Coding Platforms for Beginners

Developing a Coding
Program for Users
BRIAN PICHMAN | Evolve Project

What Code Should I Learn?
Welcome
Developing a coding program is important if you want to teach your community various programming languages. However, the challenge is which
language to choose. Do you train towards the blast to the past with Cobolt or a little more recent with HTML? Or currently, used technologies like
PHP or C++? Or what if you wanted to showcase technology that is up and coming, like programming in AI and learning python? Whatever the use
case, this session works through the different languages you can code, their applications in the real world, and resources for developing programs at
your library for all ages.

Evolve Project | Brian Pichman
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The importance of coding is everywhere
Why Code?
• Can help teach troubleshooting in a more
meaningful way
• Make a “computer” do what you want it to
do
• Job market opportunities
• Build something useful and start a
business
• Most of todays technological
advancements are through the use of
code
• Automation of repetitive tasks or
procedures

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What we will cover today
Agenda
2
Resources
What you could use to get
started
4
Coding Platforms
What could you “code”
3
Coding Basics
Understand the commonly used
coding terms
1
Introduction
5
Requirements
What do you need to be
successful?
7
Job Applications
Understand what careers require
what languages
6
Coding Languages
What are the different languages
and what do they look like
8
Fun Things!

5
A set of commands that a computer can understand
So What Is Coding?
Coding is involved in almost every aspect of our lives. From posting on Facebook, to your smart phones, to games, to websites, to this
very webinar. Coding makes things happen, and they are simply instructions to make the “magic” happen.
Think of coding for computer programs as writing down the steps needed to do something.

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How Do Computers Work
Coding is made up of three things
Algorithm
An ordered set of steps to solve a
problem (not always a mathematical
problem)
Process
A series of actions/steps to
achieve an end result
(do THIS to get THAT)
Procedure
A series of actions performed in a specific order.
(Follow these STEPS to get THAT)

Peanut Butter and Jelly
Describe in “Natural Language” how to make a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich

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To Get You Started
Resources
Codecademy is an online interactive platform that offers free
coding classes in 12 different programming languages
including Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, and Sass, as
well as markup languages HTML and CSS
The Open Education Consortium (OEC) is a non-profit,
global, members-based network of open education
institutions and organizations. OEC represents its
members and provides advocacy and leadership around
advancement of open education globally.

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To Get You Started
Resources
Coursera is an online learning platform founded by Stanford
professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller that offers *free*
courses, specializations, and degrees.
Code Avengers is an online education company based out
of Hamilton, NZ and founded in 2012 by Dr Michael
Walmsley (PhD computer-assisted learning). It is
subscription based and is made to make coding fun and
engaging.

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To Get You Started
Resources
CoderDojo is a global volunteer-led community of free
programming workshops for young people between 7 and 17.
The movement is a grassroots organization with individual
clubs acting independently.
Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization
created in 2008 by Salman Khan with the goal of creating a
set of online tools that help educate students. The
organization produces short lessons in the form of
YouTube videos. Its website also includes supplementary
practice exercises and materials for educators

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So Many Options!

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To Get You Started
There are even great apps
GetHopscotch.com – an app that teaches coding through
building games. Make your own Pokemon Go game, frogger,
and more.
LightBot is an app that teaches programming concepts
through solving puzzles.

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Some Other Coding Resources
Code.org :
• Code.org ® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in
schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresent ed minorities.
Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn
computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra. Code.org provides the
leading curriculum for K -12 computer science in the largest school districts in the
United States and Code.org also organizes the annual Hour of Code campaign
which has engaged 10% of all students in the world. Code.org is supported by
generous donors including Amazon, Facebook, Google, the Infosys Foundation,
Microsoft, and many more .
• Scratch helps children create stories, games, animations, and also lets them share
these projects with others around the world. More info at http://scratch.mit.edu/ .
• www.kodable.com gives children opportunities to program in order to solve puzzles.
Looking for inspiration: https://medium.freecodecam p.org/successfully -teaching -
yourself -how-to-code -f6aac23db44a

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What is a programming language?
A programming language is set of rules that provide a way of telling a computer:
What operations to perform
Communicating an algorithm
Receives an input from the user and generates an output.
A programming language is a system for describing a computation (math) or algorithms (logic) in a machine-readable and
human-readable form.
Has words, symbols, and grammatical rules (natural language)
Grammatical rules = Syntax
Each language has a different set of syntax rules
Has semantics (meaning)

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Few Basic Programming Terms
Coding Basics
Variables and Arrays Operators Flow Control Functions

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A variable is a bucket that holds one piece of information. A variable
can change value when
• Specific conditions are met
• Based on user input
Variables & Arrays
Coding Basics
Examples (concept)
$string_myhomelibrary = “Montgomery Library”;
$numeric_variable= 100;
$myname = “Brian”;

