This guide walks through the flow of a typical CodeHS lesson and highlights some helpful tools to use when working with your class. It references tools available with the Pro and Free plans. Check out this article to learn more about the full range of tools available on the Pro plan.
Preparing for Your Lesson
Most CodeHS lessons start with a video, then move to a short check for understanding quiz. This is followed by example programs and coding exercises. To help prep for a lesson, CodeHS provides these helpful resources:
Check out the Lesson Plans App, which has detailed Problem Guides, Vocabulary, Handouts, Planning notes, Teaching Strategies, and Discussion Questions for the topics covered.
Note: only the first 5 lesson plans of a course are available with the Free Plan
You can also Preview the Curriculum as a student beforehand in order to know what to expect for students.
Working through the Video and Slides
Videos are also available as a slide show, so you can work through them as a class or pause to go over concepts more in-depth.
Creating a sandbox program is a helpful tool for code-alongs or for demonstrating sample code for the class. In the Sandbox, you can create a blank program in any supported coding language. You can also share your sandbox program with students, allowing them to edit, run, or copy any code you've written during the lesson.
Giving feedback for Quizzes and Tests
By default, students will see the answers for check for understanding quizzes that follow the videos. Visit the Quiz Scores App to adjust this setting. You can also create custom quizzes, or copy and edit quizzes in the CodeHS curriculum. This gives you control of how to assess students, and allows you to give them feedback as they take a quiz.
Accessing the Quiz Scores App will show you the most commonly missed questions at a glance, allowing you to target those concepts with your class.
Checking Your Student's Progress
You can track student progress to see who has started an assignment, who has submitted, and how long students are spending on each assignment.
Helping with common issues and Debugging
Common Questions that students might have on each assignment can be found in the Problem Guide. These questions anticipate the common problems that students will run into while coding.
The CodeHS Knowledge Base has additional resources to help with common coding questions and debugging:
Extending the Lesson
CodeHS allows you to customize your curriculum and assignments in order to fit your students needs. Here are just a few options of what you can do to extend, enhance, or focus a lesson around a topic or skill:
You can create custom assignments to target certain skills or challenge students with your own coding exercises. You can even create free response assignments, link to external videos, and more!
Students can also collaborate in real-time through their sandbox programs if you're looking to do group-work or team activities with you class.
Webinar: Unlocking Effective Teaching Strategies in Your CS Classroom
Hosted July 8, 2024
To get Pro for your school or sign up for a Pro trial, contact our team at hello@codehs.com. We'd be happy to chat!