To accommodate students and families during the COVID-19 crisis, iD Tech has launched Virtual Tech Camps and Online Private Lessons for kids ages 7-19. With over 20 years of experience, an expansive course lineup and 1,500 iD Certified Instructors, iD Tech offers immediate structured learning and remote peer interaction. In this post I’ll be sharing our personal experience with iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps, along with necessary resources to get your child started right away.
This post was sponsored by iD Tech and all opinions expressed in this post are my own.
iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps
What is iD Tech?
What began as a Silicon Valley startup in 1999, with now over 50,000 students per year, iD Tech has become the largest, most-trusted tech program in the world, and the country’s largest tech camp for girls. To date they’ve had over 50,00 girls graduate from their camps and academies.
iD Tech transforms your child’s love of apps and video games, like Minecraft and Fortnite, into a foundation for college, internships, and dream careers at companies like Google, EA, and Tesla.
In addition to Virtual Tech Camps, iD Tech hosts summer programs at 150 prestigious campuses worldwide, from Stanford University and NYU to Caltech and University of Cambridge. There’s likely a location near you!
iD Tech Courses
iD Tech offers courses for all skill levels in C++, Java, Python, AI, machine learning, VR, 3D printing, game dev with Fortnite, Unreal, Minecraft, Roblox, and more. In addition to their flagship iD Tech Camps, they also offer all-girls camps, pre-collegiate teen-only Academies, an advanced capstone experience, and Online Private Lessons. They can also teach students the Steps to become a Software Engineer.
Virtual Tech Camps
Virtual Tech Camps are a perfect, home-based option for students seeking a collaborative spirit with a vital social component. iD Tech allows your child to continue advancing their skills and building confidence – incredibly important considering the current circumstances of unprecedented school closures and indefinite guidelines.
- Structured, weeklong sessions available now in multiple time zones (5 consecutive days, Monday-Friday)
- A balanced schedule including 2 hours of live instruction + 2 hours of self-paced project development per day
- The hottest curriculum in Python, Java, Minecraft, Roblox, AI, Unreal Engine, Adobe, 3D modeling, and more
- 5 students max per instructor, blending personalized learning and time to socialize
- Personalized instructor feedback delivered via email so you can track your child’s success
iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps – Spring 2020
For Spring 2020, iD Tech has launched weeklong, Virtual Tech Camps, beginner to intermediate, for ages 7-19.
Minecraft World Designer
Invest in your future as a game designer with your favorite game—Minecraft! You’ll dive into the fundamentals of creating your own levels in a wide-open world, learning level design and problem-solving while building extraordinary environments. You can use custom resource packs to create visually stunning worlds or let your imagination run wild and create your own adventure.
Scratch Game Design with Visual Coding
Calling all aspiring innovators! Dive into programming logic with Scratch, the drag-and-drop creative learning environment developed by MIT Media Lab. You’ll use code blocks and characters to gain a foundation in computational thinking, creating animated stories and games. Bright visuals and engaging design enhance the learning process, making it easy for you to develop essential STEM skills for our tech-driven world.
Minecraft Modding with Java Coding
Use Java code to add personalized, modded flair to Minecraft! Create your own items and blocks. Then design and build an adventure map to incorporate your awesome additions into the game. Practice Java coding fundamentals and game design to create mods and maps to share with friends.
Roblox Game Design: Coding and Monetization
Roblox is one of the fastest-growing game creation platforms on the planet, with more than 100 million players per month and top developers making over $1 million a year. Use Roblox’s built-in editor to create 3D worlds. Publish, share, and play games with friends on any platform from console to mobile. Study games that have been runaway hits and learn how to implement some of the same monetization strategies in your own games.
Coding James with JavaScript
JavaScript is used in 95% of all websites in the world. Utilize this powerful language to learn the fundamentals of coding while building engaging, interactive games! Code your projects with flashy graphics and read user input to recreate games you love. As you become more skilled, you can explore the many different ways JavaScript can grow with your skillset. It’s much more than just the most popular language for web design! JavaScript is a tool you’ll use to turn your visions and code into something tangible.
