School Registration

Since July 2020, Robotics for All has provided online courses for students from Kindergarten to 8th grade. All classes run for eight weeks and include content videos and virtual hour-long meetings with teachers twice a week. There are some introduction level courses and some more advanced courses. All courses are taught in English. Each class will have a maximum of 15 students, with a maximum student-instructor ratio of 5:1. All lead teachers are either high school upperclassmen, college students, or college graduates. All teacher's assistants are high school students and above.

We carefully screen our volunteers; all volunteers go through a comprehensive written application and interview before being accepted. Roughly 50% of all candidates who apply to volunteer with us get accepted. All volunteers over the age of 18 must pass a detailed background check run by our contractor Sterling Volunteers. 
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One session of classes is 8 weeks long. Start and end dates for classes are flexible. 

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What parents say about Robotics for All's classes:

9.2/10
Average on Parent Survey Question (50 responses received): "On a scale from 1-10, how likely are you to recommend Robotics for All's class?"
"My daughter thanked me for making her take the class. Sometimes I had to reward her for doing it, but she has been learning a lot, and realizes it’s a well-taught class with personal attention which provides valuable knowledge for her future. I never tell her how long she has to do the homework, but she gets caught up in a project and spends quite a bit of time exploring the assignments. She realizes it’s a great opportunity, especially during Covid-19, when she is bored. These classes are WAY better than the free ones offered online (like Varsity Tutors). Thank you!!"
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"My child loves it ... We are very impressed with the quality of this online program that is available for all. ... The class is structured and is a good pace with info Tuesday and homework discussion Thursday. Not too much time required outside of class which is good. Small group size is also conducive to learning. The teachers are knowledgable and enthusiastic. I’m not sure if I would recommend any changes. We are truly grateful for this program and will definitely recommend it to others with interest in coding. Thank you!"

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Course Offerings

View Our syllabus and class offering below:​​

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Fundamentals of Programming with code.org (k-1st)

Overview

• Fundamentals of Programming with Code.org is designed to be an entry level programming course for Kindergarteners to 3rd graders with no prior experience in programming. 
• This class is split into two levels: K to 1st, and 2nd to 3rd. With the exception of two additional concepts for 2nd-3rd graders, both classes will learn similar content, but each is adapted for the age of the students.
  • Students will be automatically grouped into their respective classes by the grade level provided in the registration form.
• Students will be introduced to block-based coding through lesson plans from Code.org, an organization that runs a popular platform for learning programming. 

Who should take this course?

• K-3rd Graders with no prior programming experience. 

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-3rd Graders with some prior programming experience.
  • These students should take Scratch (K-3rd).
• 4th Graders and above.
  • Other entry-level courses exist for older students, such as Scratch (4th-6th), CAD with TinkerCAD (5th-8th), Python (6th-8th), and HTML/CSS (6th-8th) that do not require prior coding experience.
  • For more experienced students, PBL (Project Based Learning) Scratch (4th-8th), Advanced CAD with Fusion (6th-8th), and Advanced Python (6th-8th) are offered.

Topics Overview

• Digital Citizenship
• Sequencing 
• Loops
• Events
• Binary
• Conditionals

Both courses will also include a final project. 
Class Structure

1. 2 1-hour video calls (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday)

​*There will be a pre-class meetings one week before class begins for parents and students. Instructors will introduce themselves, the course, and how to set up code.org accounts.

Homework will be assigned after each class if the classwork was not completed (maximum one hour). Extra practice will also be offered to all students (this homework can take up to two hours). Our goal is to improve their understanding of the concepts through practice. 

