| layout | default |
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| title | Youth Tech Workshops |
https://lansingtechstudio.org/workshops/
A series of five 2-hour technology workshops for students ages 12-14 with minimal prior programming experience. Workshops mix instruction and hands-on work, slightly build on one another, but are designed to be primarily independent so students may join at any point.
Branding: Lansing Tech Studio
Theme: Robot persona ("Lansing Techster" or just "Techster") is learning alongside students, and they help each other figure things out.
Platforms: Windows laptops (primary), Chromebooks (secondary)
- [Tech Fundamentals]({{ site.baseurl }}/tech-fundamentals/) - 1/15/2026
- JavaScript Basics - 1/22/2026
- Interactive HTML + JavaScript - 2/5/2026
- Python Coding Introduction - 2/19/2026
- Digital Art & Animation - 2/26/2026
- AI Playground for Kids - 3/5/2026
- Sound Design and Foley - 3/12/2026
- Advanced Python Coding - 3/19/2026
- Video Game Design - Mechanics and Logic - 3/26/2026
- Video Production - 4/2/2026
- Unrestricted internet access during workshops
- GitHub, Replit, Codespaces, and similar platforms are allowed
- Students use personal GitHub accounts
- No COPPA or parental consent constraints
- Local installs preferred (Node.js, Python)
- Web-based tools are a fallback (specifically GitHub Codespaces), not the primary path
- Chromebooks may use Linux (Crostini) or browser-based tools if needed
- Assume somewhat slow internet
Students will:
- Create and log into a GitHub account
- Use a multi-device password manager
- Run basic Bash commands
- Make a git commit
- Open a pull request to a shared "Hall of Champions" file
Students will:
- Fork the starter repository
- Make multiple commits and pushes
- Complete a minimal working project
- Leave with documented "next steps" for independent learning
- Early workshops: ~40% instruction / 60% hands-on
- Later workshops: ~20% instruction / 80% hands-on
- Ratio may shift dynamically based on student readiness
- Workshops may reference prior concepts but must stand alone
- Returning students may go deeper; newcomers complete a simpler path
- Later workshops include independent warm-up work to allow onboarding
- Single public monorepo
- One folder per workshop
Students are expected to:
- Clone repositories
- Fork repositories
- Commit and push regularly
- Open pull requests
- Student-facing README
- Slide deck
- Instructor notes / talk track
- Starter code
- Solution branches or equivalents
- Printed materials (PDF)
- One packet per workshop
- Maximum 6 printed sheets
- Includes:
- Fill-in-the-blank notes
- Diagrams
- Puzzles
- Reflection prompts
- Minimum 14pt font
- Prefer OpenDyslexic when available
- Grayscale-friendly; color only when necessary
- Fast finishers: extend or improve current work
- Students falling behind: focus on notes; follow up after workshop
- Work designed for individual completion
- Pairing or small groups allowed when appropriate
- Peer help is encouraged
- Prefer local Python install
- Browser-based Python as fallback
- Primarily standard library
- One small fun library allowed at the end if time permits
Includes:
- Functions
- Classes and modules
- Lists and dictionaries
- File I/O
- Passing functions as arguments
- Async programming
- Event-based programming
- Text-based games only (GUI referenced as optional self-learning)
- Curious, literal, encouraging
- Frames bugs as "sensor data"
- Workshops are framed as missions upgrading robot capabilities
- Demo and/or show-and-tell at the end of workshops
- Evaluation is voluntary and informal
- Expect uneven pacing and technical hiccups
- Students should have pre-workshop setup access
- Activities must degrade gracefully
- Worst-case fallback: instructor acts as the "computer" using a whiteboard
- Cut scope before cutting confidence
- Momentum over perfection
- Curiosity is success
- No student leaves feeling like the workshop failed