Junior Coding For Good Digital Badge Requirements

JuniorCoding for GoodFind out how to create computer programs, games, andapps that solve problems and help othersby earning these three badges.Badge 1:Coding BasicsBadge 2:Digital Game DesignBadge 3:App DevelopmentThis booklet gives girls an overview of the badge requirements and badge steps for allthree Junior Coding for Good badges. It also includes interesting background informationto spark girls’ interest in coding. Volunteers can access the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) to findcomplete meeting plans, including detailed activity instructions and handouts.J U N I O R C O D I N G FO R G O O D1

Welcome to the world of coding.When you’ve earned these three badges, you’ll know howprogrammers make computers do useful things and howcomputers can be used to help people. You’ll know how to write a computer program. You’ll know how video games are created. You’ll know the steps app developers take to createapps people will like.You’ll also learn about important female computerscientists. You’ll explore how to create technology thatsolves problems and helps people, too.Volunteers can access the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) to find completemeeting plans, including detailed activity instructions and handouts.2

Badge 1:Coding BasicsFrom tablets and laptops to microwave ovens, cars, and even stoplights,we use computers every day to help us in all sorts of ways. But how do thecomputers know what to do? People write instructions for them! Whenyou learn to “talk to computers” by writing code, you’ll be able to tellcomputers what to do!Steps1.2.3.4.5.Create algorithms for a computer that follow a sequenceUse loops to improve your algorithmKeep your code interesting with conditionalsCreate your own set of commands that use conditionalsLearn about women in computer sciencePurposeWhen I’ve earned this badge, I’ll know how programmers use sequence,loops, and conditionals to write computer programs and how people canuse computers to help others.J U N I O R C O D I N G FO R G O O D3

1STEPWhat’s aProgrammer? A computer is a machinethat can rememberinformation and followdirections. At first,computers only did mathand filled entire rooms.Today, they’re muchsmaller. A laptop is acomputer, and so is asmart watch.Giving directions to someone can be tricky. Giving Code is a special languagecreated by people to tella computer what to do.For a computer to work,it needs instructions thathave been written in acode it understands. Thereare hundreds of differentcomputer languages, manycreated by women!doesn’t. Imagine you’re setting up a campground. You need to Computer programmersare sometimes calledcoders. Without coders,computers wouldn’t knowwhat to do.directions to a computer is even trickier.Why? A computer can only do exactly what you tell it to do, inexactly the order you tell it. A computer can’t ask questions orfigure out what to do on its own if your directions are unclear.The directions that programmers write is called an algorithm.The order of the directions is called a sequence.Sometimes the order of actions matters, and sometimes itfind a flat space and clear away rocks and sticks BEFORE you set up your tent. The sequence of your actions matters in this case. Programming is writinga set of instructionsin code. A programtells a computer to dosomething, like keep acalendar or search for aphoto online.4Create algorithmsfor a computer thatfollow a sequence

WORDS TO KNOWAlgorithm This is a set of step-by-step instructions forhow to do something. A recipe is an algorithm. It tells youall the steps you need to take to cook something. When afriend gives you directions to her house, that’s an algorithm,too. She’s telling you the steps you need to take to get toher house.Conditional Programmers code conditional statements to get computers to reactto different situations. They’re written with IF/ELSE statements: IF somethinghappens, THEN do this. ELSE, do something else.Efficient programs These computer programs are written to respond quickly andtake less memory and power.ELSE statement In a conditional, when an IF action isn’t met, the ELSE action will run.IF statement In a conditional, something happens when the IF condition is met.Loop This is when a set of instructions, or an algorithm, is repeated. When you taketurns and follow the rules of a game over and over again, that’s a loop.Nested loop In coding, this is a loop within a loop, an inner loop within the body ofan outer one. As long as the outer loop continues to run, it will trigger the inner loopeach time until the outer loop finishes.Sequence This is the order in which things happen. The routine you have for gettingready for school in the morning is a sequence. For example, you might write yoursequence for getting ready like this: Wake up. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Brush teeth.Walk to school bus.J U N I O R C O D I N G FO R G O O D5

