LEARNING CODING HAS NEVER BEEN SO SIMPLE
What is DEFCODESUMMER?
DEFCODE SUMMER is simply a virtual summer learning workshop where CODE meets Creativity.
Sponsored by The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland and powered by P5HOVA360, its a place where children can get the crucial headstart they need in learning essential technologies such as Python and C++ Coding. This is done by using fun and familiar cultural totems like Music Lyrics, Poetry and Art.
WHERECODEMEETSCREATIVITY.
And the great thing about defcodesummer is that it doesn’t require fancy computers or a huge cost investment! An Internet connection and any device that can access it works.
Learn to Code Through The Culture You Love!
Our Approach.
PROVE PERFORMANCE
HOVA360'S Coding programs are already in practice in multiple US School Systems. It's Game Coding and Basic Coding Classes are tested and proven thru rigorous scrutiny and a commitment to providing the very best educational opportunity to our students.
Each course contains a full active forum moderated by our staff and a robust User Group where ideals outside of the classes are encouraged to flourish.
SUMMER WORKSHOP
Virtual Classes on HOVA360 Platform
Youth are grouped by age and coding experience
HOVA360 courses are designed to keep students engaged up to 4 days per week
Each section features assignments and quizzes. Scores are tracked and reported.
Monitored self-paced videos supplement the lectures allowing the student to log-in at any time in order to re-take courseware.
Moderated forums are setup for each group allowing Q&A, student interaction.
A certificate of completion will be issued upon course completion!
Our Way.
LEARNING SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT CULTURE
The workshop classes are constructed on the foundation of a STEAM based, real world learning paradigm. Therefore, the classes are broken into teams which operate as GAME COMPANIES, consisting of team building exercises, interactive learning development using a virtual application environment, basic design principles, leadership and marketing/presentation skills.
Use the things that define who you are, to advance your skills in Coding C++ and Python. DEFCode Summer takes lyrics, poetry and phrases you are familiar with and task you to use them in making code!
No more thinking about the phrases or terms, use the things that have shaped your life.
- Each Guided Class/Forum will be administrated by an Instructor AND a Moderator
- Logins are monitored/Student attendance taken by Moderator
All Classes and Forums are available on secure HOVA360 Platform Accessible by Computer, Tablet, iPad or Smartphone (See Below for Technical Requirements)
CURRICULUM
Topics include:
Intro to Python Coding:
Game Theory: Life Skills
Making a Team: Career Tract
The Art of Color and Design: Creativity
Ishango Bone - Prime Numbers (Math Game)
Intro to C++
Making a Baseball Game Pitch: Career Tract
Developing Your Game: Career Tract
Learn Coding Online
HELLO WORLD REDEFINED
Most Coding courses force the student to learn using their methodology. For example the most common starting Phrase in Coding is "Hello World." A simple term and very effective. Though for a majority of youth, specifically people of color and those in public school areas its simplicity can get lost in its vision of an unfamiliar world. An effective launch point needs to bring the student into the simplicity of the action to be performed, not the daunting task of imagining scenarios foreign to many of them.
CODING: Still I Rise
DEFCode takes lyrics, poetry and phrases you are familiar with and ask you to use them in making code! No more thinking about the phrases or terms, use the things that have shaped your life. Below is Angelou’s immortal Still I Rise (3rd Stanza) converted into a simple series of Python code Strings. If you can duplicate this, YOU’VE WRITTEN YOUR FIRST PROGRAM!

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
DEFCODE Summer rose out of the understanding that not everyone has the technological capability to learn coding through game development. DEFCODE removes those requirements without diminishing the fun in learning something new! The Workshop will be conducted primarily on the HOVA360 platform. Therefore, a computer, tablet or smartphone with internet access is the only required hardware to take the course.
PC/MAC or Google (Android) Computer/Tablet or Smartphone with WiFi access IOS/Android/Windows Dual Core 2Ghz or Higher (i3/i5/i7 or AMD equivalent)
TEST - If you can stream YouTube in at least 720p for 20 minutes, your computer and connection is okay.
Lecture Classes (Zoom) Zoom requires internet speeds of between 600kps and 1.8Mbps for a 1:1 to video call
Either a Phone or Webcam with audio to participate.
Assignments Video camera or smartphone (with camera)
Writing - Pen, Paper
Game Experience (Group B Week 4 Select Students) Based on Quiz results PC/Mac with ability to download Visual Studio/XCode (Free) and SDL (Free)
250 megs of free space on a Hard Drive