I'm not sure where to start. Which Zone is right for me / my child?
If you don't have any expereince at all, the Navy Zone is where to start. These are introductory level classes and camps, and learners will start from the ground up. One thing to keep in mind is that different Navy Zone camps may cover different topics, languages, and functionalities. You may find that you want to explore several Navy Zone options before moving to an Emerald Zone camp. You can think of Zones like this:
- Navy Zone
- I am brand new to computer science.
- I have been to another camp, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for a more advanced level.
- I have made "programs" in a game-based environment, but I don't know if I can explain how they work.
- Emerald Zone
- I know the basics of sequence, selection, and iteration. I'm ready to check out something at the next level.
- I had a lot of fun with another Emerald Zone project, and I want to check out another one.
- Gray Blue Zone
- I can write programs on my own with the help of an IDE (e.g., IDLE, eclipse, etc.), and I'm ready to see some more complicated projects.
- Graphite Zone
- I can write programs on my own and understand what I'm looking at when I see code. I'm ready to be challenged with something I can't find on CS forums like StackOverflow.
- Iced Mint Zone
- I'm fairly advanced on my own, but I'd feel more confident if I had the support and guidance of expereinced teachers, programmers, and project owners.
Why are the age ranges so broad?
Coding, programming, and other computer science skills and topics are not age based. Think about learning a new spoken language, like French or Japanese. You wouldn't be placed into an advanced or intermediate class just because you are older than other learners. Along with age ranges, we try to list "best for" ages based on some of the activities and learning structures; however, we are always able to make adjustments based on the makeup of each particular group and individualize based on learner needs.
Are there discounts for multiple camps / Full Day signup / siblings?
Yes, if you are selecting multiple camps during the same week, apply coupon code WHOLEDAY ($75 discount) at checkout. If you are signing up multiple campers, apply coupon code FAMILY (varies) at checkout. If you have a particular scenario that doesn't quite fit what is listed (e.g., 3 siblings all attending whole day for a week), let us know through the contact page, and we'd be glad to figure out the right pricing structure.
How does the Whole Day option work?
If you are interested in sending your child(ren) for the whole day, you would select a morning camp and an afternoon camp for that week. Campers who are attending whole day would be in the first camp from 8:00am to 12:00pm and the second camp from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. From 12:00pm to 1:00pm, they would have a lunch break and would be able to do some independent exploring of unplugged options. Code Zone cannot provide lunch, so campers who are attending whole day will either need to bring lunch or can order from one of the nearby options, like Firehouse Subs, Pei Wei, or Papa John's Pizza.
I'm worried about too much screen time. How does this work at Code ZOne?
Learners will, of course, spend time on screens; however, too much screen time can cause headaches, blurred vision, and mental fatigue. There are also learning benefits to using "unplugged" activities to create mental models of programming concepts to establish connections to prior knowledge and concrete understandings. Peppered throughout all camps are unplugged breaks and unplugged learning activities.
What is the daily Schedule?
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08:15 - 08:45 || Arrival
08:45 - 09:20 || "Session 0" - Introduction Information, Foundations 09:20 - 09:35 || Unplugged Break 09:35 - 10:20 || Session 1 - Lesson, Activity, etc. 10:20 - 10:35 || Unplugged Break 10:35 - 11:20 || Session 2 - Lesson, Practice, etc. 11:20 - 11:35 || Unplugged Break 11:35 - 12:20 || Session 3 - Lesson, Independent Practice, etc. 12:20 - 12:30 || Dismissal |
01:15 - 01:45 || Arrival
01:45 - 02:20 || "Session 0" - Introduction Information, Foundations 02:20 - 02:35 || Unplugged Break 02:35 - 03:20 || Session 1 - Lesson, Activity, etc. 03:20 - 03:35 || Unplugged Break 03:35 - 04:20 || Session 2 - Lesson, Practice, etc. 04:20 - 04:35 || Unplugged Break 04:35 - 05:20 || Session 3 - Lesson, Independent Practice, etc. 05:20 - 05:30 || Dismissal |
