Tokyo Coding Club

5 Amazing Ways Coding Helps Kids Thrive in Today’s Digital World

Oscar — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:31:17 +0000

Let’s face it: our kids are growing up in a world where gaming consoles compete with homework, social media fills free time, and smartphones are practically an extension of daily life. While screen time often gets a bad rap, there’s a powerful way to transform these digital hours into valuable learning experiences: teaching our children to code. It’s like giving them a backstage pass to the technology they already love, while equipping them with skills they’ll use throughout their academic years and beyond.

Unleashing Creativity

Remember how proud you felt hanging your child’s first artwork on the fridge? Coding opens up a whole new canvas for creativity. Instead of just playing games, kids can design their own digital worlds, complete with characters they’ve drawn and stories they’ve imagined. Through platforms like Scratch, they can even share their creations with other young inventors around the world. It’s like having an endless art supply closet, but without the cleanup!

Building Better Problem-Solving Skills

When kids learn to code, they’re actually learning to think like detectives. They break down big puzzles into smaller pieces, spot patterns, and find creative solutions. These are the same skills that help with everything from figuring out homework to handling real-life challenges. It’s like teaching them to build with blocks—start with a strong foundation, and soon they’re making amazing things.

Making Math Fun (Yes, Really!)

Here’s something that might surprise you: coding can actually make math exciting. When your child programs a character to bounce across the screen or creates a point system for their game, they’re using real math in ways that make sense. Suddenly, those tricky concepts from math class have a purpose. It’s like cooking—measuring ingredients becomes a lot more interesting when you’re baking cookies!

Growing from Challenges

One of the most valuable lessons coding teaches our kids is that it’s okay to make mistakes. In fact, every programmer—even the experts—faces challenges and has to try again. When children learn to see errors as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks, they develop resilience that serves them well in all areas of life. It’s like learning to ride a bike—falling is part of the journey to success.

Developing Focus in a Distracted World

In today’s world of constant notifications and quick-changing screens, coding offers something special: the chance to focus deeply on one task. When kids are engrossed in creating their own games or animations, they naturally learn to tune out distractions. They enter what experts call a “flow state”—that wonderful zone where time flies and learning feels effortless. It’s like watching them build with LEGOs for hours—except they’re also building valuable life skills.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

Teaching our kids to code isn’t about pressuring them to become computer programmers (though that’s great if they want to!). It’s about giving them tools to confidently navigate their future, whatever path they choose. Whether they grow up to be artists, doctors, teachers, or tech innovators, the thinking skills they develop through coding will help them succeed.

As parents, we’re always looking for activities that are both fun and meaningful for our children. Coding fits this bill perfectly. It combines play with learning in a way that prepares kids for the future while letting them enjoy being kids today. By introducing our children to coding, we’re not just teaching them about technology—we’re opening doors to endless possibilities.

So the next time your child asks for screen time, consider making it coding time. You might be surprised by the amazing things they create, and the valuable skills they develop along the way. After all, in today’s world, understanding how to speak the language of computers isn’t just useful—it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

The post 5 Amazing Ways Coding Helps Kids Thrive in Today’s Digital World first appeared on Tokyo Coding Club.

The post 5 Amazing Ways Coding Helps Kids Thrive in Today’s Digital World appeared first on Tokyo Coding Club.

Altering Pixelated Worlds: Intermediate Minecraft Coding

Oscar — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 06:11:20 +0000

by Nick Stevens

What’s Intermediate Coding with Minecraft All About?

Ever dreamt of rewriting the rules of your favorite game? Welcome to Intermediate Minecraft Coding! This level is where we take your Minecraft game and crank it up with some epic, game-altering data packs. What are data packs, you ask? Think of them as your game’s magic toolkit, letting you add or change features by packing together custom in-game commands. Want to summon a pet dragon? Change the way mobs behave? Make it rain diamonds? It’s all possible—and no degree in modding required! Intermediate coders use “mcfunction” files, which are like spells in a spellbook, made of code lines that bring your ideas to life.

What’s New for Minecraft Coders Leveling Up?

Beginner? Check. You’ve already dabbled in redstone and basic command blocks. But now, it’s time to level up! Intermediate coders use real, honest-to-goodness coding skills to modify Minecraft on a deeper level. Instead of just building redstone contraptions, you’re designing code that rewires how the game itself works. Imagine folders packed with JSON files, each line of code transforming your game experience. This step up from command blocks to structured, functional coding means bigger possibilities—and more bragging rights!

Unlocking Serious Skills While Having a Blast

Coding directly in Minecraft is like having a backstage pass to the ultimate video game concert. Your code affects the game world instantly—whether that’s spawning a whole army of chickens or creating a recipe for a sword that shoots fireballs. But don’t worry, these aren’t just game hacks; you’re actually learning to program! Skills picked up here—like writing code in “mcfunction” and working with JSON—lay a solid foundation for mastering coding languages like Python in the future. It’s coding made fun, relatable, and super immersive.

