Beginning Computer Programming
Tutorials for ​High School Home
Self-Study and/or Homeschooled
Students

“I like the Computer Science For Kids Textbooks.  They are clearly written and easy to understand.  A​ll in all, you f​​olks have done a great job!”  

 –  Peter Eramo, Teacher, Poland Central School, Poland, NY 

​ “Phil Conrod has a passion for writing tutorials and books aimed at beginner programmers and he’s done an excellent job of covering all the fundamentals of Small Basic programming.”  – Vijaye Raji, Creator of Microsoft Small Basic​

OVERVIEW

Every kid or teenager who plays video games wishes they knew how to write their very own video games!   With our “at-home” Computer Science For Kids Programming Tutorials, your kids can learn to develop their own kid-friendly non-violent video games and other career building computer applications with no parent programming experience needed. Our self-study and self-paced  computer programming tutorials have been used all over the world by computer enthusiasts, schools, homeschool parents and homeschool co-ops for over 30 years.    If you are a Christian Homeschool click here for our dedicated Christian Homeschool web site.

We currently offer computer programming tutorials for Microsoft Small Basic, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Visual C#, and Oracle Java.  The Microsoft Small Basic Programming Track is designed for the absolute beginner.   Our Java, Visual  Basic,  Visual C#,  and Java Tutorials are designed for eighth grade students and above.  All of our tutorials are self-paced and self-study so they are designed for “parent-friendly” independent learning.  

So where should your student start? If you or your student have no previous computer programming experience, we highly recommend you start with our Microsoft “Small Basic” Programming Track for beginners. If you personally have experience with Java,  Visual Basic, or Visual C# and you want to provide some personal coaching and guidance to your student along the way, we suggest you pick the computer language you are most familiar with. If you and your student are both new to computer programming, start with the Small Basic Track #1 below. So with that introduction, let’s review each of our “parent-friendly” self-study computer programming tutorials in more detail. 

​MICROSOFT SMALL BASIC PROGRAMMING TRACK

The Small Basic Track can be used for either beginning Middle School or High School Students. The first semester tutorial is designed for the absolute beginning programmer.   The second semester tutorial is an intermediate tutorial focused on useful homework projects that the student can use at home.

Beginning Microsoft Small Basic (1st Semester)

Beginning Microsoft Small Basic is a self-study first semester “beginner” programming tutorial consisting of 11 chapters explaining (in simple, easy-to-follow terms) how to write Microsoft Small Basic programs.  It expands in more depth on the topics outlined in the introductory Small Basic Powerpoint Beta Tutorial by Microsoft.  The last chapter of this tutorial shows you how  four different Small Basic games could port to Visual Basic, Visual C#  and  Java.   This beginning level self-paced tutorial can be used at home or at school.   This tutorial is appropriate for kids, teens and adults.

Programming Home Projects with Microsoft Small Basic (2nd Semester)

Programming Home Projects with Microsoft Small Basic  is a self-paced third semester  “intermediate” level  programming tutorial consisting of 10 chapters explaining (in simple, easy-to-follow terms) how to write home projects in Microsoft Small Basic.   Students will learn how to program the following Small Basic video games:  Dual-Mode Stopwatch, Consumer Loan Assistant, Flash Card Math Quiz, Multiple Choice Exam, Blackjack Card Game,  Weight Monitor, Home Inventory Manager, and a Snowball Toss Game​.​  This programming programming tutorial is appropriate for kids, teens and adults.

MICROSOFT® VISUAL BASIC® TRACK

Learn Visual Basic – College Prep  (2nd Semester)

LEARN VISUAL BASIC is a comprehensive college-prep programming tutorial covering object-oriented programming, the Visual Basic Professional integrated development environment, building and distributing Windows applications using the Windows Installer, exception handling, sequential file access, graphics, multimedia, advanced topics such as web access, printing, and HTML help system authoring. The tutorial also introduces database applications (using ADO .NET) and web applications (using ASP.NET).  Some of the applications built include: Stopwatch, Calendar Display, Loan Repayment Calculator, Flash Card Math Game, Database Input Screen, Statistics Calculator, Tic-Tac-Toe Game, Capital City Quiz, Information Tracker (with plotting), Line, Bar and Pie charts, a version of the first video game ever – Pong, and a digital Telephone Directory.  This curriculum was used in a major university’s introductory Visual Basic course for over a decade. ​

Visual Basic and Databases   (3rd Semester)

VISUAL BASIC AND DATABASES is a tutorial that provides a detailed introduction to using Visual Basic for accessing and maintaining databases for desktop applications. Topics covered include: database structure, database design, Visual Basic project building, ADO .NET data objects (connection, data adapter, command, data table), data bound controls, proper interface design, structured query language (SQL), creating databases using Access, SQL Server and ADOX, and database reports. Actual projects developed include a books tracking system, a sales invoicing program, a home inventory system and a daily weather monitor. ​

