Virtual Coding Bootcamp (Grades 9-12)

Class 1: Introduction to Coding and Computational Thinking

Objective: Introduce students to coding fundamentals and the concept of computational thinking. 

Topics:

• What is coding and why it matters: Understanding its role in technology.
• Computational thinking: Breaking down problems into manageable parts.
• Introduction to a text-based programming language (e.g., Python) with simple syntax.
• Hands-on activity: Write a basic program (like "Hello, World!") and understand the structure of a simple code.

Class 2: Control Structures: Loops and Conditional Statements

Objective: Learn how to control the flow of programs with loops and conditional statements. 

Topics:

• Conditional statements (if, else if, else) to make decisions in code.
• Loops (for, while) for repeating actions.
• Mini-project: Create a simple text-based game or quiz that uses conditional statements and loops.

Class 3: Functions and Variables

Objective: Understand how to use functions and variables to write cleaner and more reusable code. 

Topics:

• Defining and using variables to store data.
• Creating and calling functions to perform tasks.
• Introduction to the concept of scope and parameters.
• Activity: Design a program that performs calculations or transforms text based on user input.

Class 4: Introduction to Data Structures

Objective: Explore basic data structures and how they can be used to organize and manage data efficiently. 

Topics:

• Lists/arrays: Storing and accessing a collection of data.
• Introduction to dictionaries (or maps) for key-value pairing.
• Hands-on project: Create a simple contact book or inventory system that utilizes lists and dictionaries.

Class 5: Creative Project and Introduction to Web Development

Objective: Apply learned coding skills to a creative project and get an introduction to web development. 

Topics:

• Review and integration of previous concepts in a student-chosen project. Ideas could include a more complex game, a personalized utility tool, or a data analysis project.
• Basics of HTML and CSS: Structure and style a simple webpage.
• Embedding Python (or another language) logic into web projects with a brief introduction to JavaScript for interactivity.
• Showcase: Students present their projects, highlighting their code and the concepts used.