In class, students will do guided and unguided activities under the instruction of a teacher (our teacher: student ratio is 5:1).Some activities will make use of Code.org’s block-based programming while other will be “unplugged” activities where students will learn coding concepts through drawing, writing, or even using their bodies to act out movements. 
Curriculum Goals

• Students will be introduced to the foundations of programming and computer science through fun activities which combine critical thinking and creative application. 
• Students should be ready to transition to Scratch (K-3rd) after taking this class. ​

Required Materials

• Laptop, tablet or phone (laptop is recommended) with Google Meet and Zoom.
• Code.org account. This will be addressed in the pre-class meeting, one week before the first class. 
• Paper and a writing utensil (pen or pencil) (used occasionally)​

Scratch (2-3rd)

Overview

• Scratch (K-3rd) is designed for K-3rd grade students with some prior exposure to programming concepts. 
• This is a two-part 16 week course (two 8 week courses). While you can only register for one part at a time, it is highly recommended that students take both 8 week courses.
  • Scratch (K-3) is a prerequisite for our more advanced class, PBL Scratch.
• There will only be one group for Scratch (K-3).
  • If there is enough enrollment for multiple classes to be run at the same time, the classes will be split by grade level. 
• In this course, students will learn the basics of coding with Scratch, including basic move functions and intermediate level if-then statements. Using Scratch, to learn the logic and think behind programming, is the perfect stepping stone to more advanced written coding languages such as Python and Java.

Who should take this course?

• K-3rd Graders with some prior programming experience. 
  • It does not matter how much prior experience they have. Any prior experience or exposure to programming, including Code.org or Scratch, would qualify them.
  • This course is an intro-level course, and is designed for beginners in Scratch. 

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-3rd Graders with no prior programming experience.
  • We recommend Fundamentals of Programming with Code.org (K-3rd). 
• K-3rd Graders with extensive prior experience in Scratch.
  • This is still a beginner entry-level course, so these students might find it too simple. 
  • We recommend taking Scratch (K-3) Part 2 if all Part 1 skills are mastered.
  • We recommend PBL Scratch to students who have mastered all Scratch (K-3) concepts and single digit multiplication/division
• 4th Graders and above.
  • We recommend Scratch (4th-6th), CAD with TinkerCAD (5th-8th), Python (6th-8th), and HTML/CSS (6th-8th) which do not require prior coding experience.
  • We recommend (Project Based Learning) Scratch (4th-8th), Advanced CAD with Fusion (6th-8th), and Advanced Python (6th-8th) for more advanced students.

Topic Overview (Part 1)

• Sprites and Stages
• Motion Blocks
• Sound and Appearance Blocks
• Events
• Loops and If-Then Statements
• Basic Sensors

Topic Overview (Part 2)

• Advanced Sensors
• Operators and Conditionals
• Variables
• Lists
• Miscellaneous Concepts Such as Clones and Messages

Both parts of the course will also have a final project. 
Class Structure

1. 2 1-hour video calls (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday) 

*There will be a pre-class meetings one week before class begins for both parents and students. Instructors will introduce themselves, the course, and how to set up Edpuzzle, Scratch and Google Classroom accounts.
​
Homework will be required after each class (maximum one hour). Optional additional homework will also be offered to all students (this homework can take up to two hours). Our goal is to improve their understanding of the concepts through practice. 

In classes, activities students will be doing include: watching live teacher demonstrations, participating in teacher-guided programming challenges, and playing interactive games with Kahoot, Quizziz, and Quizlet. 
Curriculum Goals 
After Taking Part 1:

• Students should be able to program a basic program in Scratch, using motion, sound, appearance and loop blocks. 

After Taking Both Parts 1 and 2:

• Students should have mastered the basics of programming with Scratch and be able to code their own programs.
• Students are now eligible for PBL (Project Based Learning) Scratch (4th-8th).​

Required Materials

• Laptop, tablet or phone (laptop is recommended) with Google Meet and Zoom.

SCRATCH (4TH-6TH) ​

Overview

• Scratch (4th-6th) is designed for 4th-6th grade students without any prior exposure to Scratch or other programming languages.
• In this course, students will learn the basics of coding with Scratch, including basic move functions and intermediate level if-then statements. Using Scratch, to learn the logic and think behind programming, is the perfect stepping stone to more advanced written coding languages such as Python and Java.
• This is a faster paced version of Scratch (K-3rd) and is geared towards 4th-6th graders. Both courses cover the same concepts, but this one covers it in half the time. 

Who should take this course?