Hard Skills You’ll Master:

Coding with mcfunction: Build complex game mechanics by writing code that executes commands like magic spells.
3D Modeling Using BlockBench: Make your own game items and creatures, complete with custom looks and animations!
Visual Studio Code Proficiency: Flex your coding muscle in this professional-grade text editor used by real developers.

Soft Skills You’ll Gain:

Algorithmic Thinking: Break down massive tasks into smaller, manageable bits. It’s like solving a puzzle, and it makes you a natural problem-solver!
Patience and Persistence: Coding can be tricky, but you’ll learn to debug like a pro and keep pushing until you get it right.
Design and Creativity: Dream up and design your own features, from concept to final in-game glory. The sky’s the limit!

What Epic Projects Will You Build?

Hold onto your pickaxes, because your projects are going to be next level. Start by creating custom functions—like summoning a herd of pigs and riding them across your Minecraft world like a fearless adventurer. Then, level up to designing new crafting recipes, making rare items like tridents or saddles craftable with just the right resources. But it doesn’t stop there: You’ll create 3D-modeled custom items, complete with textures, to make your mods look as cool as they perform. Your masterpiece? A one-of-a-kind data pack that introduces unique mobs, achievements, custom events, or even your own game-changing scoreboard system. Your friends won’t believe what you’ve created!

Tools of the Trade: How You’ll Make Minecraft Magic

To make these mind-blowing mods, you’ll get hands-on with some seriously awesome tools. Use mcstacker.net and misode.github.io to whip up data pack .json files like a coding wizard. Organize and finesse your code with Visual Studio Code, the real-deal coding environment. And when it comes to designing 3D models for your custom items? BlockBench has you covered. Finally, it’s time to boot up Minecraft and see your ideas come to life. Test, tweak, and play until your code rules your world!

Ready to dive in and make Minecraft your playground? The possibilities are endless, and the game-changing features you create are limited only by your imagination. So, what will you code next? Let’s find out! Visit our Group Class Schedule and try your first class free.

The post Altering Pixelated Worlds: Intermediate Minecraft Coding first appeared on Tokyo Coding Club.

The post Altering Pixelated Worlds: Intermediate Minecraft Coding appeared first on Tokyo Coding Club.

Student Spotlight: Mastering Machine Learning and Web Development at TCC

Joy — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:23:17 +0000

At Tokyo Coding Club, we’re proud of the incredible work of our talented students have achieved alongside their master instructors. Today, we’re excited to highlight a standout project from one of our star teenage students, whose creativity and dedication have resulted in a powerful machine learning-based web application. Let’s dive into the details of this impressive achievement!

Project Overview

Starting with an interest in machine learning and data analysis, this student took on the challenge of building a movie recommendation system. Using an IMDB dataset of over 25,000 films, the project began with a Python-based model that could suggest movies based on user preferences. Through months of learning and coding alongside her instructor Dash, this student expanded the project into a full web application, integrating machine learning with a user-friendly interface

Fig 1: A graph showing how certain movie indexes are correlated to other movies

The development journey involved numerous technologies: from Python and scikit-learn for data processing and modeling to TensorFlow with Keras for creating a neural network. On the web development side, HTML, Tailwind CSS, and JavaScript were used to build a sleek front-end interface. The backend, developed using Flask, connected the recommendation model to the front-end, allowing real-time movie suggestions. This multifaceted project showcased full-stack development skills and machine learning expertise.

Fig 2: The structure for our Flask project

Fig 3: Student’s Website showing Recommendations for “The Avengers”

Student Background

Our featured student, who joined us in the summer of 2023, has been consistently curious and motivated to learn. Hailing from New York, this learner balances a busy academic schedule while taking online coding lessons with Tokyo Coding Club. She’s been particularly interested in exploring technologies outside of her regular school curriculum, especially in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Over the summer, she took her skills to the next level by diving into web development.

Tools and Technologies

This complex project required the use of several advanced tools and technologies:

Python (NumPy, Pandas for data manipulation, Flask for backend development)
scikit-learn (for machine learning modeling and preprocessing)
TensorFlow with Keras (for neural network design)
HTML, Tailwind CSS, and JavaScript (for building the front-end)

The project evolved through numerous phases, from data analysis to building a functional machine learning model, and finally to integrating that model into a web application.

Overcoming Challenges

One of the main challenges was time management, particularly in building out an ambitious project while balancing school and other extracurricular activities. In addition, grasping the complex nature of machine learning algorithms presented difficulties, but by using relatable analogies and visual aids, such as comparing a neural network’s layers to different departments in a company, Dash helped make these concepts more understandable.

The web development phase introduced another challenge: integrating the machine learning model into the front-end interface seen on the screen. Given the limited time, we adopted a step-by-step approach, focusing on core functionality first and gradually adding features over time. This method ensured tangible progress, which kept the student motivated and deeply engaged with full-stack development (front end and back end).

