I am always on the lookout for software classes that go beyond just teaching coding and offer students something different, whether it’s based on a particular teaching style, hands-on approach or real-world application. And while we are fortunate to have a wide variety of quality software classes offered to students in the Boston area, I recently learned about a class that stood out to me as unique and special and something I wanted to share with Boston-area parents.
Robyn Allen, a 2008 Aerospace Engineering MIT graduate, will be teaching two sessions of Fundamentals of Software Engineering via Python (for beginners), at Newton Animations in Needham, MA this summer. Prior to teaching, Robyn worked as a systems engineer in hybrid car design, ultra-light aircraft, mobile robotics, software design, and electric grid optimization. She has extensive experience in early-stage technology evaluation and prototyping from both an engineering and a business perspective.
I have had the opportunity to speak with Robyn and was impressed with her background in teaching and her mission to get more girls involved in STEM. She feels that “as a woman, I have a personal stake in helping do whatever I can do to get more girls involved in STEM fields.” She’s also done all of her MIT-based teachings with kids, such as the Splash program, on a volunteer basis. With her focus on STEM development for girls and her commitment to volunteering during her free time, I know she is someone who can offer a truly different type of software class. As someone who has worked at a number of startups, I am sure students will really enjoy hearing about and benefit from her startup experience.
About the class
Robyn has personally designed the curriculum for this Python class, and in addition to teaching the programming language and explaining how computers can be used as creative tools, she’ll incorporate into the class public speaking, teamwork and insight into what it’s like to work at a startup.
Unlike a more traditional curriculum focused on syntax rules, Robyn’s curriculum places a strong emphasis on strategies students can use to design and test new program ideas. Students will be guided in developing short written plans for their programs and will be encouraged to make a final presentation on the last day of class on a topic of their choice.
In response to the question, “which students should learn Python?” Robyn answered, “the Python programming language is unique in that it is widely used by professional programmers yet is also very friendly to beginners. Some Python code reads almost like English! Because most students today will end up working with multiple programming languages before their first job, it’s much more important to try as many languages as possible at a young age than to worry about choosing a single language to focus on.”
Unique benefits of this course:
- Python is easy for beginners yet powerful enough for advanced projects
- Students will strengthen their math skills by writing small applications to test mental math
- Students will work in pairs to discuss program design
- Students will be encouraged to test other students’ programs and give feedback to classmates
- Presentations on the final day of class
This is a well-rounded class and something that is going to be very different from what you will find with other programs. If your child is tech-oriented and interested in startups and has an entrepreneurial spirit, this is a class that should appeal to them.
Robyn’s approach
Teaching young kids programming and engineering can be challenging, and I asked Robyn how she approaches teaching. She shared, “My primary objective in teaching is to figure out what makes students light up. Because the language of problem-solving is spoken in every subject area, I find it to be a great puzzle to determine what gets a given group of students excited.” To get them engaged, she runs many types of experiments and uses a lot of humor– always a good idea with kids!
What parents say about Robyn
My kids haven’t had a chance to take a class with Robyn yet; however, I spoke with two parents whose children had extremely positive experiences with Robyn as their teacher. Here’s what they had to say:
“Robyn is an extraordinarily gifted tutor who has not only shown our 13-year-old son how to program – she both taught him how to think, and inculcated his passion for programming.”
–Father of an 8th-grade student, Boston
“Robyn has tutored both of our children creating a complete homeschooling curriculum for one. Her positive attitude, sense of adventure and endless energy have inspired our boys to grow not just in the classroom. She is very intelligent and engaging which allows her to teach any subject. Truly a gifted teacher, especially with teens and tweens.”
–Mother of two high school students, Greater Boston
Program Enrollment Details:
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- Two 8-week sessions offered Sunday, June 26-August 14 from 1:30pm-3pm and Thursday, June 30- August 18 from 6:30pm-8pm
- Location: Newton Animations studio in Needham, MA
- Age: Grades 9 & 10
- Prerequisites: none
- Cost: $650/session (enroll by 6/12 and pay $600)
- Optional office hours for extra help
- Students must bring their own computer (no special software needed)
- Learn more about the class and enroll at http://newtonanimations.com/python.html
- Robyn will also offer an advanced programming class for older students; interested families should attend an information session
Finally, interested families should attend an information session, which Robyn will hold at the studio, on the following dates:
- Thursday, June 9 from 6:30pm-8pm
- Sunday, June 12 from 3:30pm-5pm
This is a great opportunity to meet Robyn, learn more about the class, and ask questions.
Image source: Robyn Allen
