IdeaSpark Overview

What is ideaSpark?

ideaSpark is a 14-week program where students learn coding concepts , computational thinking , and 21st century skills by completing projects, in a team-based learning environment, with the support of experienced mentors. The program serves a diverse student population in Dallas and Collin Counties and ensures that students thrive in an increasingly technological world, where critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork are crucial for success. Bold Idea is giving students real-world and purposeful learning experiences alongside a community network that includes technology companies, social innovators, universities and entrepreneurs.

Projects

During the 14-week program, students complete 3 projects: the Intro Project, the Guided Project, and the Creative Project. Each project moves students through phases of Exploration, Creation, and Discovery, as part of our Project Development Process . When introducing new concepts, we stick to a spiraling curriculum , which means a concept is introduced as simply as possible, and expanded upon in further iterations. This is the reason that the first project is 2 weeks while the final project is 8.

For more details on how each project is structured, see the Program Guides .

Intro Project

The Intro Project occurs over 2 sessions and is meant to ease students into the program by giving them a challenge to work on with their partners. During this time they will be introduced to the coding platform and will become familiar with using its basic features.

Guided Project

The Guided Project occurs over the next 4 sessions. The main goal of this project is to have students learn a predetermined set of fundamental concepts. Students will be given requirements for their project and it's up to them to ask questions and find answers in the student guide.

Creative Project

The Creative Project, which occurs over 8 sessions, allows students to apply what they've learned over the previous 6 sessions to a project of their choice. Students are given more general requirements that allow them greater flexibility in what they create. During session #13 (the 7th session of the creative project), students will present their app as part of Demo Day . The final session will be to reflect on the feedback received at Demo Day and make any final changes they want to their app.

What a session looks like

• Structure
• Tools