• 4th-6th Graders with no prior experience with Scratch. 
  • 4th-6th Graders who have experience with other written programming languages may find Python or HTML/CSS to be a better fit.
• 4th-6th Graders with minimal experience with Scratch.
  • Please reference the topic overview section and see what the student knows.
    • If the student only knows 1-3 of the topics, this course will still be challenging enough.
• 3rd Graders with some prior experience in Scratch or programming. 
  • Single-Digit multiplication and division are prerequisites, however. 
• 7th-8th graders who have never learned Scratch or a written coding language before. 
  • While 7th and 8th graders may find this course to be a little slow, it will still give them a baseline understanding of all the Scratch programming concepts. 

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-2nd Graders.
  • These students should take either Fundamentals of Programming with Code.org (K-3rd), or Scratch (K-3rd). 
    • Scratch (K-3rd) teaches the same concepts, but at a slower pace better geared towards younger students. 
• 3rd Graders who do not know single digit multiplication and division. 
  • Teachers will not teach this in Scratch (4th-6th). We recommend Scratch (K-3rd).
• 4th-6th Graders with extensive prior experience in Scratch.
  • This is still a entry-level course, so these students might find it too simple. 
  • We recommend PBL (Project Based Learning) Scratch (4th-8th).
• 7th and 8th Graders with prior programming experience. 
  • The pacing of this curriculum may be too slow. 
  • We recommend CAD with TinkerCAD (5th-8th), Python (6th-8th), HTML/CSS (6th-8th) or Java (coming Spring 2021).

Topic Overview

• Sprites and Stages
• Motion Blocks
• Sound and Appearance Blocks
• Events
• Loops and If-Then Statements
• Sensors
• Operators and Conditionals
• Variables
• Lists

In the last week, students will be doing a final project. 
Class Structure

1. 10-30 minute video lesson (to be watched before the first class).
2. 2 1-hour video calls (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday)
3. Homework (1 hour target, 2 hour maximum)
   1. Optional challenge homework will also be offered. 

*There will be a pre-class meetings one week before class begins for both parents and students. Instructors will introduce themselves, the course, and how to set up Edpuzzle, Scratch and Google Classroom accounts.

In classes, activities students will be doing include: watching live teacher demonstrations, participating in teacher-guided programming challenges, and playing interactive games with Kahoot, Quizziz, and Quizlet. 
Curriculum Goals

• Students will master all Scratch fundamentals and be able to independently code a Scratch project.
• Students should be ready to transition to PBL (Project Based Learning) Scratch (4th-8th), Python (6th-8th).

Required Materials

• Laptop, tablet or phone (laptop is recommended) with Google Meet and Zoom

CAD WITH TINKERCAD (5TH-8TH)

Overview

• CAD (Computer Aided Design) is the use of computers to digitally design objects. In this course, students will learn how to use TinkerCAD, a basic, online CAD program. 
• The course culminates in a final project in which students will create their own design and can optionally have it 3D printed and mailed to them directly for an extra cost.

Who should take this course?

• Any 5th-8th grader with no prior experience with any computer aided design software. 

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-4th Graders.
  • These students may find CAD to be too fast paced. 
  • We recommend Fundamentals of Programming with Code.org (K-3rd), Scratch (K-3rd), Scratch (4th-6th), or PBL Scratch (4th-8th). 
• 5th-8th Graders with prior experience using TinkerCAD or any other CAD software.
  • We recommend Advanced CAD with Fusion 360 (6th-8th), the next level in our CAD series. 

Topic Overview

• Intro to TinkerCAD
• Grouping/Making Holes
• Manipulating Shapes
• Advanced Features in CAD
• Codeblocks (two optional lessons)
• 3D Printing

The final project can be 3D printed for an extra cost. More details will be discussed in class.
Class Structure

1. 10-30 minute video lesson (to be watched before the first class).
2. 2 1-hour video call (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday)
3. Homework (1 hour target, 2 hour maximum).
   1. Optional challenge homework will also be offered. 