2STEPUse loops to improveyour algorithmHave you ever read the directions on a shampoobottle? They often say, “Apply shampoo to your hair. Lather,rinse, repeat.” Lather means rub the shampoo around in your wethair to make lots of bubbles. Rinse means use lots of water towash the bubbles out. And repeat means—do it all again!“Lather” and “rinse” are the stepsin a hair washing algorithm.“Repeat” is a loop. It means dothe same thing—lather andrinse—over and over again.Lather is a nested loop, becauseyou need to rub the shampoo around on your head in lots ofdifferent places—on the top, on both sides by your ears, and inthe back. You repeat, or loop, lathering. That repeated actionhappens within the loop of washing your hair twice.Programmers use loops to tell computers to repeat actions intheir programs. Loops make programs shorter, easier to write,and easier for computers to understand.6

3STEPKeep your codeinteresting withconditionalsComputers are great at doing the same thing overand over again. To make them even more useful, programmershave figured out how to get computers to react to differentsituations. They write programs that say if one thing happens, dothis. If it doesn’t, do that. These computer commands are calledconditionals, and you write them using an IF/ELSE statement.For example, if you didn’t have the option to wear different jacketsto match the weather, you’d always have to wear the same coat.But, with a conditional, you can give options: IF it’s snowing, weara warm coat. ELSE wear a light jacket. By writing code thatincludes conditionals, such as determining different coatsdepending on the weather, programmers can make code moreflexible and more interesting.4STEPCreate your ownset of commands thatuse conditionalsBeing a leader means you have to make lots ofdecisions. So, when you’re a leader, it’s a good idea to preparefor what could happen and how you would react to all kinds ofsituations and surprises.For example, if you’re planning a camping trip, what will you do ifThe Power ofImaginationWomen have played a keypart in the history of coding.For example:Ada Lovelace wrote thefirst computer programwhen she was only 17 yearsold. She created the codefor the first mechanicalcomputer, invented byCharles Babbage in theearly 1800s.Grace Hopper and her teamcreated some of the firstelectronic computers, likeMark 1, in the 1940s.The computers werehuge—the size of wholerooms. Grace predictedthat someday people wouldbe able to hold a powerfulcomputer in their hands.In the 1970s, Raye Montaguewas the first person to figureout how to design a shipusing a computer—thenshe designed one in lessthan 24 hours!it rains? Are any of your friends allergic to certain foods? Whatkinds of meals should the troop plan?Programmers do the same thing when they write conditionals intheir code. They think about different situations in the programand tell the computer what to do IF t helpsprogrammers develop apps that are easy to use andhelpful to others.J U N I O R C O D I N G FO R G O O D21

4STEPInclude conditionals inyour app designConditionals make your app more flexible bygiving the user choices. They let your app reactto different situations, like changing weather,your location, or time of day.For example, a cooking app could includea conditional that rewrites recipes forVEGETARIANvegetarians or people with food allergies.A map app could include conditionals for givingdirections if you’re in a car, walking, riding a bike,NUT FREEor taking the bus. These app features make the apps more useful.What kinds of conditionals would you add to your app idea?5STEPShare and improve yourapp with user feedbackWhen you’ve created something, you’ve imaginedit and worked hard to make it real. Once you createsomething, it’s always a good idea to show your creation to otherpeople for feedback.Take your app, for example. You thought of the idea and designedit, but you don’t know if it works for your user until you test it.Sharing the app and asking for feedback is the best way toimprove your app.When someone uses your app, they can tell you what works welland what doesn’t. Getting feedback and improving your designis an important step in programming. Programmers will haveusers test their programs over and over to find problems andlook for ways to improve. Giving feedback on someone else’sdesign is also a great way to get new ideas to improve your owncomputer program.22

Now that I’ve earned this badge, I can give service by: Sharing what I’ve learned about coding with friends or my class at school.Using feedback to make my projects better—and giving othershelpful feedback.Researching apps that help a cause I care about.I’m inspired to:J U N I O R C O D I N G FO R G O O D23

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Badge 1: Coding Basics Badge 2: Digital Game Design Badge 3: App Development This booklet gives girls an overview of the badge requirements and badge steps for all three Junior Coding for Good badges. It also includes interesting background information to spark girls’ interest in coding. Volunteers can access the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) to .