Free coding classesfor public school students

What

• 501(c)(3) non-profit
• Free after school coding classes
• We work with the system, students get SFUSD elective credit
• Project based learning, more focused on practice than theory
• Not a trade school

Why

• Only 30% of SF public high schools have a CS class
• Many professionals want to share knowledge … but not as a full-time educator
• Businesses can and should work with the community

How

• One full-time lead instructor per class
• Utilize volunteers to provide more student support
• Partner with other non-profits and the district
• Recruit in schools to reach more diverse students
• Provide laptops for use in class

Curriculum

Spring 2014

• 3x Intro web dev (HTML, CSS, SVG, JS)
• 1x Intermediate web dev (Ruby + Sinatra)

Metrics

• 300% growth from Fall to Spring
• >45 volunteer mentors signed up
• >$25k raised from over 100 funders
• Enough student signups to handle another class or two!

$$$

• Administrative overhead (background checks, insurance, …)
• Laptops & maintenance
• Some lead instructor time is paid
• Souveniers (hoodies, t-shirts, etc.)
• Field trips and misc. hardware
• Hoping to hire a full-time GM to scale up
• Currently 100% funded by direct donation

The goal is not to

create professional programmers.

Find projects they care about.

Let students figure things out.

To rescue someone,

you have to get to where they are.

Peers can be really good teachers!

Show, don't tell.

Depict, don't describe.

Lower the barrier.

Have infinite patience.

Thank you!

bit.ly/mbit-renio-2014

missionbit.com | bob@missionbit.com | @etrepum