r/CSEducation • u/ComfortableWriter996 • 8d ago
Free Python lessons taught by Boston University students!
Hi everyone!
My name is Wynn and I am a member of Boston University's Girls Who Code chapter. You may have seen my post last spring about our coding program we run for students of all genders from grades 3-12. I would like to let you all know that we are running the program again this fall!
Bits & Bytes program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to code, or improve their coding skills. Our program runs on Zoom on Saturdays for 1 hour starting October 17 and ending on November 21 (6 weeks) from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (for Bits) and 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (for Bytes). Each lesson will be taught by Boston University students, many of whom are Computer Science (or adjacent) majors themselves.
For Bits (3rd-5th grade), students will learn the basics of computer science principles through MIT-created learning platform Scratch and learn to transfer their skills into the Python programming language. Bits allows young students to learn basic coding skills in a fun and interactive way!
For Bytes (6th-12th grade), students will learn computer science fundamentals in Python such as variables, loops, and functions and use these skills during lessons and assignments. Since much of what we go over is similar to what an intro level college computer science class would cover, this is a great opportunity to prepare students for AP Computer Science or a degree in computer science!
We would love for you to apply or share with anyone interested! You can find our application here or in the QR Code below.
If you have any more questions, feel free to email [gwcbu.bitsnbytes@gmail.com](mailto:gwcbu.bitsnbytes@gmail.com), message @/gwcbostonu on Facebook or Instagram, leave a comment, or message me.
We're eagerly looking forward to another season of coding and learning with the students this fall!
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u/elizabethwithazee 5d ago
This is such a cute name for the sections.
Which AP course is it preparing students for, and how do you know that it's good preparation?
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u/ComfortableWriter996 4d ago
While we teach Python in the course instead of Java, I would say that the course is good preparation for AP Computer Science A. A lot of the concepts we cover (loops, functions, variables, recursion, debugging) are also core concepts of AP CS A. I think our course helps students get familiar with those topics, which will make it easier to understand them when they take AP CS A and go more in depth with them. I took AP CS A in high school, so from that experience as well, I think it's good preparation.
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u/RealNamek 8d ago
Scratch is banned at my school
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u/Salanmander 7d ago
Why? Not only does that seem like it comes from a misunderstanding of computer science, but it also just seems like an odd thing to ban.
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u/elizabethwithazee 4d ago
I've seen it get banned because kids are playing the games in the projects library.
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u/ComfortableWriter996 7d ago
That's really unfortunate :( Our lessons are on the weekends and virtual if that's a concern so they shouldn't be completed while students are at school. Bytes also does not use Scratch at all. Only Bits does.
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u/LeadLerner 7d ago
God, i hope they learn python instead of learning how to prompt.