Here at Educademy, we’re passionate about all things STEM. Our tutors are students studying at some of the best Universities in the UK, meaning our courses are some of the best out there. They’re all delivered online, meaning no matter where in the world you are we can teach you. Plus the courses are just a week long, so if you have other plans for your family in the Summer, we won’t get in the way! Kids are able to choose from a wide variety of courses depending on their skill level and age - whether you’re a complete novice or you’re looking to make some more complicated games, we’ve got you covered.

So, let’s dive in and take a look at some of the best coding courses out there:

Best for: Beginners

1. Introduction to Scratch

   This course is perfect for kids (as young as 7) who have never coded before. It introduces them to some of the fundamental concepts in coding (such as variables, control flow and for loops), in an easy to use, colourful, block programming language. In the space of a week, kids can go from not knowing what coding is, to creating racing games all by themselves! Plus, our tutors are always there to help so you’ll never be left behind.

2. Introduction to Python

   For slightly older children who want to start making some more complicated programs, Educademy’s introduction to Python Course is perfect. For children aged 10 and upwards, this course introduces those who have never programmed before to one of the world’s most popular programming languages. If you’re thinking about studying Computer Science at University or maybe even working in the world of tech when you’re older, learning Python is a no-brainer. You’ll learn how to create interactive GUIs and make the most of Python libraries, all whilst learning one of the most in demand programming languages in the world.

3. Introduction to C# and Unity

   Unity is widely used in the gaming industry to make many of the most popular games on the market. Some examples include Hollow Knight by Team Cherry and Assassin’s Creed Identity. Unity is based on the programming language C#, which is widely used outside of the gaming industry, so this course is not just for games makers. The course will walk students through the basics of Unity’s interface, and eventually students will either complete code written by our tutors, or write their own code from scratch.

Best for: Budding Game Developers

1. Intermediate Scratch: Games and Animations

   Perfect for those who have already completed our Introduction to Scratch course, or for those who used Roblox and Scratch regularly at school, this course builds on students present knowledge, enabling them to create more complex games - for example, Flappy Bird! Each day in the course is structured in the form of a project; students will start the day learning about what they are going to build, and then throughout the course of their 3 hour lesson, they will build an entire game that they can then show off to their friends and family!

2. Create Games with Python

   Building upon the skills learnt in our Introduction to Python course, this course introduces some more widely used libraries such as PyGame and Tkinter. Through working without our tutors and other students, children will learn fundamental concepts like lists, strings, if and while statements, and for loops, all while creating a variety of games. Some examples include a platformer game and space shooter game.

3. Unity and C# Intermediate Games Development

   This course is ideal for those with a bit more knowledge of coding. At the start of the week, children are given a relatively easy project in which they will consolidate their prior knowledge of Unity and C#. The course slowly ramps up throughout the week, so by the end of the course, they will be creating a Sumo Wrestling game - the Sumo Wrestler has to beat of waves of enemies with increasing difficulty. There’ll be sound effects, power ups and much more!

Best for: Web Development

1. Introduction to JavaScript and Web Development

   I think it’s fair to admit that most of us are completely and utterly dependent on the internet. We visit thousands of websites every year, yet if someone asked us to create one, most of us would probably be lost. This in JavaScript and Web Development aims to fix that! The course introduces complete novices to the way in which HTML, CSS and JavaScript interact to create beautiful, fully functioning websites. Perfect for kids aged 11+, by the end of the course children will be coding professional games like Flappy Bird from scratch.

Would you like to try one of these out?

Author: Richa Lad