GitHub - Request access to the GitHub repo. Update the slide deck for your session through a pull request.
If you find good material, ReDI could use, and if you have feedback or further ideas, feel free to contact Julian via Slack or email (julian@redi-school.org).
We provide additional tools that you can use to engage students more in your sessions! At ReDI, we like to use the following tools and icebreakers:
Create live polls, word clouds, and Q&A
Perfect for:
Icebreakers: Ask students about their expectations or background knowledge.
Quick polls: Check understanding of a topic in real-time.
Exit tickets: Gather feedback at the end of a session.
Login credentials in teachers' Slack channel
Quiz-based learning with competitive elements
Perfect for Revision & Recaps - You create a quiz, and students participate live in class via browser or cell phone.
Login credentials in teachers' Slack channel
You can use quick icebreakers at the start of your sessions to energize participants, build connections, and create an engaging and interactive learning environment. Here is a list of icebreakers. They shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to run.
Description: Participants share three statements about themselves—two true and one false. The group has to guess which one is the lie.
How to Run: Use breakout rooms for smaller groups or let everyone participate in the main room.
Objective: Participants get to know each other in a fun way.
Description: Give participants a list of items to find in their home within 1-2 minutes (e.g., something red, something that makes noise).
How to Run: Ask them to bring the items back to the camera and share a quick story about one of them.
Objective: The activity is an energizer.
Description: Pose a question or statement (e.g., "How are you feeling about today’s session?") and ask participants to respond using emojis only.
How to Run: Use the chat in Zoom.
Objective: It is an easy way for participants to share how they are doing.
The "I Do, We Do, You Do" method is a teaching method designed to help students learn new concepts by first observing, then practicing with guidance, and finally working independently.
I Do: The teacher demonstrates the task while explaining the steps and thought process aloud. This stage is about modeling the correct way to approach the task and highlighting key concepts and techniques.
We Do: The session owner walks the students through an activity. The students follow along (code or design along). This collaborative stage allows students to apply what they've seen with support, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback.
You Do: Students work independently on the task. This stage allows them to practice the skill on their own.
Example: Introducing Javascript
I Do: The teacher introduces JavaScript and demonstrates a simple script that shows an alert when clicking a button. Key concepts like variables, functions, and events are explained briefly.
We Do: The teacher walks the students through creating a function that changes a heading's color when clicking a button. The students follow and code along. The teacher shares their screen and gives the students time to code along. Together, the teacher and the students write the function, select the element, and add an event listener, with the teacher guiding and asking questions to engage students.
You Do: Students independently write JavaScript to change the text of a paragraph when a button is clicked in a breakout room. They practice using variables, functions, and event listeners and then share their work for feedback.
Context before content - We experienced that explaining why a concept is important helps a lot in understanding what the concept is about. Why should you learn this concept? Try to give the context. Maybe explain where you use it in your daily work life. Or explain how this concept can help to solve a bigger problem
Engage with Students: Ask questions to check understanding. Use their names and keep the tone friendly and encouraging.
Be Prepared but Flexible: Have a plan but adapt based on student needs.
Feedback is Key: Provide constructive feedback to help students improve. Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high.
Watch this video on how to run the Regular Class.
Student Gitbook (LINK)
Ice Breakers and Energizers - Do you want to start the session with an energizer? Have a look at Class Engagement
Homework is given every Thursday session via Google Classroom
The Session Owner of the Thursday session prepares the homework
Students have until the following Tuesday session to complete the homework
The Homework Reviewer reviews their homework from Tuesday until Thursday
Homework is not graded. The goal is for students to learn by working on their homework. If it is not complete or perfect, it’s okay. We ask students to complete at least 80% of the homework.
Learning by Doing - Through homework, students practice and code more. The more they practice, the better the students get!
Students try out the concepts in homework. The review helps students to know if they are on track.
By reviewing the homework, we might better understand which concepts need further elaboration.
1. Create Homework
Session Owner creates homework.
2. Add to Google Classroom
Session Owner creates a homework assignment in Google Classroom at least 1 day before class. Template.
3. Present Homework in Class
Session Owner presents the homework assignment on Thursday
4. Students hand in homework
Students hand in the homework until the start of the next session (Tuesday)
5. Show solution
Session Owner shows the solution of the homework in the Tuesday session
6. Teachers review homework
Homework Reviewer reviews submissions until Thursday
Focus the homework on one achievable, practical problem. That means:
Give only one problem, not multiple, it would overwhelm and lower chances of completion.
Achievable - make it equally hard or slightly harder than the last practice exercise in class. Make it feasible in terms of the time required. If you need 5 minutes to solve it, it will probably take the students 30 minutes or longer. Don’t go over 5min for yourself.
Optional - to accommodate the more advanced students in the class, you can add optional extra questions.
Go to Google Classroom, Go to Create, and select Assignment.
Give title, instructions and set the due date to the next session on Tuesday (template).
Support: Video for Google Classroom.
The Final Project is the highlight of the semester and an essential part of the learning journey at ReDI. During this phase, learners apply the skills they’ve developed to create a personal or team project that showcases their knowledge in JavaScript.
The project phase begins after the core curriculum is completed.
Learners will:
Work individually or in small groups (up to 3 people)
Choose their own project topic with teacher guidance
Build a working web app or website
💡 Goal: Apply the concepts learned in class in a hands-on, creative project
Each project must include:
A code-based solution using JavaScript
A presentation and a live demo (showing a working web app or website with interactivity)
Students choose their own project topic with teacher guidance. Project types may include:
A quiz or trivia game
A to-do list or productivity tool
An interactive landing page or form
A weather or news app using APIs
Anything aligned with the course content and realistic for the timeframe
Need inspiration? Check out these projects from previous semesters:
Project Launch
Tuesday, June 3
We introduce students to the project phase
Class Demo Day
Tuesday, June 17
All learners present to their class. One project will be selected for the official Demo Day.
Demo Day
Date to be confirmed.
Selected projects from each course are showcased to the full ReDI community. We aim to run an on-site Demo Day in each location.
📌 Attendance and presentation in the Class Demo Day are required for students to receive a certificate.
To help learners prepare their pitch, here’s a suggested format:
Length: Max. 5 minutes
Mode: Slides or Live Demonstration
Proposed Structure:
Intro – What’s the project, and what problem does it solve?
Demo – Show the live website
Challenges & Learning – What went well? What was hard? What did you learn?
🧑🏫 Encourage learners to rehearse and help each other practice!
To receive a ReDI certificate, learners must:
Attend at least 80% of the course
Participate in 2 Career Workshops
Complete and present a Final Project
Attend the Internal Demo Day
Complete 2 IBM SkillsBuild Courses
💬 “We grow by doing, and by helping each other.”
Encourage a supportive, collaborative learning environment.
Foster confidence through feedback.
Use class time for project work, check-ins, and guidance.
Let’s celebrate the end of the semester together 🎉