Curriculum

This is an archived page for the 2015-2016 Club Year.

Girls Who Code Clubs is an after-school program that is democratizing access to computer science education for girls nationwide. Girls Who Code Clubs inspire, educate, and equip girls with the 21st century skills they need to change the world. Girls Who Code Clubs offers a fun and engaging exposure to computer science. Our curriculum provides project-based activities and the opportunity for students to build mobile apps and websites.

Girls Who Code Club is for all girls grade 6-12. If you don't know how to code, we'll teach you. If you do know how to code, we'll teach you to code better. Our ultimate goal is to teach girls to think like Computer Scientists, which goes way beyond simply coding. GWC is not a program for elite students only -- anybody can learn to code. At the same time, girls who stick with the club over multiple years can gain all the skills and experience needed to place out of the typical CS101 class at elite engineering colleges like MIT, CMU, or Stanford.

Our curriculum has 3 different levels that run concurrently. Each level is a self-paced experience that could take anywhere from a couple months to a couple years to complete. Students will be placed into the level that best matches their experience and current abilities. Bonus activities on each project allow girls to stretch themselves regardless of what level they are in.

Level 1

Prerequisite: None

Learning Objectives: Basic understanding of variables, loops, conditionals, lists, I/O, objects, functions, and events. Ability to employ these constructs when prompted.

Technology: Python

Level 2

Prerequisite: Basic understanding of coding concepts such as variables, loops, conditionals, lists and functions. Learning Objectives:

  • Deeper understanding of objects and functions.
  • Ability to employ Level 1 skills independently.
  • Basic understanding of Web programming.
  • Technology: HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery

Level 3Prerequisite: Strong understanding of concepts in Level 2 as well as previous experience in Web Programming. Learning Objectives:

  • Automatic use of Level 1 skills.
  • Deeper understanding of web programming concepts.
  • Basic understanding of software reusability and flexibility.
  • Increased independent learning skills.

Technology: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, Server-side scripting (e.g. Python), 3rd party APIs (e.g. Tumblr, Flickr)

See our Technology Links page for more details.

See also the Lessons and Assignments page.

Views expressed here are those of the Newton Free Public Library Girls Who Code Club, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Girls Who Code.