Exploring Coding for High School Students: Starters, Intermediate, and Experienced Levels of Coding
As the topic of career pathways and college majors press on high schoolers, many may want and will benefit from trying out a couple of the different fields available. In the field of computer science, coding covers a multitude of topics. More experienced high schoolers may be embarking on advanced coding ventures already. Coding projects as a high school student come with a plethora of benefits, from honing technical skills to creating standout college applications.
Whether you are just starting out or have been coding for several years, it’s beneficial to connect points of real life applications, issues, and solutions to how coding can be involved. You can begin projects, pursue research, and involve coding in experimenting with these topics and designs.
Learning, Research, or Projects?
As a high school student, you might be in the midst of a project or stuck on even where to begin depending on your experience level. You might stir up some ideas using the following recommendations.
Beginners should learn the fundamental principles and basics of code. Pick one language to focus on. If you’re still unsure of which to start off with, some popular languages are Java and Python. Languages like HTML and CSS are simpler.
Intermediates can play around with code and learn new languages too. A good way to test if you really know a language is if you can code games or programs. High school students can also research potential topics they would like to address with coding.
Advanced coders should work on projects related to real life issues. They can delve into depth from intermediate projects such as the 1:1 mentorship research projects. Using AI is a next step in coding.
Beginners
For beginners stepping into the coding universe, a number of websites stand ready to offer guidance across various programming languages. Platforms like Codecademy, with its interactive lessons, cater to learners exploring languages like Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Udacity focuses on comprehensive coding education, offering Nanodegree programs spanning diverse languages and technologies. Platforms like Coursera and Khan Academy extend a wide array of courses covering languages such as Java, C++, and Ruby, empowering high school students with a spectrum of choices to kickstart their budding journey. However here are a few main platforms to keep in mind while starting off:
Robot code (FTC and FRC) - WPILib
Coding for robots is different from conventional coding that executes a program that is run but then outputted on screen. WPILib is the backbone of robot code; it's a comprehensive library that provides a plethora of tools, APIs, and resources specifically designed for creating, testing, and deploying code on robots. From handling motor controls and sensors to managing complex logic and autonomous movements, WPILib simplifies the development process, allowing teams to build robots for competitions like FIRST Robotics. With its intuitive interfaces and extensive documentation, WPILib serves as the go-to platform for teams aiming to excel in the realm of robotic engineering.
General Coding - W3Schools
Standing as a cornerstone in the realm of online coding education, w3schools.com offers an extensive range of tutorials, references, and examples across various programming languages and web technologies. With its user-friendly interface and interactive coding environment, W3Schools provides hands-on learning experiences, making complex concepts digestible for beginners while offering in-depth resources for advanced learners. Their step-by-step tutorials and live code editors allow users to experiment and apply their knowledge in real-time, making W3Schools an invaluable resource for anyone diving into the world of coding or seeking to expand their programming skills.
Don’t just stop here, there are hundreds of different sites for beginners, intermediates, and advanced high school coders.
Intermediate
Intermediate students may benefit from participating in a project-based course, such as the Inspirit AI Scholars program. AI Scholars is a 10 session (25-hour) artificial intelligence bootcamp that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
Topics
There are many coding projects covered in the Inspirit AI Scholars program. Below, we are sharing a few examples of coding project topics that high school students can pursue:
Sustainable Farming
Criminal Justice
Pneumonia Detection
DNA Detective
IDEs
In addition to AI Scholars, high school students who are intermediate coders may benefit from IDEs. Terminal, Eclipse, BBEdit, Sublime Text, etc. are examples of Integrated Development Environment. They are platforms designed for software development and this is where you can execute code. IDEs are useful for making projects that will be discussed soon.
Popular Languages and Their Primary Use
Java: Enterprise software, mobile app development, and gaming. In the case of an advanced or intermediate high school coder, you can use GUI to further intricate your game project.
HTML: Website design
CSS: Personalize the style of presentation of a website or platform
Python: Versatile web development, scientific computing, data analysis, AI, and automation tasks.
JavaScript: Scripting language for web development, adding interactivity and functionality to websites. Also used for game development and server-side programming (Node.js).
C++: Game development, operating systems, system software, and resource-intensive applications where speed and memory management are critical.
Try out different coding languages to see which you would like to utilize as a high schooler
Advanced
Projects apart from the group summer programs, you can add on to the work on research for intermediate.
These Inspirit AI individual projects are an example of applying coding to real life scenarios. For example, if you are interested in sports medicine, coding with machine learning models can help predict running injuries.
Some more advanced example coding project ideas:
Game Development: Craft your own game with interactive graphics and engaging gameplay.
Website Development: Create websites from scratch using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to showcase your creativity.
AI Endeavors: Dive into the world of AI, building models to solve real-world problems like healthcare or environmental issues.
Getting Started with Your Coding Project
Explore ideas that pique your interest. Whether it's game development or exploring AI ethics, find what excites you. Online platforms like Inspirit AI offer structured programs led by experts from top universities, providing guidance in AI concepts and assisting in building impactful projects.
Embark on Your Coding Journey as a High School Student
Coding for high school students is not just about syntax and functions; it’s about exploration, innovation, and creativity. Coding as a high school student can unlock boundless opportunities and experiences, setting an early stage for a journey into the world of technology.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
