Module 07 — Coding Foundations¶
Duration: 3–4 sessions · Audience: Optional advanced track — youth, adults pursuing tech careers, anyone curious · Prerequisite: Module 01
The optional module. Not required for any standard award track, but unlocks a career path for participants who find they love it.
Learning objectives¶
By the end of Module 07, a participant can:
- Describe what programming is and why someone would learn it
- Write and run a simple Python program in IDLE or VSCodium
- Build a simple HTML/CSS web page from scratch
- Use Scratch for visual / younger-learner programming
- Identify the next free learning path that fits them
Session breakdown¶
Session 1 — What is programming? Code is instructions a machine follows literally. Why people write code: automation, problem-solving, creativity, money. The two on-ramps: Scratch (visual) and Python (text). Live demo of each — write something tiny, run it, break it on purpose. Participants pick their on-ramp.
Session 2 (Path A) — Scratch (visual). Interface tour (browser; works offline if cached). Make a sprite move, add arrow-key input, add a sound or animation, save and reload, share locally.
Session 2 (Path B) — Python (text). VSCodium or IDLE. Hello World. Variables, simple math, string formatting. Input / output. A 10-line program that does something the participant wants. Reading and fixing an error message.
Session 3 — HTML and CSS. What a web page is (HTML structure + CSS style). Build a one-page "about me" from a template. Change colors, fonts, images. Open it in the browser. (Optional) Push to GitHub Pages with help.
Session 4 — Where to go next. Free learning paths: freeCodeCamp, Codecademy, Khan Academy CS, The Odin Project. Tech career paths that don't require a CS degree. The reality of self-teaching. How to keep learning after the cohort — the makerspace, the alumni community, online groups.
Hands-on assignment¶
By the end of the module the participant has built one finished project (Scratch game, Python script, or HTML page), run it themselves, saved it somewhere they can find again, and bookmarked the next learning path they intend to follow.
Audience adaptations¶
| Audience | Emphasis |
|---|---|
| Youth | Heavy Scratch; game-making framing; competitive showcase |
| Adults pursuing tech | Heavier Python; Git intro if there's time; portfolio framing |
| Recovery / reentry | Career-path realism — timelines, what doesn't require a degree or background check at entry level |
| Curious general | Lighter touch; "this is what coding actually feels like — decide if you want more" |
What this module doesn't cover¶
Production deployment, databases, frameworks, DevOps (pointers to next paths); specific bootcamps (Boot Up does not recommend any specific paid program); a path to a CS degree (referral if asked).
Honest framing¶
[HYPOTHESIS] This module makes a tech career feel possible for participants who hadn't considered it. It does not make them job-ready in 3–4 sessions, and Module 07 alone is not a credential. Be clear about realistic timelines for self-taught entry-level work — typically 6–18 months of consistent practice after a module like this one.
Assessment for award eligibility¶
A facilitator confirms (no written test): Did the participant build and run one project? Can they describe one thing they want to learn next? If yes to both, Module 07 is complete.