- Level 1 - Grades 1-2
- Level 2 - Grades 3-5
- Level 3 - Grades 4+
- Level 4 - Grades 5+
- Level 5 - Grades 6+
- Level 6 - Grades 6+
- Level 7 - Grades 6+
L1: Fundamentals in Coding with Kano
Pre-requisite: None
Grades: 1st - 2nd
Thursdays 6:40PM - 7:40PM
This beginner unit will have students code a Kano Programming kit with interactive sensors and create physically interactive visuals. Students will then play with the sensors to create stories, illusions of frozen powers, and code all while learning the basics. They will see their programs come alive with the swish of a wand or the swoosh of a light saber.
Technical Concepts:- Code a motion sensing sensor to detect 3D hand motions.
- Block coding and using sensor readings as action triggers
- Sequential and parallel animation.
- Integrate music in code.
- Simple debugging and problem solving.
L2: Beginner Mobile App Development
Pre-requisite: None
Grades: 3rd - 5th
Monday 6:40PM - 7:40PM
Students will design and develop fully functional mobile apps and games that they can install on their phones plus share with family and friends. They will amaze you with their creativity in this program that has students building all new apps at beginner levels. Students will become self sufficient in building apps and various in-built phone sensors like accelerometer, orientation sensor, GPS, camera etc.
Our students have branched out to win many coding competitions and published apps on the app store. Your child will come out of this program with sufficient exposure and knowledge to continue their journey independently and build many mobile apps with practical use.
Technical Concepts:
- Object layout using vertical, horizontal, tabular arrangements.
- Button and Object shapes and colors.
- Font size and colors.
- Code user gestures: tap, swipe, flick etc.
- Code phone sensors, camera, Text to Voice, Voice to Text, databases, etc.
- Coding: Use of simple and nested loops, conditional loops, use of variables, math functions including random number generation based algorithms, and much more.
L3: Advanced Robotics with Lego Mindstorms
Pre-requisite: 6+ months of prior programming experience or Grades 5 and above
Min Grade: 4th+
Friday 5:30PM
Code and solve numerous logical challenges, obstacle courses with the Lego EV3 Mindstorm.
A technology program that blends coding with a focus on iterative learning. A machine's reaction to code is not always consistent and students learn how to improvise and manage around machine imperfections when extracting desired behavior through code.
Students learn about multiple sensors including touch, color, distance, gyro and integrate them to create multiple simulations like the robotic vacuum, color code driven navigation, accelerating and decelerating car, and much much more.
A program for beginners and advanced programmers to learn the fundamentals and complex algorithms of robotics and developing innovative movements, applications and solutions to challenges. Students can expect challenges they have never seen before that can only be solved using their keen sense of logic and programming knowledge. Challenges include those expected in tournaments like FLL, etc.
Technical Concepts:
- Code to Control Motors and Sensors: Color, Distance, Touch, Gyro.
- Many beginner to advanced challenges including Magic 8 ball, multi speed car, self driving car, light source search, and many more.
L4: Coding Electronic Circuits using Arduino and the programming language C
Pre-requisite: 12 months of prior programming experience OR Grades 6 and higher
Min Grade: 5th
Tuesday 6:40PM - 7:40PM OR Wednesday 6:40PM - 7:40PM
- Students take a giant leap in the world of Coding into programming Arduino based circuits with the language C.
- Use breadboards and integrate LEDs, digital displays, photo-resistors, switches, temperature sensors and more to program electronic circuits and working simulations of practical consumer electronics.
- Students learn about Anodes, Cathodes, Analog signals, Digital Signals and using signals as triggers using code.
L5-F: JAVA Fundamentals - Visual Applications with JavaFX (High School appropriate)
Pre-requisite: 24 months of prior programming experience OR Grades 8 and higher
Min Grade: 6th
Tuesdays 6:40PM - 7:40PM OR Saturday 4PM - 5PM
- This unique program will start with the basics of JAVA and object oriented programming while building visual applications and games.
- Program pacing will be very comfortable for middle and high schoolers with prior exposure to coding.
- Students will learn the fundamentals of object oriented programming, algorithms, basic data structures and more as they take their first major leap into the world of computer science.
