Coding practice with codepen.io and p5js.org
This month, I've been trying out new tools that make coding easy for beginners at the middle and high school level. For noobies, this means being able to practice code with instantaneous results, allowing for adaptable collaboration and heavy emphasis on visualization. Both codepen.io and p5js.org fill these goals, and there are a bunch of resources that provide some basic computer science and coding curriculum for these new tools.
p5js, a new visually oriented platform designed by Lauren McCarthy emphasizes the creative applications of the Processing coding language. The web editor makes it super easy to get started, and the canvas design lets you start making visual tricks easily. Check out my first project on GitHub: a simple "evil eye".
On the more complex side, codepen.io is unique because it allows for collaborative work with the Pro subscription. This month, I've been working with groups to create educational sites that incorporate interactivity with lesson design. How can we use systems like Bootstrap and JS to elevate our educational experiences? Galleries, slideshows, hover functions and drag-and-drop can all add an extra layer of interaction that engages students with the content. Even more important are allowing students to work behind the scenes, coding these sites themselves!
Both codepen.io and p5js are great for creating repositories of student codes. For more info on teaching coding, I recommend The Coding Train and NYC DOE's CS4ALL unit materials.
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