As coding becomes more essential to the workforce, schools seek ways to teach students programming skills. The following listicle includes top courses designed to teach coding to teachers.
Course name: Teach Coding to Kids: The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Kids to Code
- Provider or platform offering the course: Udemy
- Brief description of the course content and objectives: This course provides a comprehensive guide to teaching coding to children. The course covers everything from basic coding concepts to more complex topics like creating games and applications.
- Target audience: K-12 teachers, parents, and anyone interested in teaching coding to children
- Programming languages covered in the course: Scratch, Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS
- Duration of the course: 10 hours
Why it’s beneficial: The course provides teachers with tools and resources to teach coding concepts to children. By covering a wide range of programming languages, teachers can tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of their students.
Course name: Teaching Physical Computing with Raspberry Pi and Python
- Provider or platform offering the course: FutureLearn
- Brief description of the course content and objectives: This course teaches how to use Raspberry Pi and Python to teach physical computing concepts. Teachers will learn how to create projects that use sensors and LEDs to control real-world objects.
- Target audience: K-12 teachers, university instructors
- Programming languages covered in the course: Python
- Duration of the course: 4 weeks
Why it’s beneficial: Physical computing provides an interactive, hands-on way to teach coding. This course provides teachers with the skills to integrate physical computing concepts into their curriculum, which can help students better understand coding concepts.
Course name: Scratch Teacher Training
- Provider or platform offering the course: ScratchEd
- Brief description of the course content and objectives: This course teaches teachers how to use Scratch to teach coding concepts. Scratch is a visual programming language that allows students to create interactive stories, games, and animations.
- Target audience: K-12 teachers
- Programming languages covered in the course: Scratch
- Duration of the course: Self-paced
Why it’s beneficial: Scratch is a popular visual programming language in many K-12 classrooms. This course provides teachers with the skills to teach coding concepts using Scratch, which can help students develop computational thinking and problem-solving skills.
Course name: AP Computer Science Principles
- Provider or platform offering the course: Code.org
- Brief description of the course content and objectives: This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Computer Science Principles exam. The course covers various coding concepts, including algorithms, data analysis, and cybersecurity.
- Target audience: High school teachers
- Programming languages covered in the course: JavaScript, HTML/CSS
- Duration of the course: Full academic year
Why it’s beneficial: The AP Computer Science Principles course prepares students for college-level coding courses. By taking this course, teachers can help their students earn college credit and develop essential coding skills that will prepare them for a career in the tech industry.
Course name: Integrating Technology into the Classroom
- Provider or platform offering the course: edX
- Brief description of the course content and objectives: This course teaches teachers to integrate technology into their curriculum. The course covers various topics, including coding, digital citizenship, and multimedia production.
- Target audience: K-12 teachers, university instructors
- Programming languages covered in the course: Varies
- Duration of the course: 6 weeks
Why it’s beneficial: Integrating technology into the classroom can enhance student’s learning experience and better prepare them for the digital world. This course provides teachers with the skills and knowledge to incorporate technology, including coding, into their lessons effectively. By doing so, teachers can help students develop essential 21st-century skills and better prepare them for their future careers.
These courses provide a valuable resource for teachers looking to improve their coding instruction skills. By taking these courses, teachers can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to teach coding concepts to their students effectively. This can enhance the learning experience for students, help them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and better prepare them for the digital world.