*There will be a pre-class meetings one week before class begins for both parents and students. Instructors will introduce themselves, the course, and how to set up Edpuzzle, TinkerCAD and Google Classroom accounts.

*For the last class, parents are invited to see a showcase of the students’ final projects. 

In classes, activities students will be doing include: watching live teacher demonstrations, participating in teacher-guided programming challenges, and playing interactive games with Kahoot, Quizziz, and Quizlet. 
Curriculum Goals

• Students should master all TinkerCAD basics and should be able to design an object.
• Students are now eligible for Advanced CAD with Fusion 360 (6th-8th).   

Required Materials

• Laptop, tablet or phone (laptop is recommended) with Google Meet and Zoom.

PYTHON (6TH-8TH)

Overview

• Python (6th-8th) is designed for students grades 6th-8th who do not have any prior experience with the Python coding language. 
• ​Python is a professional coding language widely used by many companies, including Wikipedia, Google, and Facebook.

Who should take this course?

• 6th-8th Graders without any prior experience or only minimal experience with Python. 
  • Please reference the list of topics and see whether the student would be fit for this class (If the student only knows 1-3 of the topics, this course will still be challenging enough.)
• 4th-5th Graders with some prior experience in programming in Scratch, or another language.

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-3rd Graders.
  • We recommend Fundamentals of Programming with Code.org (K-3rd) or Scratch (K-3rd).
• 4th-5th Graders have no experience in coding.
  • We recommend Scratch (4th-6th).
• 6th-8th Graders with extensive Python experience. 
  • Please review the topic overview to see what topics are covered in this class.
  • We recommend CAD with TinkerCAD, Advanced CAD with Fusion 360, Advanced Python, and HTML/CSS. 

Topic Overview

• Syntax
• Print Functions
• Calculator
• Variables and Types
• Lists
• Basic Operators
• Conditional Logic (if/else if/else)
• Loops
• String Operations and Formatting
• Functions
• Dictionaries/Sets
• Input/Output (reading/writing files)

In the last week, students will be doing a final project. 
Class Structure

1. 10-30 minute video lesson (to be watched before the first class).
2. 2 1-hour video calls (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday)
3. Homework (1 hour target, 2 hour maximum).
   1. Optional challenge homework will also be offered. 

*There will be a pre-class meetings one week before class begins for both parents and students. Instructors will introduce themselves, the course, and how to set up Edpuzzle, Repl.it and Google Classroom accounts.

*For the last class, parents are invited to see a showcase of the students’ final projects. 

In classes, activities students will be doing include: watching live teacher demonstrations, participating in teacher-guided programming challenges, and playing interactive games with Kahoot, Quizziz, and Quizlet. 

Curriculum Goals

• Students should master all the fundamentals of Python. 
• Students should be ready to transition to Advanced Python, or other written coding languages such as Java. 

Required Materials

• Laptop, tablet or phone (laptop is recommended) with Google Meet or Zoom

LEGO EXPLORERS (K-1ST) - online physical

Overview

• This is an online physical curriculum, meaning students will be shipped a kit to work with. The class will still be held over Google Meet or Zoom, but students will be interacting with a physical kit. 
• Students will be using the LEGO 10696 kit throughout this curriculum. (kit) This kit contains 484 LEGO pieces of different colors, shapes and sizes. These LEGOs are standard sized LEGOs and are not larger Duplo bricks. 
• This is an entry level course designed for students to experience different builds with LEGOs. 
• Students will be completing various free-building and guided-building exercises. 
• The goal of the course is to immerse students into the world of LEGOs and inspire them to take further engineering courses. 

Who should take this course?

• K-1st graders with minimal or no experience building with LEGOs.
• 2nd graders who are particularly interested in this course, though they might find the course to be a bit slow.

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-2nd graders who have previously extensively played with LEGOs. 
  • They might find a lack of learning and engagement in this course, and find it to be too slow.
• 3rd graders and above.
  • This course will be too slow and intuitive for them.

