How do you know if your son or daughter is actually learning in their kids coding class?
Yes, they might do well on the exercises and projects with support, but can they handle it on their own? Can they take a simple request and write code 100% independently?
Our new Python coding platform for middle schoolers delivers exactly that. Today we are excited to reveal the features that will unlock consistent learning growth.
The Principles Behind the Python Coding Platform
Before we start showing you screenshots and videos, let’s get on the same page about what Liftoff Coders League has set off to accomplish.
The Need for Practice
We have helped thousands of students learn to code and have mastered the art. In 1-on-1 tutoring sessions or group classrooms, students are taught how to do something and receive support. Just like in the school classroom, someone is there to help when you get stumped or have a question.
Students initially learn in the classroom, but they solidify their understanding through homework. This is the student’s opportunity to put to use what they learned, this time with minimal support. In school this is called homework. In music or sports it is called practice.
Coding requires independent practice as well. Breakout Mentors often individually assigns our students things to work on between sessions. This requires a knowledgeable mentor to adjust the difficulty as the student advances. Now, Liftoff Coders League automates the assignment of practice problems, making it accessible to a broader student population.
Adjusting the Difficulty Level
One of my favorite things about coding and computer science is the depth of learning that is possible. You can engage on the learning journey as an elementary school student have the option to continue all the way to a PhD. There is plenty to learn conceptually and unlimited interesting projects to work on. But it is necessary to stay engaged and challenged at the right difficulty level.
We feature five difficulty levels in Liftoff Coders League: Rocket Rookies, Aspiring Astronauts, Star Seekers, Galactic Gurus, and Astral Aces. It allows for beginner Python students to solve problems using simple if statements. It allows for advanced Python students to traverse 2D arrays and develop complex algorithms.
It is vital that each student progresses at their own pace. We assign problems based on your performance on previous problems, not using a one-size-fits-all or age-based approach. This results in students engaged over the course of many months.
Interesting and Compelling Problems to Solve
Liftoff Coders League problems are designed to take 15 to 30 minutes to solve. Each problem prompt is an opportunity to expose the student to a use case of coding they might not have thought of before. From math and science to the humanities, code is everywhere these days.
For example, in one featured scenario, you are a software engineer for the US Forest Service which fights wildfires by dropping water from airplanes. Then the next week you are assisting the manager of the theater to optimally assign seats. Then programming part of the logic behind computer games like Chess or 2048.
This variety of problems holds student’s interest and helps them think of the world around them in terms of Computer Science!
Under the Hood of Liftoff Coders League
Without further ado, here is the platform we built for middle school Python coders.
The Vibe: Setting the Tone for Excellence
Space is the ultimate frontier. We opted to set a space theme including a rocket as the logo. Students can visualize their learning progress as a rocket blasting through space.
We have also developed it as a dark theme website. Our research with actual students showed that this makes it cool and sets it apart from boring learning platforms they use at school.
Modern Development Environment + Debug With Print Statements
Modern development environments have numerous features to write and debug code. Liftoff Coders League integrated a best in class Python environment where students write their code.
However, debugging your code is always tricky. If something isn’t working and you don’t know why, Breakout Mentors encourages students to find out more information. You have a riddle and need more clues to solve it.
One technique involves printing out variable values. Yet, one of the most used code practice platforms, CodingBat, doesn’t allow printing of variables. We knew we needed to include this feature in Liftoff Coders League. Now students can see exactly what is happening when they run their code.
Celebrate Your Wins!
When you hit ‘Run Code’, it is run through a gauntlet of ten test cases. Liftoff Coders Leagues adds to the suspense by revealing the results one at a time.
Each test case that you correctly answer is celebrated with a puff of confetti and ding sound. It sounds so good to hear ten dings in a row!
Try Solving Our Example Problems Today
We published one example Python problem for each difficulty level that you can access here.
This gives you the ability to code in the actual development environment and submit your code to run the test cases. There might be a few kinks to work out ahead of the Liftoff Coders League launch date, so please contact us if there are any issues.
More Details to Come, Including Live Contests
In this article we focused on the features of the development environment, but didn’t go into the community building at all. Another aspect of Liftoff Coders League is the monthly live contests where students compete against their peers and new friends (similar to USACO). We will share those details in an upcoming article.
To become a foundering member of Liftoff Coders League, please sign up here. The launch date is June 3, 2024, so act fast!