Lea
I’m being asked to recommend a resource (online course, textbook, or similar) to the students who will be in my class next semester. I need them to know about:
0. Comments
1. Variables
2. Arrays
3. Objects
4. Conditionals
5. Loops
6. Functions
and how to express each of these in JavaScript. I want something that would truly make sense to someone with *no* code background and focuses on these basics (i.e. unlike javascript.info, I don’t think the “nullish coalescing operator” is “fundamental”).
Apr 12 at 1:13amMetatext
Show threadLeaApr 12
I would like to avoid recommending anything that centers an “”AI tutor””, and I would also like at least one option that is free or very low-cost. Do any of you have recommendations?
Show threadmkehrtApr 12
@lea possibly Tbe Coding Train on YouTube. One drawback is that it’s teaching js processing which I imagine either you might be teaching or are teaching something else that does the same thing? (There is an older Java processing based series as well)
Show threadmkehrtApr 12
@lea https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRqwX-V7Uu6Zy51Q-x9tMWIv9cueOFTFA&si=b7kBiis8HnTGo8Zr
Start learning here!

Beginners! Learn all the basics of code (variables, conditionals, loops, objects, arrays) in JavaScript with p5.js!

YouTube
Show threadmkehrtApr 12
@lea I guess this doesn’t really focus on language constructs but is coding from zero.
Show threadmkehrtApr 12
@lea in retrospect I suspect you are aware of this 🤷‍♂️
Show threadLeaApr 12
@roseandsigil nah I wasn’t aware of this YouTube channel in particular. And it’s a good reminder that for the things I’m interested in them learning, Processing.js is not that different from plain JS.
I’ll take a look; thanks!
Show threadLouisApr 12

@lea maybe this set of tutorials?
It’s very web-focused though, don’t know if it completely fits.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn_web_development/Getting_started/Your_first_website/Adding_interactivity

JavaScript: Adding interactivity - Learn web development | MDN

JavaScript is a programming language that adds interactivity to websites. You can use it to control just about anything — form data validation, button functionality, game logic, dynamic styling, animation updates, and much more. This article gets you started with JavaScript and walks you through adding some fun features to your first website.

MDN Web Docs
Show threadLeaApr 12
@merlin Thanks! I do have the official MDN ones already on my radar because I trust that everything they’re saying is at least accurate (and it does not cost money). I agree that it’s a bit web-focused, which will be useful to the students once they’re in my class but is less how I want them to be thinking before it.
Show threadinfryqApr 12

@lea Think JavaScript: https://matt.curinga.com/think-js/

It’s more oriented toward “first step on an incredible journey” than “give it to me as quickly as possible” but it is definitely intended to be a primer and doesn’t get cute about weird language quirks. The students can skip the last two chapters on web guis and react.

The other potential source I would recommend is The Carpentries; let me see if they have a js course

Think Javascript

Show threadinfryqApr 12
@lea alas, only Python and R
Show threadLeaApr 12
@infryq It’s less that I’m looking for “as quickly as possible” and more like, I don’t want them stressed thinking they need to know every corner of the language before they even start my class. Having the web/React stuff at the end sounds like it’s putting things in the order I’m wanting. (As opposed to e.g. the MDN tutorials, which are great, but which assume you’re making web stuff; I want them to think of it as a general-purpose language first.) I’ll check this out; thanks!