The summer before my daughter began high school, she decided to take her first programming class and chose to learn Java, one of the most popular, in-demand programming languages today. It is used to build server-side applications, games, and financial applications, and is the core foundation for developing Android apps. Java is also the programming language selected for the AP® Computer Science A course.
I knew there were many free, online programming classes available, but I wanted her to get a good foundation and learn the fundamentals of Java. I thought that the classroom would be the right place to start.
Since my daughter had attended iD Tech computer camps for years and enjoyed their game design classes, iD Tech was my go-to source to learn Java. I have written about the benefits of attending id Tech before. The reason iD Tech excels is that they truly “get kids” and understand how to teach them in a fun and engaging way.
I reviewed the class curriculum and saw that it was designed for 13-17-year-olds and that there were some prerequisites, including proficiency in algebra. After doing my research, I was fairly confident that the iD Tech instructors would do a good job teaching Java, and I was not disappointed. My daughter and her friend had a wonderful experience getting an introduction to Java.
I was hoping the class would not be a boring lecture on how to code and it wasn’t. As is typical for iD Tech camps, students use a hands-on approach to learning and everyone completes a project based on their interests. In this class, students created their own text-based role-playing game (RPG). That meant they developed an online game which was played using a text-based interface.
At the Parents’ Showcase, I played my daughter’s game (farming theme) and her friend’s game (squid/ocean theme) and was impressed with the level of creativity, writing, character development, and game-building strategy involved. In addition to coding, the students were telling a story that was easy to follow and visualize. The games were well-designed and backed up by pages of code.
After the class ended, I reached out to iD Tech with a couple of questions. I wanted to understand their approach to designing coding classes and find out why the company used a text-based role-playing game as the platform for learning Java.
The team in the curriculum department told me that there are some standard programs (e.g., calculator, Mad Libs and alarm clock) that programming students generally learn but these programs can be a little dry. When asked about their approach to teaching Java, they said, “We try to come up with fun projects/programs that teach the same concepts but in a way that will resonate with a younger audience. We also recognize that many of our programming students are also into gaming, so the role-playing game (RPG) project is a good example of tailoring projects to our students’ interests.”
I couldn’t agree more with their teaching methods and know their game-focused approach appealed to my daughter and her friend. They were not intimidated by Java but were challenged and encouraged to learn in a way that was interesting and relevant to them.
I am impressed that iD Tech has a long-term vision for their students and looks to prepare them for college and the work world. They said, “Our goal is to give students an early start in technology, that way their skills can mature along with their interests. The skills they learn at camp can be used to create real games and apps, help them get into college, or kick-start their dream career.”
While we are big fans of iD Tech in my family, it isn’t the only company that offers Java classes for teens. You can also find classes at Digital Media Academy which has locations around the country. In addition, you can search online for Java classes in your local area. When you inquire, ask about the company’s teaching style, what methods they use to instruct, and what students can expect to accomplish by the end of the class.
