Parents' Guide to Vidcode

Website http://www.vidcode.io/
Vidcode Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Trautman By Stephanie Trautman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Digital-media, coding site promotes female programming.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Vidcode Screenshot #1
  • Vidcode Screenshot #2
  • Vidcode Screenshot #3

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Privacy Rating Pass

  • Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
  • Data are not shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product allows data collection by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Data are not used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
Learn more about our privacy ratings

What's It About?

On VIDCODE, coding is broken down into simple steps using what kids love most: their own photos and videos. When kids log in, they'll see two screens in a project. The screen on the left side of the screen allows for a lesson, and the screen on the right allows users to input the code. Teens can experiment with code, and the lesson screen will offer hints on how to change the coding to see neat changes occur. Teens can then share their projects and videos with their friends or parents, making the coding experience a social one.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This website is a great tool for teens to get started with coding, particularly girls, by using JavaScript5 and HTML5. Javascript5 is used to create video filters, and HTML5 controls how the videos look. These are great introductions to coding, as the site gives helpful hints on not only how to use these types of code but also how slight changes to the code can make big differences (which users can see in real time) to the project they're working on. The ability to allow students to pull in videos and photos from their own social media sites (Facebook and Instagram) allows for genuine buy-in from teens. Yet, the videos can take a long time to upload to the site. The lessons assume some knowledge of basic coding terms, so beginners may need a little more guidance along the way, which is not always easy to come by on the website. More help functions, a user guide, a glossary, or the ability to ask a person questions in real time would be helpful. But overall, Vidcode is a great first start to get more kids, and especially more girls, interested in coding.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about privacy. What are the problems that teens could run into by deciding to make projects public?

  • Talk about the careers coding can be used in. Where could those careers take young women? Families could also research colleges that offer summer programs or scholarships for girls who code.

  • Talk about how coding must be broken down into small parts, and relate this to breaking down any type of problem that needs to be solved.

Website Details

  • Subjects : Science : engineering
  • Skills : Creativity : innovation , making new creations , producing new content , Communication : conveying messages effectively , multiple forms of expression , Tech Skills : digital creation , using and applying technology
  • Genre : Creating
  • Pricing structure : Paid, Free
  • Last updated : November 11, 2020

Did we miss something on diversity?

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