Don't forget to read our Getting Started Guide to answer questions such as:
Questions:
What ages are your courses designed for?
Our TeenCoder Series is designed for high-school students and can be considered college-prep or technical electives. The curriculum can be completed by self-study if the student can handle that type of activity.
Our KidCoder Series is geared for younger students who have an interest in computer programming. These courses are lighter, easier and are great for elementary and middle-school students.
However, no one knows a child’s abilities like their parents. A highly motivated pre-teen could probably complete a TeenCoder course with a little more time or assistance. Or, your teenager may be happier with the lighter courses from the KidCoder Series.
What does my student need to start this course?
Our courses assume the student is already familiar with using a keyboard and mouse to select and run programs, navigate application menu systems, and interact with the Windows operating system. Students should understand how to store and retrieve files on the hard disk and how to use Windows Explorer to navigate a file system and directory structures. It is helpful to also have some familiarity with text editors and using web browsers to find helpful information on the Internet. We teach students how to program a computer from the ground up, but they should already know the basics about using one!
Students will download a free software package from Microsoft for their development environment. Microsoft Visual Studio Express Edition is offered for free to students and is ideal for beginning programmers. The course will walk the student through the download and installation process in a clear, step-by-step manner. After the initial download the student can complete the course entirely on their own computer; no additional Internet access is required (though many useful programming resources are available online).
In order to run Visual Studio Express Edition, your student should have access to a computer that has the following minimum requirements:
Do your products work on Windows 7?
Yes! The only software your student will install is Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition (C# or Visual Basic). We have tested this software with Windows 7 operating systems and they are compatible. Please see an important installation note in our Visual Studio Download Updates page for error-free installation!
Is Visual Studio free? How do I register the software?
Students will download and install one of the Microsoft Visual Studio Express Edition software packages during an early lesson. Full step-by-step instructions are provided, and this is the only time your student is required to be connected to the Internet. The download is free! Microsoft provides these powerful software programs at no charge. They do require that you register the software within a few weeks of initial install, and that registration does require an email address (though you can create a temporary address just for this purchase).
Please review these registration instructions on our Visual Studio Update Page if you are having any trouble!
For best results when registering, make sure Internet Explorer is set to your default web browser (this can be a temporary setting).
Is there a subscription or time limit once I purchase the course?
These courses do NOT involve any online subscriptions or other time limits. Once you receive the course materials, you may complete the course at your own pace on your own computer!
Our general recommendation is to plan for each title to consume approximately one semester, or a pair of courses bundled together in a Year Pack to consume approximately one school year. We expect students to spend 2-4 hours per week in a hands-on technical elective, though some students may progress faster or slower.
How do I purchase for siblings or multiple students?
Please see the "Licensing and Multiple Students" section on our Conditions of Use page for licensing details on multiple siblings, unrelated students, and larger classroom environments!
Can I use a PO (Purchase Order) for payment?
Yes, Homeschool Programming, Inc. will accept Purchase Orders from public and private school organizations as well as recognized homeschooling groups! Please contact our sales@HomeschoolProgramming.com prior to placing your first PO to establish the account. During checkout, select the Purchase Order option and type in your account name. You may then fax or mail the PO to us at:
(866) 332-8005 (fax)
OR:
Homeschool Programming, Inc.
980 Birmingham Rd, Suite 501-128
Alpharetta, GA 30004
I have a dial-up connection. Is that a problem?
Most of the coursework is done offline, on the student's own computer, so dial-up Internet connections are not a long-term problem. However, be aware that you will need to download a large software package from Microsoft (your Visual Studio development environment) at the beginning of the course. Please refer to the Visual Basic or Visual C# download and install instructions for details! You may wish to walk through this procedure prior to purchasing the course if there are any questions about your ability to complete the download and install the software on your computer!
How do I read the files contained in the course?
Your course CD or ZIP will will contain a number of files ending in the .PDF extension. These are your course documents in a common, portable format established by Adobe. You can view and print the documents using the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download here. Once you install the Acrobat Reader your computer system will launch the reader whenever you try to open a .PDF document.
You will also receive other directories and files containing programming projects. These projects contain sample code and activity solutions as shown in your Student Textbook and Teacher's Edition. The files will typically end with extensions like *.sln, *.vcproj, *.c, *.vbproj, *.vb, *.csproj, or *.cs depending on the course. You will use the Microsoft Visual Studio Express Edition software to load, view, and edit these files. Detailed instructions for installing Visual Studio and managing the project files are contained in an early chapter of your Student Textbook. If you wish to view the files in advance of installing Visual Studio, they are all actually text files that you can load into any text editor (e.g. Notepad).
