How to Think Like a Coder: Without Even Trying
A back-to-basics guide on coding for absolute beginners, whether adults or children – no prior experience required!

Coding is set to change the way we work and the skills we will need in the future. For those who know nothing about coding, getting to grips with the basics is daunting. Too many of the beginner books launch straight into programming techniques but what is really needed is an understanding of the key concepts of coding. Programming then becomes much easier to grasp. This accessible, fun book goes right back to the very basics, teaching central concepts such as loops, data types, pseudocode and calculations without having to learn a single line of code! Using a set of dice, a deck of cards or a pack of dominoes to enjoy fun and straightforward exercises, you will practise key skills such as critical thinking, creativity, logic and problem-solving and begin to think like a coder without even turning on your computer.

Once you are equipped with this basic toolkit, Think Like a Coder discusses the basic programmes that are available for beginners, keeping a focus on simple activities that draw analogies with the outside world to make learning easy and fun. Suitable for absolute beginners, adults and children.

Designed to be a thorough yet lighthearted introduction for the complete beginner, Think Like a Coder is an essential addition to any keen programmer’s bookshelf.
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How to Think Like a Coder: Without Even Trying
A back-to-basics guide on coding for absolute beginners, whether adults or children – no prior experience required!

Coding is set to change the way we work and the skills we will need in the future. For those who know nothing about coding, getting to grips with the basics is daunting. Too many of the beginner books launch straight into programming techniques but what is really needed is an understanding of the key concepts of coding. Programming then becomes much easier to grasp. This accessible, fun book goes right back to the very basics, teaching central concepts such as loops, data types, pseudocode and calculations without having to learn a single line of code! Using a set of dice, a deck of cards or a pack of dominoes to enjoy fun and straightforward exercises, you will practise key skills such as critical thinking, creativity, logic and problem-solving and begin to think like a coder without even turning on your computer.

Once you are equipped with this basic toolkit, Think Like a Coder discusses the basic programmes that are available for beginners, keeping a focus on simple activities that draw analogies with the outside world to make learning easy and fun. Suitable for absolute beginners, adults and children.

Designed to be a thorough yet lighthearted introduction for the complete beginner, Think Like a Coder is an essential addition to any keen programmer’s bookshelf.
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How to Think Like a Coder: Without Even Trying

How to Think Like a Coder: Without Even Trying

by Jim Christian
How to Think Like a Coder: Without Even Trying

How to Think Like a Coder: Without Even Trying

by Jim Christian

Hardcover

$14.95 
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Overview

A back-to-basics guide on coding for absolute beginners, whether adults or children – no prior experience required!

Coding is set to change the way we work and the skills we will need in the future. For those who know nothing about coding, getting to grips with the basics is daunting. Too many of the beginner books launch straight into programming techniques but what is really needed is an understanding of the key concepts of coding. Programming then becomes much easier to grasp. This accessible, fun book goes right back to the very basics, teaching central concepts such as loops, data types, pseudocode and calculations without having to learn a single line of code! Using a set of dice, a deck of cards or a pack of dominoes to enjoy fun and straightforward exercises, you will practise key skills such as critical thinking, creativity, logic and problem-solving and begin to think like a coder without even turning on your computer.

Once you are equipped with this basic toolkit, Think Like a Coder discusses the basic programmes that are available for beginners, keeping a focus on simple activities that draw analogies with the outside world to make learning easy and fun. Suitable for absolute beginners, adults and children.

Designed to be a thorough yet lighthearted introduction for the complete beginner, Think Like a Coder is an essential addition to any keen programmer’s bookshelf.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781849944458
Publisher: Rizzoli
Publication date: 10/05/2017
Series: Without Even Trying!
Pages: 144
Product dimensions: 7.50(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range: 7 - 14 Years

About the Author

Jim Christian is a developer, consultant and co-founder of FireTech Camp Australia, a technology camp teaching kids how to make awesome things with technology. Author of Learn to Code with Minecraft. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

Learn How to Think Like a Coder 8

What Is Coding? 10

Computers Are Everywhere 11

How Computers Work 14

How Computers Think 20

Before Computers 24

Coding and Computers Through History 26

Absolutely Anybody Can Code 30

Solving Problems 32

How the Brain Works 35

Complex Problems 36

Mental Exercises 38

More Logical Statements 41

Working with Constraints 43

Keeping It Simple 46

Learning the Language 52

How You Say It 55

Forms of Coding 59

Object-Orientated Programming (OOP) 62

Different Types of Data 66

Data Structure 69

Algorithms 70

Basic Loops 73

Conditional Statements 81

Smooth Operators 88

Fun with Functions! 92

Variables 98

Debugging 107

Taking it Further 112

Where Do You Go from Here? 114

Coding for Change 119

Time for One More Game? 120

Life, Thinking Like a Coder and Everything 125

More on Computational Thinking 128

Glossary 134

Further Reading 138

Index 140

Acknowledgements 144

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