By Justin Nietser and Warren Buckleitner

Note: The following curriculum has been revised and updated many times over the years. It uses Scratch and iStop Motion. You should have one Chromebook per child and at least four iPads with iStop Motion installed.

 

Mediatech’s Coding Camp

118 Main Street Flemington, NJ

Camp Dates:

• Week 1: 4th Week of June
• Week 2: 2nd Week of July
• Week 3: 3rd Week of July
• Week 4: 4th Week of July
• Week 5: 1st Week of August
• Week 6: 2nd Week of August

 

Hours: 9 am to 12pm Noon. Children are welcome to stay after the camp for the afternoon.

COST: $100/child/seat or $20/day (payable day to day).

SNACK: There will be a snack provided everyday. We have various assortments of snacks and juice boxes. If your child has any special food allergies, they can bring their own snack if they choose. We typically eat snack in the courtyard of the library or in the community room if the courtyard is occupied or there is bad weather. With parent’s permission, we would like to bring them across the street to have snack on the lawn during one or two of the camp days. Let us know if this is okay with you!

MEDIA RELEASE: Parents will be required to sign a media release form allowing photos to be used online and their child’s work to be published on the Scratch website.

This camp has a lot of freedom attached to it so I tried to outline what is basically done every week. Students are encouraged to experiment with the technology in Mediatech if they want a break from game creating. The center does have a lot of video games but we would prefer those who want to play wait to until after the camp is done for the day.

 

 

Monday

Meet and Greet

The first thing is to make nametags using existing materials and name badge holders. Children will hang up their nametags on hooks by the door each day. When everyone is present, there will be an Icebreaker so everyone can get to know each other.

Introduction to Scratch

There will be an introduction to Scratch by the Teachers. They will show off simple concepts and past projects. Children will be assigned computer to follow along.

Doing something simple

If your child is new to Scratch, they will receive a lot of help by the Teachers. They will work one-on-one with them to build a game or program.

Demonstration

Students are encouraged to show off what they worked on today either by themselves or with the Teacher they worked with. Their peer are also encouraged can ask questions, give informative feedback, and/or make suggestions.

Conclusion

After every camp day, we like to give a demonstration the uses of technology. This is either through videos or apps.

There will be a snack provided everyday

 

Tuesday

Recap of Yesterday

We will talk about if they thought of any new game ideas from the previous day.

Introduction of Stop Motion animation

This is the other portion of Coding Camp. Teachers will demonstrate iStopMotion with iPads and show off projects from students of previous years.

Introduction of “Ze Challenge.” This is a fun challenge. There will be a list of concepts students will need to include in their projects/games to complete this challenge. If students are successful, we will acknowledge them during the certificate ceremony.

Demonstration

Students are encouraged to show off what they worked on today either by themselves or with the Teacher they worked with. Their peer are also encouraged can ask questions, give informative feedback, and/or make suggestions.

Conclusion

After every camp day, we like to give a demonstration the uses of technology. This is either through videos or apps.

Wednesday

Coding Day

Wednesday will be all about working on their projects. Teachers will walk around and help when they need to.

Demonstration

Students are encouraged to show off what they worked on today either by themselves or with the Teacher they worked with. Their peer are also encouraged can ask questions, give informative feedback, and/or make suggestions.

Conclusion

After every camp day, we like to give a demonstration the uses of technology. This is either through videos or apps.

Thursday

Coding and Wrapping up

Students should have a really good idea what they will be showing off on Friday.

Rehearsal for Friday

After a snack break, we will go over what will happen on Friday with the students. They will be preparing or their final demonstrations.

Technology Video

After every camp day, we like to show a video or two demonstrating the uses of technology.

Friday: Demo Day

Last Day!

On the last Day of Camp students will be working on putting their finishing touches on their projects. Parents are welcome to come and watch the Final Demonstrations. We will begin this at 11AM. We will set up chairs in the front of the room and students will show off what they’ve been working on.

After we will give each student a certificate of completion along with a Mediatech Shirt!

Each summer Mediatech offers one week coding camps. We follow a general curriculum that provides the structure that we need in order to be creative.

We’re pleased to offer five, week-long morning programming camps, designed to provide fun, informal exposure to MIT’s Scratch language and stop motion animation.

The curriculum is project based, so each child can set his or her own challenges. For ages 7-16.

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED (but experienced programmers are welcome).

If possible bring your own laptop or an iPad. Children will be using the Internet and sharing work online. Includes a light morning snack, drink and Mediatech T-Shirt; taught by college students.

Cost: The cost is determined each season, but it is generally about $100 per seat, limited to 12 children per class on a first come, first served basis. Bring a check to “Mediatech Foundation” on the first day.

Where? Downtown Flemington, in Mediatech (118 Main Street, in the 2nd Floor of the Flemington Free Public Library. Handicapped accessible).

When? 9 to noon, for five days. Parents are encouraged to come to the final session, at 11:00 to noon on Friday (the last day). Children are welcome to sign up for as many weeks as they like.

Dates: Camp sessions run weekly from the last week of June to the second week of August.