Festival2012/Submit/Programming for the fun of it: Difference between revisions

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* Title of session: Programming for the fun of it (with Waterbear)
= Programming for the fun of it with Waterbear =
  * Your name and affiliation: Dethe Elza, Mozilla Foundation
  * Session format: Learning Lab
  ===What will your session or activity allow people to make, learn or do?===


My session will allow people who have never programmed a computer to become casual programmers using Javascript, by introducing them to [Waterbear waterbearlang.com], a drag-and-drop visual environment for programming.
Presenter: Dethe Elza, Mozilla Foundation
Format: Learning Lab
Session notes: https://etherpad.mozilla.org/Programming_for_the_Fun_of_it
Themes:
 
=== What will you make, learn or do? ===


  ===How do you see that working?===
People who have never programmed a computer will become casual programmers using Javascript, by using [http://waterbearlang.com Waterbear], a drag-and-drop visual environment for programming. This allows users to write code by snapping blocks together like Legos, and to build by exploring.


I am assuming participants either have a computer or that there will be computers made available to them. Waterbear is entirely web-based, all they need is a browser that can access the website. It can be made available offline if needed.
Waterbear is entirely web-based, all you need is a browser that can access the website.


Given the above, I will give a short introduction to Waterbear and demonstrate how to drag blocks together to create a simple animation. I will then present some lightweight challenge problems that participants can choose to solve, or if they have ideas about something they would like to code, they can branch out on their own. I will be available to provide tips and help out if anyone is stuck.
There will be a short introduction to Waterbear and demonstration of how to drag blocks together to create a simple animation.  


  ===How will you deal with 5, 15, 50 participants?===
You can solve a challenge, or if you would like to code your own ideas you can branch out on your own. Facilitators will be available to provide tips and help out if anyone is stuck.


With 5 participants I can offer more support and help and I expect we will get further into the challenges. For 15 participants I will try to have some people who are more experienced with programming (which needn't be very experienced) to help other participants as needed. For a group of 50, we can work out the challenges as a group, interactively, with some participants coming up to drag the blocks, and others giving advice to collectively build the solution.
=== Take-aways ===


  ===How long within your session before someone else can teach this?===
Programming does not have to be mysterious or difficult. It's like playing with the most flexible and powerful construction toy in the world.


I have seen children as young as six write code like this after minimal exposure, so after 20 minutes I expect everyone will have the basic concepts down.
You will learn how to write code that allows you to build new games, applications, animations, and art, or to take more control of your browser. Waterbear is a real coding tool you can use to build with, but requires no previous experience with writing computer programs. You can see the code that Waterbear generates behind the block-interface to learn more, or create new blocks from existing ones.


  ===What do you see as outcomes after the festival?===
You don't have to be a CS major, programmer, or "computer person" to enjoy writing a program.


I think that participants will have programming de-mystified and be more willing to take control of their own computing more. For some, they may go on to use Waterbear to write animation, games, or mash-ups. Others may look at the code that Waterbear creates from the blocks they drag and use that as a jumping-off point to learn Javascript natively. A lot of it depends on how engaged the participants become, but the main goal is to show that you don't have to be a CS major, programmer, or "computer person" to enjoy writing a program.
=== Who should come? ===
 
Kids, artists, scientists, educators, anyone who uses a computer and would like it to do what they want.
 
=== Assets ===

Latest revision as of 21:42, 11 October 2012

Programming for the fun of it with Waterbear

Presenter: Dethe Elza, Mozilla Foundation Format: Learning Lab Session notes: https://etherpad.mozilla.org/Programming_for_the_Fun_of_it Themes:

What will you make, learn or do?

People who have never programmed a computer will become casual programmers using Javascript, by using Waterbear, a drag-and-drop visual environment for programming. This allows users to write code by snapping blocks together like Legos, and to build by exploring.

Waterbear is entirely web-based, all you need is a browser that can access the website.

There will be a short introduction to Waterbear and demonstration of how to drag blocks together to create a simple animation.

You can solve a challenge, or if you would like to code your own ideas you can branch out on your own. Facilitators will be available to provide tips and help out if anyone is stuck.

Take-aways

Programming does not have to be mysterious or difficult. It's like playing with the most flexible and powerful construction toy in the world.

You will learn how to write code that allows you to build new games, applications, animations, and art, or to take more control of your browser. Waterbear is a real coding tool you can use to build with, but requires no previous experience with writing computer programs. You can see the code that Waterbear generates behind the block-interface to learn more, or create new blocks from existing ones.

You don't have to be a CS major, programmer, or "computer person" to enjoy writing a program.

Who should come?

Kids, artists, scientists, educators, anyone who uses a computer and would like it to do what they want.

Assets

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