Coding Starter Kit – Plano Library Learns

Learn to code with materials, resources, and programming from Plano Public Library.

Plano Public Library offers everything you need to learn a new skill, develop a new hobby, and pursue a new career. This month’s Starter Kit focuses on tools to begin exploring the vast world of code. Have you ever thought about coding your own cell phone app, website or video game? Begin developing the skills necessary to pursue coding as a hobby or even a career.

Upcoming Events

Join us for these upcoming programs to get into the coding state of mind.

Hour of Code (all ages)

Do fun coding activities with Code.org curriculum. Presented by volunteers from Finastra. Come 30 minutes before each session to pick up your free ticket.

This program will be held on the following dates:

Davis Library on Tuesday, November 22, 1:30 pm and 3 pm
Parr Library on Thursday, December 29, 1:30 pm and 3 pm

Code Your Name (all ages)

Learn about binary code and ASCII, then use your code skills to spell your name.

This program will be held at Schimelpfenig Library on Wednesday, December 21 at 3 pm. Come 30 minutes beforehand to pick up your free ticket.

Books

Adult

Beginner’s Step-by-Step Coding Course: From learning Python coding and Javascript to HTML and Scratch, Beginner’s Step-by-Step Coding Course brings the most essential coding skills within easy reach! Each chapter contains tutorials on practical programming projects designed to teach you the main applications of each coding language, such as building websites, creating games, and designing apps. | Print |

Helping Kids with Coding by Camille McCue: Offers a practical guide to computer programming geared towards readers who are helping younger learners start coding, providing tips on choosing a coding language, adding sound and graphics, developing a webpage, and building electronics. | Print |

Junior

Coding with Python by Álvaro Scrivano: In Coding with Python, you can talk with turtles, travel to South America, draw a flower, and create a caterpillar without paper, pencils, or paint. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions will guide you through coding these fantastic projects. Once you’ve got the hang of it, there are different challenges you can choose to really test your coding skills and handy troubleshooting hints to help if you need them. Self-directed projects and activities help you learn the basics of coding. | Print |

How Coding Works by Ben Hubbard: This book takes the mystery out of computer programming. Learn about coding, algorithms, and more. | Print |

Online Materials

The Great Courses via Kanopy

How to Program – Programming is an eminently learnable skill that gives you unrivaled problem-solving power you can apply in all areas of life. It’s also a fun, creative activity that provides insight into how we control the devices that influence virtually every aspect of our lives. The 24 engaging and information-rich lessons of How to Program teach you one of the world’s most accessible and powerful computer languages, Python.

Plano Public Library Program Recordings

HTML Basics Workshop – Learn the basics of HTML and how to create a simple webpage.

LinkedIn Learning

Programming Foundations: Fundamentals – Gain the core knowledge to begin programming in any language. In this course, instructor Annyce Davis uses Python to explore the core concepts and structure of programming languages and helps you grasp what’s going on under the hood. After going over basic statements and expressions in Python, Annyce explores strings, variables, and conditional code—which are common topics in all programming languages.

Python Essential Training – Python is one of the most used dynamic languages for many large organizations, including Google, Yahoo, and IBM. Supported on all major operating systems, it comes pre-installed on Macs, and most Linux and Unix-based systems. In this course, instructor Ryan Mitchell gives you a comprehensive, accessible overview of Python 3.

Web Programming Foundations – To be an effective web programmer, you have to understand what happens when you enter a URL or click on a link. Under every webpage lies the markup—JavaScript, HTML, and CSS—and the hierarchy that controls display—the Document Object Model (DOM). Then there is the server that hosts the files, the browser that renders them, the metadata, and the mobile experience to consider. Explore what happens below the surface, and learn how to write better code.

We hope this resource list is beneficial to your personal and professional goals. View other Starter Kit blog posts to explore more ways to enrich your life. You can find all of this and more at your local Plano Public Library