Treehouse: Learn Programming and Design

Treehouse: Learn Programming and Design teaches users computer-programming skills using a series of video lessons. After launching the app, users must register for their trial subscription. Next, users must tap the “lined” button on the top left of the screen, so they can access the app’s main menu. From it, users can tap the “Library” option to view the different video topics, which include HTML, PHP, iOS, and Word Press, among others. Users can then tap a topic to view the video lessons in it. When users identify a video of interest, they can view it by tapping it. While viewing the video, users can download it, which saves the video so that users can view it by tapping the “Home” option from the main menu. Additionally, users can see additional videos by tapping the “Bonus Content” option from the main menu. Here, users can view videos that include speeches made at conferences and mini-sessions about particular topics pertaining to an area of computer programming.

Instructional Ideas

1. As an extended-learning project, teachers can have students view a series of videos related to a topic and have students use the videos’ content to create the product (e.g., image, website, or app) or enhance part of a project (e.g., the sharpness of an image or the functionality of a website).
2. Teachers can have their class view a video. After viewing the video, teachers can facilitate a class discussion by asking: (1) How could the information be used to enhance a project you are currently developing? (2) Was the information presented in this video done so in a way that was easy or hard to follow? (3) What type of project would require you to use the information in this video to complete? Students can respond to these prompts either orally or in writing.
3. After completing a project by using a video from this app, teachers can have students write a brief explanation that highlights how the information they learned from the video enhanced their project.

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