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An array is a type of variable (or bucket) that holds many pieces of
information.
Variables and Arrays
Coding Basics
Example (language doesn’t matter here; the concept does):
$FavoriteCities = array(“Orlando”, “Boulder”, “Miami”)
$FavoriteCities[0] holds “Orlando”
$FavoriteCities [1] holds “Boulder”
$States = array(“1” => “Prime”; “FL”=> “Florida”, “CO” => “Colorado”)
$States[“FL”] holds “Florida”

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• Arithmetic
• +, -, *, / (add, subtract, multiply, divide)
• Assignment
• = (assign the value of 2 to the variable called v)
• $v = 2;
• += (“Add the value of 3 to the variable that
already holds 1”)
• $v += 3; // $a now holds 5
Operators
Coding Basics

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Flow Control – Readable Programming Languages
Coding Basics
Sequence
Reads like a book, the instructions are
executed in the same order they where given.
OPEN the door
WALK inside the room
SIT on a chair
PICKUP a book
READ the book.
Choice
With choice, instructions are executed based
on variables, commands, outputs, etc.
Continual
With continual, instructions are executed based
on variables, commands, outputs, etc … as
they remain true

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Flow Control – Readable Programming Languages
Coding Basics
Sequence
OPEN the door
WALK inside the room
SIT on a chair
PICKUP a book
READ the book.
Choice
If Then
if (something is true/conditions are met) {
then do this
}
If Then Else
Else: XYZ
Starts the same as “If Then” but allows a
result if condition is false
Else If
if (something is true/conditions are met) {
then do this
} elseif (another something is
true/conditions are met) {
then do this instead
}
Continual
While (or repeat)
while (something is true) {
do something here
}
for
for (something is true) {
do something here
}

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Putting Flow Control Together
1) Sequence
Go to the library
Check out a book
Read the book
Return the book
2) Choice
If you have a library card, you can check out books.
Otherwise open a library card account.
3) Repeat
Continue to read the book till there are no more pages.

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A function is type of procedure or routine
• A function usually returns a value
• A procedure preforms an operation but typically doesn’t provide a
value
Most languages have pre-built or pre-defined functions in its library.
• For instance, the “delete” function means to “remove”. You don’t
have to code what “remove” does; only what to remove.
Functions
Coding Basics

What could you “code” for
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Coding Platforms
With coding websites and web
apps; there are front end (what
users see) and back end (what
admins see) that have to be
considered
Websites and Web Apps
Web Based
You may not realize it, but the
servers and databases that run
the things you use every day
also has a level of coding
involved
Infrastructure
Databases / Servers
As more new technology for
self-driving cars and digital
assistants grows, there will be a
need for these kinds of
engineers
The Hottest Trend
Machine Learning / AI
Often referred to as “thick”
clients, applications that can be
installed are coded – and each
different operating systems
requires different code
Software
Applications

What could you “code” for
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Coding Platforms
Video Gaming
Video games is much more
than great graphics, every
character interaction, move,
and story has to be coded
Make Games Work
Apps that run on mobile
devices need specialized
coders as well!
There’s an app for that
Mobile Apps

25
Flash Light Examples
Understanding AI
If an ML algorithm makes an
inaccurate prediction, then the
engineer needs to correct. In DL,
the algorithms can determine on
their own if a prediction is accurate
or not.
Deep Learning
Allow machines to make to
their own accurate decisions
without intervention from
engineer
Neural Networks
If detects {dark} turn on {light}
Logic Rules
it’s performing a function with the
data given and gets progressively
better at that function
Machine Learning
Eventually, the system can
turn on the light with other
queues such as “I can’t see”
DL “Code”
Flashlight will turn on automatically
as it learns other words for “dark”
picking up on phrases that
contains the word
ML “Code”:

27
Coding for Websites

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There are many ways to program
Requirements
Getting Started
If you’re programming, you’ll need a spot to “host” your code. If its web facing, you could
use sites like Blue Host or Google Cloud computing. For internal applications, you can
set up a “LAMP” stack, and often be able to host everything off a single computer. Lastly,
you’ll need to run software to actually code
There are are also different ways to code:
These would be often hardware specific applications that allow the
creation or customization of physical hardware, drivers, or firmware.
Machine Languages
Operating Systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux can be given
commands to do things. Job Control, Shell Scripting, Text Processing
Scripting
Use a computer screen to do most of the coding for you. For example, you don’t
need to code the dimensions of a “text box” just put one in and resize it to what you
need
GUI – Graphical User Interface

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Software to code: Microsoft Visual Studio

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Software to code: Dreamweaver

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Software to code: Notepad++

Traditional Programming Languages
• FORTRAN
• FORmula TRANslation.
• Developed at IBM in the mid-1950s.
• First programming language
• Designed for scientific and mathematical applications by
scientists and engineers.