Here are more lessons in programming such as pointer basics in c.
3D Game Design in Unity
Go from game-player to game-maker with Unity and C#. Games bring friends together, and Unity bridges the fields of art, code, and design. You can piece together different level elements, building a world of your own design. Then with C# coding, you’ll add rules and structure, showing players how to interact with your creation. As you put it all together, you’ll realize you’re doing more than just making the next popular battle royale or arcade game. You’re designing incredible experiences for yourself and the people you want to play with. And joining a community of millions of developers using Unity and C#!
Minecraft Modding in Java
Go beyond the fundamentals and get straight to production-level Java coding with Minecraft. You’ll modify a living code base in this ever-popular game, creating custom tools, blocks, and mobs. Unleash the power of Java while gaining critical problem-solving skills for future careers and personal projects.
Intro to Python Coding
Coding skills are among the most in-demand in today’s job market. Get your real-world experience with this introduction to computational thinking! Once you have the basics down, go further to see how your coding knowledge applies to algorithms, cryptography, and even machine learning. You’ll start with logic games and Python—the fastest-growing programming language available—then move into object-oriented concepts. As your understanding of coding deepens, explore creating more advanced programs that help you understand simple neural networks, or even computer security. With these fundamentals, you’ll be equipped to tackle whatever coding challenges you face next!
Online Private Lessons – Spring 2020
iD Tech Online Private Lessons provide one-on-one instruction from iD Certified Instructors, allowing students to create a completely personalized project – in the convenience and comfort of their own home.
- 60-minute sessions with ultimate scheduling flexibility
- Exciting curriculum tailored to your child’s interests and skill level
- Project-based course bundles that promote fast advancement and increased confidence (choose from single lessons, 5-packs, or 12-packs)
- Post-session progress reports via email so you can track your child’s success
- NEW! Your child can bring a sibling (or friend) to their sessions for free. When times are tough, we band together.
Game Dev: Build an Action Platformer with Scratch (Ages 7+)
Minecraft: Build an Adventure Map (Ages 7+)
Game Dev: Make a FIFA-style 3D Soccer Game with Unity (Ages 13+)
Coding: Design a Tetris-style Game in Python (Ages 10+)
Coding: Computer Science 101 (Ages 13+)
ROBLOX: Launch your own game (Ages 10+)
Tailored experiences are also available – iD Tech instructors are able to craft custom learning paths for students from a variety of backgrounds, skill levels, and interests.
Review
Since school is closed until further notice, we enrolled Adalyn, my 9-year-old daughter in the Scratch Game Design with Visual Coding Virtual Camp. In addition, we were able to register and get started within one week! We received detailed instructions on getting set up, including Zoom, the Virtual Camp communication platform.
Adalyn meets with her Virtual Camp daily from 10am – 12pm and has enjoyed learning about game design, while interacting with new friends from around the US!
Update: After completing the Scratch Game Design with Visual Coding Virtual Camp, my daughter demonstrated proficiency in the following skills!
- Using scripts to code in Scratch
- Understanding event blocks
- Using the asset library
- Storing and manipulating variables
- Using motion controls
- Implementing conditional statements
- Understanding programming flow
- Creating custom sounds
- Using degrees and rotation
- Understanding coordinates
- Programming with user input
- Programming movement with arrow keys
- Creating a custom sprite
- Operating the Pen tool
- Creating custom backgrounds
- Making simple animations
- Operating the Stamp tool
- Creating a complete game
- Adding sound effects to a program
iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps and Private Lessons provide students a unique opportunity to stay engaged and excited about learning, in the comfort of their own home (or in the backyard like my daughter!). So I highly recommend looking into Virtual iD Tech’s Online programs for your family – remember the Online Private Lesson packages allow students to bring a sibling or friend for FREE! Use code PORTIA125 to save $125 off any Virtual Tech Camp!
Save to Pinterest
Click the red “save” button in the top left corner of the image below to save this post for later and share with friends and family!
XoXo Portia