When, where, and who?

As with any new subject or class, it's helpful in the beginning to limit the number of
students in the class to a manageable size. If possible, it's also preferable to start with
students who have chosen to be there or who have shown an interest in computers and
even coding.

In-class demos are a great way to spark student interest. You can also introduce
the Hour of Code program from Code.org to students, so that they can see how other
students and schools across the world are challenging each other to be creative and
innovative. One teacher describes it as "An Hour of Code for a Lifetime of Knowledge."

It's also a good idea to target students who come from backgrounds that traditionally
have not been represented in computer science and technology. Check out "How to
Start and Build an Inclusive Computer Science Program" from KQED's Mindshift and
these three programs aimed at diversity: Girls Who Code, Coding Girls, and Black Girls
Code.

Finally, if the class can be part of the normal school day -- and even graded -- that is
ideal, as students will more likely have an academic mindset in the class.

How much time do I need?

There's no specific number of minutes or weeks that the class needs to be. Coding is
fundamentally a creative endeavor, so once students have learned the basics, they can
continue honing their craft and taking on more and more sophisticated challenges. That
said, at a minimum, students will need sessions that are at least 30 minutes long. The
course should also include at least five sessions.

What should I cover?

If your school or district has already contracted with one of the big three  -- Microsoft's
MakeCode, Apple's Swift Playgrounds, or Google's CS First -- then of course you'll start
there. However, those programs start at third grade or later, so you'll need to look
elsewhere for younger students.

For beginners, apps that use blocks rather than just coding language are more accessible.
Our list of Best Apps and Websites for Learning Programming and Coding has several
highly rated options for getting students started. If you'd prefer to begin by teaching a
particular coding language, you'll want to choose one that is common and accessible, like
Python, Java, or Ruby. Check out these blog posts from CoderZ and Self-Taught for
more information.

As students develop their skills and begin to create their own programs, consider
assigning coding projects to continue pushing them. Khan Academy and Code
Conquest each have some good ideas for this.