max 20 kids per club

To sign up contact the Cape Town Science Centre – [email protected] or 021 300 3200 and ask for Gabi!

Visit www.kidswhocode.co.za for more info on Kids Who Code
 
I started with Basic when I was 15. But that was 30 yrs ago...:cry: Look at Scratch. it is a visual programming tool that allows you to develop logical thinking without code syntax gettin gin the way.

Also used install MS Kodu. It is a visual game programming environment where you visually design games and program (inter)actions of game elements. Then you plug in your game controller and actually play the game! You can even upload your game to an XBox...
 
I had a look at their website www.kidswhocode.co.za and it looks quite interesting. I like what they're doing and although the student won't be able to walk into a job after they have done this course, which is not the aim, it get's them interested in development, with the hope that they will continue further, now that they have had a taste of what programming is all about.
 
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