Class Structure

1. First class meeting: 1 hour video call on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday.
2. ​No homework.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This class meets once a week, unlike every other one of our courses. 
*Exactly one week before the first class meeting, at the same time as the regularly scheduled first class meeting, there will be a pre-class meeting for the parents. In this meeting, instructors will introduce themselves and review the expectations of the class.
Curriculum Goals

• Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of LEGO engineering. 
• Students should build and expand on their creative thinking and freebuilding skills. 
• Students should be ready to transition to Fundamentals of Programming (K-3rd) after taking this class. 

Required Materials

• A laptop or tablet is required for this class. A smartphone will work, but a laptop or tablet is highly recommended. 
• The LEGO 10696 Kit will be shipped to the students’ home address. This kit does not need to be returned at the end of the class; if the student no longer needs the kit they may donate it to Goodwill or a similar organization. 
  • The exception to this is if these classes are affiliated with a particular school. Please return the kit to the school
• Paper and a writing utensil (pen or pencil) will also occasionally be used for various activities. 
  • Students should have these ready for each class, although they will not be used every class.

SNAP CIRCUITS (2ND-3RD) - ONLINE PHYSICAL​​

 Overview

• This is an online physical curriculum, meaning students will be shipped a kit to work with. The class will still be held over Google Meet or Zoom, but students will be interacting with a physical kit. 
• Students will be using the Snap Circuits Junior Kit throughout this curriculum. The kit is made for young students and is safe to use. It is powered by two AA batteries, so there is not enough electricity to pose any risk of electric shock. 
• This is a course for students interested in learning about circuits and electricity. 
• This  entry-level course will have based on projects and experiments to help learn about conceptual circuity (no math will be involved in this course).

Who should take this course?

• 2nd - 5th graders who have no/minimal Snap Circuits experience. 
• 6th graders interested in this course. 
  • Because is is our only course on electricity and circuits 6th graders are welcome but the course may seem slow.

Who shouldn’t take this course?

• K-1st graders
  • Students must actively follow directions so this is not fit for younger kids.
  • Some of the concepts are too hard to understand
• 7th graders and above
  • These students will find the curriculum to be too slow. 

Topics Covered

• Safety and Circuit Basics
• Parallel and Series Circuits
• Resistors and LEDs
• Conduction and Insulation
• Sounds and Sensors
• Basic Circuit Logic
• Conductivity of Water

Class Structure

1. 2 1-hour video call (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday)
2. Homework (target time: 30 minutes, maximum time: 1 hour)

*There will be a pre-class meetings one week before class begins for both parents and students. Instructors will introduce themselves and the course.
Homework will be required after the first class of the week (maximum one hour). Our goal is to improve their understanding of the concepts through practice. There will be no homework assigned after the second class of the week; homework will only be once a week. 
Curriculum Goals

• Students will be introduced circuitry and electricity.
  • This course will not cover math but will still teach the basic ideas behind many courses taught in higher grade levels.
• Students will be able to make basic circuits and transition to more advanced projects.

Required Materials

• Laptop, tablet, or phone (laptop is recommended)
• Snap Circuits Jr. Kit (with 2 AA batteries). We will ship the kit to your home. Kits do not need to be returned after the course ends.
  • If classes are provided by a school, the school may ask for the return of the kit.
  • If the student already has a complete Snap Circuits Junior kit at home, it may be used for the class. 
• Paper and a writing utensil (pen or pencil) will also occasionally
• Other household items (ex. cups, water) Parents will be notified beforehand.

FAQ

Are there any prerequisites for taking the classes?

Many courses have no prerequisites or prior experience required. Some courses are more advanced and have prerequisites. Please see the individual courses description for the details. 

How much does the program cost?

Both classes, tutoring and mentoring services are free for schools partnering with Robotics For All.

What materials are needed to take the classes?

A computer is recommended for the best experience. Chromebooks and tablets will work for all classes except Fusion 360. 

What is the format of the class?

Classes include one video lesson, two live sessions, and 1-2 hours of homework per week. Students can ask their instructor questions at any time. Classes for K-3rd graders do not have a video lesson and homework is optional. 

HOW LONG IS ONE SESSION?

All classes are for 8 weeks.