Python for Beginners – Learn Coding at Home {Review}

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My son is fascinated with computers and how they work. Where I prefer to stay within the boundaries of operating a program, he wants to cast caution aside to create and code. When the review crew gave us the opportunity to review Python for Beginners: Learn Coding at Home from Homeschool Code Academy, my son was excited to get started.

Homeschool Code Academy was designed for homeschool students by professional software engineer Matt Bohn. It provides on-demand lessons that allow students to learn coding along with the video instructor. Students are presented with hands-on challenges throughout the course.

The course is designed for middle and high school, but students as young as 5^th grade have successfully completed the program. Prior coding experience is not required. The instruction begins with the basics and builds on what the student is learning. Students can work at their own pace and have the option to rewatch previously learned material for any needed review.

Lesson Course Titles Include:

Introduction

Hardware and Software
Working with Output
Working with Variables and Keyboard Input
Doing Math with Python
Lists and Tuples
Turtle Graphics
Writing Programs that Make Decisions
Loops – Writing Code that Repeats and Counts
Re-Using Code with Function
Getting Unpredictable with Random Numbers
Space Game Coding Along Project
Conclusion

Students need to have a Mac or PC. Instruction is provided for downloading Thonny, a free Python software application.

My son is completely independent using this course. I did review the introduction videos to see what he would be learning, but otherwise, he has not require any assistance from me.

Sam’s review:

I have read about coding and have had some exposure. This is the first time I’ve used Python so I wanted to try this beginner course.

The instructional videos ranged from 1-10 minutes long. After watching the lesson I recreate what the instructor has done in the video. For longer videos, I have the python program screen visible in one window, and the video instruction opened in another. I can easily toggle back and forth to follow along.

The lessons are really easy to understand. If the script doesn’t run correctly, I can go back and rewatch the video. The instructor shows me step by step what to do to write my own script.

I really like the course. I do one lesson per day which is about 15 minutes for instruction and completing the challenge. I do spend more time messing around with what I’ve created, and sometimes show my project to my brother. It’s a short and fun course in my school day.

My favorite activity so far was creating a word game. It was the first game I got to make in the course.