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Module 07 — Coding Foundations

Duration: 3–4 sessions Audience: Optional advanced track — youth, adults pursuing tech careers, anyone curious Prerequisite: Module 01

The optional module. Not required for any standard award track, but unlocks a career path for participants who find they love it.

Learning objectives

By the end of Module 07, a participant can:

  • Describe what programming is and why someone would learn it
  • Write and run a simple Python program in IDLE or VSCodium
  • Build a simple HTML/CSS web page from scratch
  • Use Scratch for visual / younger-learner programming
  • Identify the next free learning path that fits them

Session breakdown

Session 1 — What is programming?

  • The kitchen-table explanation: code is instructions a machine follows literally
  • Why people write code: automation, problem-solving, creativity, money
  • The two on-ramps offered today: Scratch (visual, drag-and-drop) and Python (text, real syntax)
  • Live demo of each — facilitator writes something tiny, runs it, breaks it on purpose
  • Participants pick their on-ramp for the module

Session 2 — Path A: Scratch (visual)

  • Scratch interface tour (run in browser; works offline if cached)
  • Make a sprite move
  • Add user input (arrow keys)
  • Add a sound effect or animation
  • Save and reload the project
  • Share the project locally

Session 2 — Path B: Python (text)

  • VSCodium or IDLE — pick one based on comfort
  • Hello World
  • Variables, simple math, string formatting
  • Input / output
  • A 10-line program that does something the participant actually wants
  • The error message: what it is, how to read it, how to fix one

Session 3 — HTML and CSS

  • What a web page actually is (HTML structure + CSS style)
  • Build a one-page "about me" page from a template
  • Change colors, fonts, images
  • Open it in the browser
  • (Optional) Push it to GitHub Pages with the facilitator's help

Session 4 — Where to go next

  • Free learning paths:
    • freeCodeCamp — full curriculum, certifications, no cost
    • Codecademy — interactive lessons, free tier substantial
    • Khan Academy CS — Scratch-style courses
    • The Odin Project — full web dev path, no cost
  • Career paths in tech that don't require a CS degree
  • The reality of self-teaching: how long it takes, what's hard, what helps
  • How to keep learning after the cohort ends — the makerspace, the alumni community, online groups

Hands-on assignment

By the end of the module the participant has:

  1. Built one finished project (Scratch game, Python script, or HTML page)
  2. Run it themselves without help
  3. Saved it somewhere they can find again
  4. Bookmarked the next learning path they intend to follow

Audience adaptations

Audience Emphasis
Youth Heavy Scratch; game-making framing; competitive showcase
Adults pursuing tech Heavier Python; Git intro if there's time; portfolio framing
Recovery / reentry Career-path realism — what's possible, what timelines look like, what doesn't require a degree or background check at the entry level
Curious general Lighter touch; "this is what it actually feels like to code, decide if you want more"

What this module doesn't cover

  • Production deployment, databases, frameworks, DevOps — out of scope; pointers to next paths
  • Specific bootcamps — Second Boot does not recommend any specific paid program
  • A path to a CS degree — handled with referral if asked

Honest framing

[HYPOTHESIS] This module makes a tech career feel possible for participants who hadn't considered it. It does not make them job-ready in 3–4 sessions, and Module 07 alone is not a credential. Be clear with participants about realistic timelines for self-taught entry-level work — typically 6–18 months of consistent practice after a module like this one.

Assessment for award eligibility

A facilitator confirms (no written test):

  • Did the participant build and run one project?
  • Can they describe one thing they want to learn next?

If yes to both, Module 07 is complete.