Traditional Programming Languages (cont’d.)
• COBOL
• Common Business Oriented Language.
• Developed in 1959.
• Typically used for business applications.

• BASIC
• Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
• Developed at Dartmouth College in mid 1960s.
• Developed as a simple language for students to write programs
with which they could interact through terminals.

• C
• Developed by Bell Laboratories in the early 1970s.
• Provides control and efficiency of assembly language
• Often used for system programs.
• UNIX is written in C.

Object-Oriented Programming Languages
• C++
• It is C language with additional features.
• Widely used for developing system and application software.
• Graphical user interfaces can be developed easily with visual
programming tools.
• Windows Based

Object-Oriented Programming Languages
• JAVA
• An object-oriented language similar to C++ that eliminates lots
of C++’s problematic features
• Allows a web page developer to create programs for applications,
called applets that can be used through a browser.
• Objective of JAVA developers is that it be machine, platform and
operating system independent.

Special Programming Languages
• Scripting Languages
• JavaScript and VBScript
• PHP and ASP
• Perl and Python
• Command Languages
• sh, csh, bash, cmd

Special Programming Languages
• HTML
• HyperText Markup Language.
• Used on the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW).
• Web page developer puts brief codes called tags in the page to
indicate how the page should be formatted.
• XML
• Extensible Markup Language.
• A language for defining other languages.

Considerations when choose languages
• Proprietary
• Microsoft Languages (C#, C++, Visual Basic)
• Oracle (Java)
• Open Source
• PHP
• Python
• Standardized Languages
• HTML
• Databases
• Microsoft SQL (Microsoft), MySQL (Open Source), NoSQL (now Apples)

• Formerly: Run-time performance
• At one point, a well performing computer was costly, so
lightweight languages had to be used, concise commands, and
less “flashy” design
• Now: Life cycle (human) cost is more important
• Ease of use for both user and programmer
• Cost of maintenance (debugging, updates, etc)
What determines a “right” language

Source: https://www.udemy.com/

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Raspberry Pi (Teaching Python)
http://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-write-and-run-a-python-
program-on-the-raspberry-pi/

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Arduino IDE

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Looking “Under the Hood” with Developer Tools
https://developers.google.com/web/tools/chrome-devtools/beginners/html

.mit.edu
Scratch is a programming language for everyone. Create
interactive stories, games, music and art and share them online.

B E E B OT S
M S R P : $ 8 9 . 9 5
Learn how to code without a
computer. Either using tactile
squares or pressing the buttons
on the bot, program your robot
to move.
https://www.terrapinlogo.com/beebot.h
tml

B LU E - B OT
M S R P : $ 1 2 0
Code a robot with tiles

OZOBOT
MSRP: $60
Learn how to program by drawing
https://ozobot.com/

Resources
• https://ozobot.com/stem-education their main education page
• https://portal.ozobot.com/lessons the lesson page
• Teachers Guide:
• https://files.ozobot.com/stem-education/ozobot-teachers-guide.pdf

WINK
MSRP: $80
Fun activities to program a robot using Arduino.
This low cost robot allows students to program common robotic
tasks such as:
Line Following
Light Seeking
Barrier Detection
Autonomous Roaming
Creative Experimentation
https://www.plumgeek.com/wink.html

Resources
• Software Installations:
• https://www.plumgeek.com/wink-getting-started.html
• Quick Start:
• https://www.plumgeek.com/uploads/5/4/7/6/54769677/wink_coding_example_rev01
-1.pdf
• All Lessons: https://www.plumgeek.com/learn-to-code.html
• Scroll to the bottom; download both the example code and the lesson guides

Itty Bitty Buggy
MSRP: $59.99
The Itty Bitty Buggy kit comes with a base
Buggy plus four opportunities to build a
sloth, a ladybug, a dodo bird and an alien.
Learn to code, have your robot detect light,
lines, voice control, color, and more.
https://microduinoinc.com/itty-bitty-buggy/
https://idealab.microduinoinc.com/asset

Kano Harry Potter
MSRP: 99.99
Build a wand. Learn to code. Make magic.
https://kano.me/store/us/products/coding-wand

Finch
The Finch was designed to allow students to
write richly interactive programs. On-board
features include:
Light, temperature, and obstacle sensors,
Accelerometers, Motors, Buzzer, Full-color
beak LED, Pen mount for drawing capability,
Plugs into USB port - no batteries required
https://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/finch/

Resources
• Loan Program:
• https://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/finch-robot-loan-program/
• Curriculum Guides
• https://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/finch/curriculum/scratch/

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Feel free to reach out!
Questions / Contacts
815-534-0403
www.evolveproject.org
bpichman@evolveproject.org
Twitter: @bpichman
linkedin.com/in/bpichman
slideshare.net/bpichman

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