How will my student learn to program?
Our courses are designed to teach a student through both textbook instruction and hands-on application. Courses are largely self-study; students may pace themselves as desired. Complete teacher's materials are provided (tests, answer keys, fully coded solutions, etc) to assist students as needed.
Students will read the lessons in each chapter and then demonstrate the concepts by writing programs on their computer. Students are encouraged to explore and be creative while completing the activity requirements. Chapter tests may be administered and graded from the teacher's materials.
How long and how many credits is each course?
Each course is roughly one semester in duration. There are about 12-17 chapters in each Student Textbook with approximately 3 lessons each chapter. You may expect the student to spend 2-4 hours per week on the material to finish in one semester, though some may finish faster or slower depending on individual situations.
Students building credit-based transcripts should receive credit for each course appropriate for a one-semester technical elective with hands-on lab. Specific credit assignment is best determined by the teacher in consideration of the overall student environment.
Can I run the course on a Mac computer?
Our courses use the Microsoft Visual Studio environment, and the graphical portions are specific to Windows technology. Please see What does my student need to start this course? for specific computer hardware and operating system requirements.
We welcome your feedback indicating Mac interest and may incorporate Mac support into future plans with enough demand.
Some customers may run the Visual Studio development environment on a Mac computer within an emulator allowing Windows programs to function. We have not tested this solution and cannot provide support for any issues arising from the platform.
How will my student learn to program?
Our courses are designed to teach a student through both textbook instruction and hands-on application. Courses are primarily self-study; students may pace themselves as needed. Complete teacher's material (tests, answer keys, fully coded activity solutions) are provided to the teacher for student assistance as needed.
Students read chapter lessons and then complete one or more hands-on activities on their computer to demonstrate understanding of the material. The activities allow students to explore and be creative while completing the requirements.
Why did you choose the C/C# or Visual Basic language?
Our TeenCoder: Computer Programming course is taught using the C language. This language is one of the most widely used languages in the classroom and in the computer industry around the globe. The concepts within this language are fundamental to most other programming languages as well. Learning this particular language will allow a student to easily step-up into other languages.
Our TeenCoder: Windows / Game Programming courses will be taught using the C# language. This language is newer and more Windows-friendly than the original C language. This language has built-in support for game programming, including the ability to easily create your own XBox games!
All our KidCoder courses are taught using the Visual Basic language. This is still a frequently used industry language, but is easier to learn and use. We know that the younger students want to see their programs on the screen quickly, and Visual Basic allows them to create real Windows programs very easily!
How do I evaluate my student’s activities/programs?
If you do not already have a background in programming or computers, you may be wondering how to evaluate your student’s progress. But don’t worry! Our courses are designed for homeschoolers and their parents or instructors. The teacher’s editions include easy-to-understand activity solutions and test answer keys. Each solution is written so that a novice computer user can understand and evaluate a student’s progress.
How do I get help?
Please click on the Support link at the side of the page to see phone numbers, mailing, and email addresses for sales and support questions.
How do I view the instructional videos?
Some courses contain instructional videos ("Screencasts") - see product descriptions for details. These videos are AVI files located on the Student or Teacher Disc. You can play the AVI files right on your computer using any standard software that understands that format. Our product Discs also include a free player called "CamPlayer". When selecting a video from the course menu provided on each Disc, CamPlayer will be used to display the video.
What other courses do you offer?
We are hard at work creating new courses for you and your student! Please check back soon to see our exciting new offerings. If there is a particular topic of interest you would like to see, please email our sales department.
What are my shipping options?
Please see the Shipping Info page for information about your shipping options.
What is your return policy?
We strongly encourage you to review the sample pages and other pre-requisites listed in this FAQ prior to your purchase, to ensure that the course you choose is a good for your student. For printed kits we offer a return policy within 10 days of your receipt of the course for a 40% restocking fee. The course material must be in mint condition suitable for resale.
For electronic kits (no physical material) we are unable to offer refunds of any kind, as there is no practical way to ensure electronic copies are deleted upon refund.
Who pays sales tax?
Homeschool Programming, Inc. is a Georgia corporation. As such, we are required by Georgia law to charge Georgia residents sales tax on merchandise delivered within the state. Customers outside Georgia are responsible for complying with their own state laws, if any, regarding internet purchases.
are Copyright 2008, Homeschool Programming, Inc.