MICROSOFT® VISUAL C#® PROGRAMMING TRACK

Learn Visual C# – College Prep ​ (2nd Semester)

LEARN VISUAL C# is a comprehensive college-prep programming tutorial covering object-oriented programming, the Visual C# Professional integrated development environment, building and distributing Windows applications using the Windows Installer, exception handling, sequential file access, graphics, multimedia, advanced topics such as web access, printing, and HTML help system authoring. The tutorial also introduces database applications (using ADO .NET) and web applications (using ASP.NET).   Students will also develop their own objects.  Some of the applications built include: Stopwatch, Calendar Display, Loan Repayment Calculator, Flash Card Math Game, Database Input Screen, Statistics Calculator, Tic-Tac-Toe Game, Capital City Quiz, Information Tracker (with plotting), Line, Bar and Pie charts, a version of the first video game ever – Pong, and a digital Telephone Directory.

Visual C# and Databases ​ (3rd Semester)

VISUAL C# AND DATABASES is a tutorial that provides a detailed introduction to using Visual Basic for accessing and maintaining databases for desktop applications. Topics covered include: database structure, database design, Visual C# project building, ADO .NET data objects (connection, data a​dapter, command, data table), data bound controls, proper interface design, structured query language (SQL), creating databases using Access, SQL Server and ADOX, and database reports. Actual projects developed include a books tracking system, a sales invoicing program, a home inventory system and a daily weather monitor. ​

ORACLE® JAVATM PROGRAMMING TRACK

Beginning JavaTM for High School Students has 3 semester long tutorials. The first semester tutorial designed for the absolute beginner high-school Java programmer. The second semester in an intermediate tutorial focused on building Graphical User Interfaces using JAVA.  The third semester tutorial is an intermediate tutorial focused on building useful projects that the student can use at home.  Our Java Programming Tutorials use the free NetBeans Integrated Development Environment available from the NetBeans website.

 

Beginning Java​ (1st Semester)

BEGINNING JAVA is a semester long “beginning” programming tutorial consisting of 10 chapters explaining (in simple, easy-to-follow terms) how to build a Java application.   The games built are non-violent and teach logical thinking skills. The tutorial is appropriate for both teens and adults.

Learn Java GUI Applications (2nd Semester)​

 LEARN  JAVA GUI APPLICATIONS   is a 9 lesson Tutorial covering object-oriented programming concepts, using a integrated development environment to create and test Java projects, building and distributing GUI applications, understanding and using the Swing control library, exception handling, sequential file access, graphics, multimedia, advanced topics such as printing, and help system authoring.  The tutorial is appropriate for both teens and adults.

Programming Games with Java – Teacher Pack (3rd Semester)

PROGRAMMING GAMES WITH JAVA is a semester long self-paced “intermediate” programming tutorial consisting of 7 chapters explaining (in simple, easy-to-follow terms) how to build a JAVA Games.   This Tutorial requires a complete understanding of the Java Swing Control Library before attempting so it is an Advanced 3rd Semester Java Tutorial.  Students will learn how to program the following video games:   Safecracker, Tic Tac Toe,  Match Game, Pizza Delivery, and Moon Landing. ​  The tutorial is appropriate for both teens and adults.

Java Homework Projects  (4th Semester)

JAVA HOMEWORK PROJECTS  explains (in simple, easy-to-follow terms) how to build a Java GUI project. Students learn about project design, the Java Swing controls, many elements of the Java language, and how to distribute finished projects. The projects built include: Dual-Mode Stopwatch, Consumer Loan Assistant, Flash Card Math Quiz, Multiple Choice Exam, Blackjack Card Game,  Weight Monitor, Home Inventory Manager, and a Snowball Toss Game​.

“The tutorials were really good to use.  I have a very small class of three and I found them to be much better than a book.”

​“I think the teaching resources are great. They work very well for a class and it is good teaching & guidance for students to do on their own. “

“I like the tutorials. They were easy to follow using laymen’s terms.”

​“The Learn Java (GUI Applications) For High School Students topics are introduced progressively to ensure that students of different levels can progress at their own pace. Many exercises and problems are ​weaved into the chapters to maintain student interest and build confidence. ​​Overall, I appreciated your efforts to make the Java product user friendly.“

“I was looking for some Visual Basic Express ideas and these books appeared to be just what I needed. I bought both Visual Basic books. ​Great ideas and easy to read.”

“I enjoyed both books. I liked the format, Word & PDF, that way i can teach on my iPad. I’ll be back for more next year.”