Our TeenCoder Series is designed for 9th-12th grade high-school students and can be considered college-prep material and a computer science elective. .

Our KidCoder Series is geared for 4th-8th grade students who have an interest in computer programming. These courses are lighter, easier and are great for elementary and middle-school students.

However, you know your student's abilities best! The grade levels are recommendations only. 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.

KidCoder and TeenCoder teach different programming languages, so one student may productively work their way through both series. KidCoder is an easier sequence, so begin with those products.

There is some overlap between the series, as each will teach computer programming "from the ground up". So students that have already taken KidCoder will find some aspects of TeenCoder very familiar, and can progress quickly through those sections. However TeenCoder will also treat subjects in more depth and cover a somewhat different mix of topics, including object-oriented programming.

The second-semester TeenCoder courses also branch out into new technologies not taught at the KidCoder level.

Our courses assume the student is already familiar with using a keyboard and mouse to select and run programs, navigate application menu systems, and generally interact with their operating system.

Students should understand how to store and retrieve files on the hard disk and how to use built-in operating system applications 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!

Our courses are completed by your student on their own computer; this is not an Internet (web)-based curriculum! Therefore please make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements for the software that will be installed for the course.

You do not need to purchase any additional 3rd party software; you only pay for our course material!

For KidCoder: Windows Programming, KidCoder: Game Programming, and

For TeenCoder: Windows Programming, TeenCoder: Game Programming courses:

The main software your student will install is Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express (C# or Visual Basic). This software will work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 and 64-bit), and Windows 8 (except RT). Please see the supported operating systems list below for more details!

Students will download a free software package from Microsoft for their development environment. Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express 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 software download the student can complete the course entirely on their own computer. Additional Internet access is optional (though many useful programming resources are available online).

In order to run Visual Studio 2010 Express your student should have access to a computer that has the following minimum requirements:

• A CPU of at least 1.6Ghz
• At least 1024MB of RAM
• A display monitor with 1024 x 768 or higher resolution
• A graphics card supporting DirectX-10 or later
• A 5400+ RPM hard drive with 3GB or more free space
• A DVD-ROM Drive

Supported Operating Systems:

• Windows XP + SP3 or above (except Starter Edition)
• Windows Vista + SP2 or above (except Starter Edition)
• Windows 7 (all versions)
• Windows 8 (except RT)

You will need an Internet connection at least during the initial Visual Studio download and installation process.

For TeenCoder: Java Programming, TeenCoder: Android Programming courses:

The main software your student will install is the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE). This software will work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 and 64-bit), Windows 8 (except RT), and Mac OS version 10.5.8 and above (on Intel-based CPUs). Please see the supported operating systems list below for more details!

Students will download a free software package from the Eclipse Foundation for their development environment. The course will walk the student through the download and installation process in a clear, step-by-step manner. After the initial software download the student can complete the course entirely on their own computer. Additional persistent Internet access is optional but highly recommended for TeenCoder: Java Programming and is required for TeenCoder: Android Programming.

In order to run the Eclipse IDE, your student should have access to a computer that has the following minimum requirements:

• An CPU of at least 1.6Ghz
• At least 1024MB of RAM
• A display monitor with 1024 x 768 or higher resolution
• A 5400+ RPM hard drive with 3GB or more free space
• A DVD-ROM Drive

Supported Operating Systems:

• Windows XP + SP3 or above (except Starter Edition)
• Windows Vista + SP2 or above (except Starter Edition)
• Windows 7 (all versions)
• Windows 8 (except RT)
• Mac OS version 10.5.8 and above (on Intel-based CPUs)

Our Visual Basic and C# courses use Visual Studio 2010 Express, a free development environment. Even though Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2012 Express in late 2012, we will continue to use the 2010 version for the following reasons:

• Visual Studio 2012 only works on Windows 7 and above
• Visual Studio 2012 only comes in a giant download package that combines all languages

We have therefore decided to stick with the 2010 version in order to maximize compatability for our students with older computers and minimize the download size for all users. For student purposes the 2010 version and the 2012 version are basically equivalent.

Can you choose to use 2012 for our courses? Be aware that if you attempt this, the 2010-based screen shots we show in our textbooks and videos may not match what your student is seeing on their computer. You will also have to upgrade the 2010-based projects we provide (activity starters and solutions) using the 2012 upgrade wizard. For the smoothest possible experience, we highly recommend using the Visual Studio 2010 Express version! Our Document Updates page contains the latest download and installation instructions to obtain this version.

If your course uses one of the Visual Studio Express software packages, Microsoft provides these powerful programs at no charge! Microsoft does 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).

Your course will come with detailed, step-by-step registration instructions. Please refer to the latest versions of these instructions on our Document Updates 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.

If your course uses the open source (free) Ecipse Integrated Development Environment, the download is free and no registration is rquired!

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 3-4 hours per week in a hands-on technical elective, though some students may progress faster or slower.

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!

Yes, Homeschool Programming, Inc. will accept Purchase Orders from public and private school organizations as well as recognized homeschooling groups! Please email us prior to placing your first PO to establish the account.

To obtain pricing details for your order, simply place all products into your shopping cart and complete the checkout screens until you obtain the final cost (including shipping). You may want to print this screen with all order details to include in your PO. Alternatively, please contact us in advance to request a quote on your desired products and quantities that includes shippping!