- No prior experience with JAVA required, but students preferred to have at least 24 months of prior programming experience including exposure to a native language platform like JavaScript, C, C-Sharp etc or students have to be in Grades 8 or higher.
L5-C: JAVA Fundamentals - Algorithms, Data Structures (High School Appropriate)
Pre-requisite: 24 months of prior programming experience OR Grades 9 and higher
Min Grade: 6th
Saturday 4PM - 5:30PM
- This unique program will start with the basics of JAVA and cover content of AP Computer Science courses of high school, but in much greater depth and breadth.
- Program pacing will be very comfortable for middle and high schoolers with prior exposure to coding.
- Students will learn the fundamentals of object oriented programming, algorithms, basic data structures and more as they take their first major leap into the world of computer science.
- Program flow (guideline):
- Fundamental data types
- Simple and nested loops
- Array manipulation
- Functions
- Simple classes and inheritance
- Simple algorithms
- Array lists
- Advanced nested loops
- Advanced functions including recursive functions
- Complex classes and inheritance
- Advanced data structures - Trees
- Advanced algorithms
- No prior experience with JAVA required, but students preferred to have at least 24 months of prior programming experience including exposure to a native language platform like JavaScript, C, C-Sharp etc or students have to be in Grades 9 or higher.
- This is the precursor to our course on Competitive Programming - USACO Bronze.
L6: Data Science Track: Data Analysis and Visualization in R (Read more HERE) (High School appropriate)
Pre-requisite: 24 months of prior programming experience OR Grades 8 and higher
Min Grade: 6th
Saturdays 4PM - 5PM. Starting Jan 7th.
- Data Science is one of the hottest jobs family of this century and has application in every industry. R is one of the most popular data analysis and visualization tools used by college students and industry professionals.
- This program is designed with a comfortable pace for middle and high school students to learn the R platform and Microsoft Excel in data analysis applications.
- Students use R to visualize, analyze and generate insights including simple statistical observations.
- Part of the year long data science course. This course will be followed by Data Analysis in Python, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Python.
- While not mandatory, Students would benefit most if they have at least 12 months of prior Coding experience in some native language (C, C#, C++, JavaScript, JAVA, etc)
L7: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with Python
Pre-requisite: 24 months of prior programming experience OR Grades 8 and higher
Min Grade: 6th
Open Slot (time will be finalized based on group availability after registration)
- Python is one of the most popular data analysis and visualization tools used by college students and industry professionals.
- Program is designed with a comfortable pace for middle and high school students to learn the application of the Python platform in simple to intermediate Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
- Students will learn how to read structured and unstructured data into a Python platform, massaging and manipulating the data, and building statistical models for prediction.
- Students will build Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning models on Handwriting recognition, Image recognition, and more!!
- Ideal for students who have taken some coding classes prior and are ready to experience professional level Data Science platforms. Prior knowledge of the Python programming platform is required.
Learning HOW TO CODE is not hard at all for kids these days. In fact, if you are just looking for your child to learn to code, we would not advise you to spend money on any workshop or program. There are plenty of free resources available online that will teach your child some coding in less than a month.
Why then, you may ask, do we offer such a prolific technology program here at Thinking Feet?
At Thinking Feet, we do not believe in spoon feeding code - we do not simply tell students what to do. Many programs take that approach but then your child is essentially learning how to follow instructions in technology.
At Thinking Feet, we do hold their hands in the early learning stages but very soon we let our students lead the way through a unique classroom methodology that fosters brainstorming, creative thinking and Technology Leadership.
Our students learn to take risks & chances, and embrace failure along the way to learning and success. This has implications beyond just technology enrichment. This journey of coaching and development takes time, which is why our programs span 8 - 12 weeks per unit. To meet this objective, we develop our own curriculum...none of the available online curriculum (free or paid) come even close to what we offer.
What do our classrooms look like?
In our classrooms, you will find a lot of student participation, diverse sets of ideas and thoughts flying all across. Students will experiment, make mistakes and learn as they go through their coding journey. The energy is palpable.
Students learn as much if not more from each other's creative thoughts, as they do from the coach.
