Skill Level
These projects are for students who have built complex block-style programs and are ready to try text-based, scripting programming, such as Python or Java.
Scripting Tutorial Projects
Learn a scripting language by following one of the many online tutorials.
1. Choose a Scripting Language
Students first need to determine which scripting language they would like to learn. There are many different languages to learn. Each language was designed for a specific purpose and has its own strengths and weaknesses. You will then need to find a tutorial that can walk you through the language. (Since I have 25 other students each doing a different project, I cannot directly teach you the language.) Some common languages and tutorials are below. You can choose one of these or a different language if you know which one you would like to learn.
- Purpose: General all-purpose language used academic and scientific areas.
- Difficulty: It is one of the easier languages to learn.
- Tech needed: Code Academy and other tutorials have built-in, web-based Python editors and will run on your Chromebooks.
- Projects: Python Projects page
- Tutorials:
- Code Academy: Learn Python 2
- Carnegie Melon University Computer Science Academy’s CS1 course
- Mr. Didier’s course code: QG50-BG17
- FreeCodeCamp video Tutorial
- Purpose: Used to make web pages more dynamic.
- Difficulty: It is a medium difficult language to learn.
- Tech needed: Kahn Academy and other tutorial sites have built-in, web-based Java Script editors and will run on your Chromebooks.
- Tutorial: Khan Academy
- Purpose: Still the most widely used language for software applications, like Android apps. This is the language taught in AP Computer Science.
- Difficulty: It is one of the more difficult languages to learn.
- Tech needed: There is no easy Java editor for the Chromebooks. You will need to use one of the school laptops or a home computer.
- Tutorials:
- Udemy: Video Based
- GA Virtual Learning: Text based
- Projects: you can follow the AP Computer Science Assignments for a list of projects in Java.
- Purpose: A general purpose language for software development and gaming. It is the language used in Computer Game Design with Unity.
- Difficulty: It is a medium difficult language to learn.
- Tech needed: As this is often learned in conjunction with the Unity game design engine, you will need a school laptop or home computer to do this. We don’t have an editor for the Chromebook.
- Codecademy Learn C#Tutorials:
- Unity Tutorials: These are good only if you want to see how C# works with Unity.
- Projects: The C# Projects page follows the Codecademy tutorials.
- Purpose: Another script language similar to C# and Java used for software development and game design. The Unreal game engine and Arduino electronics boards use C++.
- Difficulty: medium difficulty similar to C#.
- C++ also requires special software that will not run on the Chromebooks. You will need to use a school laptop or home computer.
- Tutorial: Codecademy C++ Tutorial
- Projects: C++ Projects Page
Technically, HTML is script but not a formal programming language. It is loaded and run in a web browser not compiled and run like a program. For our purposes, though, you can still study it.
- Purpose: It is the script behind all web pages.
- Difficulty: It is a medium difficult to learn.
- Tech needed: Kahn Academy and other tutorial sites have built-in, web-based HTML editors and will run on your Chromebooks.
- Tutorial: Khan Academy
Already know a little scripting? Do you want to apply your scripting knowledge to real-world applications? Learn to build small electronics circuits and program them using an Arduino board with C++. Check out the Arduino Projects page for more details.
2. Choose your projects
Once you pick a language, you will work with Mr. Didier to determine your projects. Projects generally consist of
- Project #1: Follow 3-4 tutorial chapters. Show Mr. Didier the code generated from the tutorials.
- Project #2: Write your own code for your own projects based on the code you learned in the prior tutorials. Some scripting projects to work on regardless of the language are listed below.
- Project #3: Follow the next 3-4 tutorial chapters and show Mr. Didier the code.
- Project #4: Write your own code based on Project #3’s tutorials.
- Project #5, 6, … Repeat this process.
When you get tired of following programming tutorials or already know a bit of a language and don’t want to follow a tutorial, try some of these other code projects.