With over half of all STEM jobs requiring computing, and coding becoming increasingly important in virtually every industry, coding has become a critical skill for kids and adults alike. It also instills a variety of lifelong skills, including boosts to creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and computational thinking, ensuring that you’ll experience its benefits for years to come.
In the Jr Coder Mini-Degree, you’ll explore the world of coding through Scratch – a visual programming tool created by MIT – using a simple drag-and-drop system.
Creating several interactive projects, you’ll learn to design and implement algorithms (computer instructions) while mastering coding principles like variables, conditionals, and loops. You’ll also practice thinking like a computer and understanding the deeper impacts programming has on society.
Learn How To:
- Solve real-world problems using algorithms
- Create interactive games, apps, and animations
- Learn computer science concepts by building projects
- Use project management to build digital solutions
- Evaluate the social, economic, and environmental impacts of technology
Create Fun Projects
You’ll create a portfolio of fun projects, including:
Who Is This Mini-Degree For?
The Jr Coder Mini-Degree has been designed to make it easy for ANYONE to learn how to code, and is perfect for:
- Young coders (ages 9+)
- Teenagers
- Adults who wish to learn to code visually
- Educators looking for classroom-friendly content
- Homeschoolers looking for modern courses that can be taken at home
No prior programming experience is needed to get started with these courses – they’re 100% beginner-friendly!
Understand the Concepts Behind Coding
The Jr Coder Mini-Degree goes beyond surface-level content – it’s designed to give you a fundamental understanding of the concepts behind coding.
You’ll gain a fundamental understanding of algorithms and how they work, so that you can apply the skills you learn to your own coding projects.
Curriculum
- Coding in Scratch
- Creating algorithms
- Loops & conditionals
- Interactivity
- Character motion
- Storytelling with sound
- Sprite animations
- Repetition & logic
- Game design
- Keyboard movement
- Adding game logic
- Scoring and winning
- Simulations
- Sensors and interactions
- Project management
- Social impact of tech
Reinforce Your Learning with Challenges
The best way to cement your knowledge is to actively practice what you’ve learned. Our courses make this easy by featuring quick challenges, so you can ensure that you’re retaining your new skills.
Why Learn Coding and Computer Science with Scratch?
Scratch is used throughout the globe across many different ages groups. As schools increasingly emphasize coding as a core part of education, it has also become increasingly popular amongst young people.
With computer occupations growing faster than average, and salaries increasing as well, the demand for more computer science experts has become a top priority.