Key Takeaways and Future Plans

This project gave the student valuable hands-on experience in:

Data analysis and preprocessing
The fundamentals of machine learning and neural networks
Full-stack web development, including UI/UX design and backend integration

Looking ahead, we’ve discussed several exciting possibilities for future development:

Enhancing the movie recommendation system with natural language processing (NLP) to analyze movie reviews
Exploring cloud deployment options to scale the web application
Adding user authentication for personalized recommendations

This student’s journey from data analysis to a fully functioning web app is a testament to her ability to grasp complex concepts and apply them in real-world projects. Her curiosity, resilience, and dedication provide a solid foundation for future pursuits in AI, web development, or any field they choose to explore!

Stay tuned for more student showcases at Tokyo Coding Club, where young minds are transforming their ideas into powerful projects!

Ready to Start Your Own Coding Journey?

Whether you’re interested in mastering machine learning, web development, or exploring other exciting technologies, Tokyo Coding Club offers expert guidance and hands-on projects to help you achieve your goals. Join our community of young innovators and bring your ideas to life!

The post Student Spotlight: Mastering Machine Learning and Web Development at TCC first appeared on Tokyo Coding Club.

The post Student Spotlight: Mastering Machine Learning and Web Development at TCC appeared first on Tokyo Coding Club.

Coding with Minecraft for Beginners

Oscar — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 04:30:19 +0000

What is Minecraft?

Minecraft is a sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds made up of blocks. The game’s open-ended nature, combined with its endless creative possibilities, has made it one of the most popular games in the world, especially among children. Beyond entertainment, Minecraft also offers an educational opportunity for teaching critical skills through its in-game systems like Redstone, a virtual material that mimics real-world electronics.

Why Consider Minecraft for Learning?

In today’s increasingly digital world, engaging children with technology in meaningful ways is more important than ever. Minecraft offers a unique platform where kids not only play but also learn. The game’s appeal lies in its balance of fun and educational value. While children build complex structures or work through in-game challenges, they are also developing skills that will serve them well in academics and beyond.

Minecraft can be a gateway for learning coding principles, especially when combined with courses that focus on its Redstone system—a feature that simulates logic circuits and basic engineering. By integrating these elements into gameplay, Minecraft becomes more than just a game; it turns into a tool for learning coding fundamentals, logical thinking, and creative problem-solving.

What Are the Benefits of Learning with Minecraft?

Minecraft’s structure allows children to gain both soft and hard skills in an engaging, hands-on environment. Here are three core skills that beginners can learn through Minecraft:

Logical Thinking: By working with Minecraft’s Redstone system, kids can grasp the basic principles of logic and circuitry. This skill is essential for programming and problem-solving in broader contexts.
Creative Design: The open world of Minecraft encourages creativity as players design buildings, mechanisms, and landscapes. This helps develop their ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems.
Coding Fundamentals: With Redstone, students can begin to understand the basics of coding and automation. They can create simple machines or contraptions by following sequences of actions, which lays the groundwork for more advanced programming concepts.

What Other Skills do Students Develop Through Minecraft?

Beyond these foundational skills, children participating in beginner-level Minecraft coding classes also develop a variety of soft and hard skills:

Hard Skills:

Basic coding principles: Redstone helps children learn coding-like logic, which can be applied to more formal programming languages like Python or Java in the future.
Engineering concepts: By designing and building complex machines within the game, students are exposed to early engineering principles that will help in STEM-related fields.

Soft Skills:

Problem-solving: Minecraft’s challenges require players to think critically and adapt their strategies as they encounter new situations.
Collaboration: Many tasks in Minecraft are easier when working with others, teaching children the value of teamwork and effective communication.
Patience and persistence: Building complex structures or solving in-game problems often requires time and effort, helping kids develop perseverance.

How Minecraft Supports Long-term Learning

As children gain experience with Minecraft, their ability to transfer these skills to more formal learning environments improves. Coding becomes more intuitive when the principles have already been explored through a fun, relatable medium. Additionally, the confidence and motivation children build when they succeed in Minecraft can translate into enthusiasm for learning coding languages like Python, JavaScript, or Lua.

Moreover, Minecraft introduces children to broader communities of modders and creators, where they can learn and grow at their own pace. These communities provide a wealth of resources for self-motivated study, encouraging a lifelong passion for both gaming and technology.

Conclusion

Minecraft offers a unique, engaging platform for children to develop essential skills in coding, logical thinking, and creative problem-solving. It’s not just a game—it’s a tool that can unlock a world of learning opportunities, making coding and engineering approachable and fun for young learners. Whether your child is just starting their educational journey or already has a strong interest in technology, Minecraft provides an interactive way to foster these interests in a meaningful and lasting way.

Ready to Start Your Own Coding Journey?

The post Coding with Minecraft for Beginners first appeared on Tokyo Coding Club.

The post Coding with Minecraft for Beginners appeared first on Tokyo Coding Club.