Technology is changing our world at an exponential pace. This has huge implications, not just for what kids are learning today – but also for how and where. The ability to think critically, create, and communicate through code-based interfaces is only going to grow in importance, making basic coding an essential skill for the future of all kids. Even those who have no intention of becoming software developers.

Yet many parents are unclear about the specifics.

• At what age should kids begin?
• What’s the best learning method?
• And what if they need help that I can’t offer?

CoderZ at Home is a brand new version of our award-winning coding courses for schools which makes it simple to learn code from home, even without any prior experience. Using scaffolded, bite-sized missions and a virtual learning environment that brings coding to life, kids can self-pace their way through material that feels more like a game than a lesson. All they need to start is an internet connection!

Since learning to code on your own is very different from learning in a school environment, we needed to create a new interface.

Our first step was to run a six-week pilot with dozens of homeschooling families across the United States. This was designed to give us a better understanding of their specific needs, as well as those of other types of independent home learners.

We interviewed homeschooling veterans and homeschooling newbies. Kids learning on their own or with multiple siblings. STEM lovers and those who were STEM challenged. In cities, on farms, and virtually everywhere in between!

Along the way we learned about the importance of instructional videos; the need for live tutoring sessions in a trusted online environment; and also that kids love open-ended coding projects where they can let their creativity loose! Most of all, we discovered that any kid can easily learn to code in the right learning environment.

What is the right age to start?

Throughout the pilot we were excited to see kids ranging from pre-school to pre-teen successfully engage with our course materials. Since eight years of age is a suitable entry point for most kids, that is the starting age for our novice-level course, Codyssey World. It’s worth noting that younger children may need to gain confidence in reading and writing before they begin coding, while older ones can gain confidence from coding.

Ultimately, the question of when to begin is individual. Our pedagogical experts believe that whatever their age, we can help kids gain confidence in learning by creating opportunities to embrace failure and encouraging curiosity.

What makes CoderZ at Home different?

CoderZ’s coding classes for kids are developed by world-class pedagogists who combine hard skills in STEM and coding, with ‘soft’ critical life skills to teach kids how to think like programmers.

• Kids explore how to break down and solve problems.
• They build grit and resilience by making complex decisions to handle everyday challenges.
• They identify patterns and processes to make their work easier and more efficient.
• And they do it with the help of realistic 3-D robots as part of a gamified learning experience.

CoderZ offers three unique worlds of curriculum for different levels:

Codyssey World is a novice-level curriculum for kids ages 8-11. It introduces young learners to coding and robotics, while developing core STEM skills across 10 courses and 113 missions with 30+ hours of activity.

Codabunga World is a beginner-level curriculum for kids ages 9-12. Set in a virtual farm environment, it builds a strong interdisciplinary foundation in which kids can anchor their budding coding skills. Codabunga includes 7 courses and 87 missions with 40+ hours of activity.

Robo Rover World offers an intermediate-level curriculum for kids ages 11-15. In this futuristic world, kids must develop and demonstrate more complex coding and robotics skills over a series of 15 courses and 102 missions with 30+ hours of activity.

Signing up with a single monthly subscription grants access to our entire selection of courses and missions.

Kid- and parent-friendly platform

CoderZ at Home is flexibly designed to allow for self- or parent-led learning. That means parents can choose to be hands-on or hands-off, according to what suits the needs and preferences of their family. There’s even a dedicated dashboard to easily monitor kids’ progress and manage their learning account.

A detailed teaching guide breaks down each course, explains the learning objectives, and provides reflective questions to assess comprehension. Parents who want to lead their child’s learning experience can use this guide to cover entire lesson plans from start to finish. Parents who prefer to let their kids lead can simply refer to the guide for offering help as needed. Alternatively, kids can sign up to free live tutoring sessions with our friendly and professional staff during open office hours.

Final thoughts on how to approach STEM education

We believe the fast-changing pace of our technological world requires a different approach to STEM education – one that prepares kids to think laterally and adapt. CoderZ at Home strives to make that happen by helping kids learn code with robots, but not like one.

Power up your kids’ future with a new approach to STEM learning – starting today!