Coming soon, Fios.com will unveil the Nova App Engine.

A new way to learn to code

Nova is a new tool for teaching kids to code that uses a simple and easy to learn programming language that kids can get started with very quickly and extremely inexpensively, but which is useful and powerful enough to be a valuable tool that the sudents will continue to use for the rest of their lives.

Coding for Kids

It has become a commonly-accepted belief that, in order to prepare children to compete in an increasingly tech-oriented world, learning to code is essential.

It's difficult to read the news today without seeing yet another news story about efforts to try to get kids started in learning to program computers.

Because programming is typically so difficult, these efforts have, so far, fallen into two groups:

Projects using "toy" languages, like MIT's Scratch, that teach some programming concepts, using an extremely simplified or game-ified but aren't useful for much else, or

Projects for advanced students which attempt to use conventional, and difficult, programming tools and software development kits (SDKs).

These existing tools are lacking what's needed to be a truly useful tool for initiating, encouraging, and expanding an interest in technology creation among today's youth.

They are either too simple to be useful or too hard to learn. Mainstream tools, such as Android SDK, don't translate well to a kid-coding environment. They're too complicated to set up, and require too steep of a learning curve.

As well, they put very steep demands on the instructor, involving a very complex hardware and software environment for coding, testing and sharing of apps. As a result, it is very expensive to equip students with the necessary starting setup. A minimal configuration requires at least a modern phone and laptop, which involves about a $500-$1000 initial cost investment.

Another problem with mainstream coding approaches is that it is typically difficult to train instructors. In conventional programs, typical instructor training requires at least one year of coursework.

We need a way to teach coding to kids using a language that is easy and inexpensive to learn, yet rich enough to be a lifelong tool.

The Nova App Platform is that tool

The Nova App Platform is made up of the Nova App Engine, a set of apps to help with learning to code, and an interactive, self-paced curriculum of lessons.

The Nova App Engine is a runtime environment for the Tool Command Language, usually referred to as Tcl, ot "Tickle," for short. It evolved from an app called Androwish, developed by Christian Werner, which is a version of Tcl that runs on Android devices. Nova built upon the terrific foundation that Christian built in Androwish, and enhanced that system with additional language capabilities, Web integration functions, cryptographic capabilities, and tools to help with learning to easily build and share apps using Nova Tcl.

Why Tcl?

The Tcl language is a particularly good option for teaching kids to code.

It is extremely easy to learn. Students will be able to start making simple apps after the first lesson.

It provides immediate gratification. Because it is an interpreted language, students can immediately see the results of the lines of code they write. They don't have to do the complicated compiling, linking and packaging that other languages require in order to test their code.

Despite its being so easy to learn, it is a rich enough language that students can get build and improve their skills over their entire lifetimes. And it is powerful enough to become an invaluable tool throughut their school years and into their careers.

Tcl was awarded the extremely prestigious Association of Computing Machinery award in 1997. It was the language used for the control software of the Mars Rover. It is unsed in supercomputer centers worlwide. It is even powerful enough to base entire tech startup companies upon.

Why Nova?

When they download the Nova app, students get everything they need to begin their journey into the exciting world of computer programming and app development.

Everything necessary to learn the basics of Tcl app programming is included in the installed package. Students can code, test, and share their apps, all directly from their android device. Since no equipment beyond an inexpensive android tablet and keyboard are needed, it is extremely inexpensive to fully equip a classroom of students for a coding course.

How inexpensive? Only about $100 is required to purchase the recommended android tablet/keyboard combo that is ideal for creating and editing program code. About $75 is all that is needed to purchase a wifi-only android phone to use for testing apps. That means less than $200 to be fully equipped to complete all of the lessons in the curriculum.

Online Social Community

Each Nova App Platform installation includes a fun and engaging social media app that students can use to follow their friends' app projects, share their own projects, communicate safely with other students, and get help and programming tips.

Full curriculum

The Nova app development curriculum covers the major topics necessary to get students started in creating fun and useful apps. The major topics include.

* Basics of mobile app development
* Server-based mobile apps
* Social network apps
* Packaging and sharing your apps

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