Homeschool Programming, Inc. does not charge or collect sales tax outside the state of Georgia. Orders within Georgia are subject to a 7% sales tax.

You can 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

Most coursework is done offline, on the student's own computer, so a permanent Internet connection is not required to complete courses unless specified in the individual product description (e.g. TeenCoder: Android Programming). However, be aware that you will need to download one or more free, large software packages at the beginning of each course to establish your student's development environment.

Secondarily, it is most convenient (though not required) to access online help libraries for each language and environment rather than performing additional large "help" package downloads. In most cases, once you complete the initial software download, then the student's computer may be disconnected from the Internet unless you would like to use the online help on an ongoing basis.

You may refer to our Document Updates page for the latest version of the download and installation instructions included with every course! You are welcome to walk through our documented download and installation procedures prior to purchasing the course if there are any questions about your ability to complete the download and install the software on your computer!

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, please carefully read the previous FAQ entry regarding the initial download and install requirements for the student's development environment.

At the beginning of the course a one-time substantial download procedure must be completed to install free software on the student's computer. If you have any doubts regarding your dial-up connection's capability to perform these tasks, please read and complete the installation instructions for your course's development software from our Document Updates page prior to purchase!

We do not recommend attempting the TeenCoder: Android Programming course with dial-up due to the more intensive Internet connectivity requirements for projects completed in that course!

Your course will will contain a number of files ending in the .PDF extension. These course documents are 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 Solution Guide. The files will typically end with extensions like *.sln, .vbproj, *.vb, *.csproj, or *.cs depending on the course. You can use a programming environment such as Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express to load, view, and edit these files.

Detailed instructions for installing your student's programming environment and managing the project files are contained in an early chapter of your Student Textbook. If you wish to view the source code files in advance, they are actually text files that you can load into any text editor (e.g. Notepad).

Please refer to the "Pre-Requisites" listed on each product description page. This will tell you if the course can be run on Windows and Mac OS, or only on Windows. The following products will only work on Windows-based computers:

• KidCoder: Windows Programming
• KidCoder: Game Programming
• TeenCoder: Windows Programming
• TeenCoder: Game Programming

The following products will work on Windows or Mac OS-based computers:

• TeenCoder: Java Programming
• TeenCoder: Android Programming

How will my student learn to write computer programs?

Our courses will teach a student through both textbook instruction and hands-on activites. Courses are self-study; students may pace themselves as desired. Complete solution materials (tests, answer keys, Solution Guide, fully coded solutions, etc) are provided with every course for student reference.

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.

If a teacher is supervising the course for credit, the teacher may administer the provided tests at the end of each chapter and review the student activities to ensure they meet the requirements. Full details on this process are provided in our Solution Guide.

Each course is roughly one semester in duration. There are about 12–17 chapters in each Student Textbook with approximately 3–4 lessons each chapter. You may expect the student to spend 3–4 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 local school environment.

Our TeenCoder: Windows / Game Programming courses will be taught using the C# language. This language is Microsoft's most modern object-oriented language widely used in academia and the IT industry. When paired with the XNA Game Studio, your C# students gain built-in support for game programming, including the ability to easily create your own XBox games!

Our TeenCoder: Java / Android Programming courses will be taught using the Java language. This language is compatible with both Mac OS and Windows computers and is the language used on the "AP Computer Science A" Exam. You can also use Java to write Android applications!

All our KidCoder: Windows / Game Programming courses are taught using the Visual Basic language. This is a frequently used industry-standard language that is very easy to learn. 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!

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 teachers.

The Solution Guide included with each course has easy-to-understand activity solutions, tests, and answer keys. We give grading guidelines for evaluating student activities that non-programming teachers can follow.

Our Support area has a wealth of information including a Getting Started Guide, this FAQ, a Getting Help submission form, Course Errata, and Document Updates pages.

We provide free technical support for the lifetime of your course! The quickest and easiest way to receive technical support and get answers to pre-sales questions is through our online submission form which comes directly to us, or by sending an email. You are also welcome to call our office.

The optional Instructional Videos arrive on a DVD in Flash format and can be played directly on your student's computer from their DVD disc drive. A simple HTML-based menu system will allow you to select and play videos in your Flash-enabled web browser of choice. Replay happens directly from the DVD and is not streamed from any online source.

These videos play in your computer disc drive and not on a DVD player for your TV, and will therefore work worldwide without any North American/other encoding issues.

We are hard at work creating new courses for you and your student! If there is a particular topic of interest you would like to see, please email our sales department.

Please see the Shipping Info page for information about your shipping options.

We strongly encourage you to review the sample pages, watch the demo videos, and carefully read the course Pre-Requisites prior to your purchase. We want to ensure that the curriculum you choose is a good fit for your student.

For printed Textbook Kits we offer a return policy within 10 days of your receipt of the course for a 15% restocking fee. The course material must be in mint condition suitable for resale, meaning: the textbook must be unmarred and "like new", the Course CD must be still bound (unopened) in the back of the textbook and optional Instructional Video DVDs must be unmarred and "like new". The customer will be responsible for return postage.

We are unable to offer refunds on any electronically-delivered or downloaded product.

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.