Video Game Design
Beginner Coding: Ages 7-10

Code and design your own video game for you and all your friends to play!

AGES: 7 – 10

PREREQUISITE: None

SOFTWARE: Kodu Game Lab – View Website

CODING LANGUAGE: Kodu (Visual Based Language)

PATH: Video Game Design

FORMATS: Live Group Class, Self-Paced Class

Video Game Design (Beginner Coding: Part 1)- Ages 7-10

How would you like to create your own original video game for you and all your friends to play? Kids will learn to make games via a simple visual programming language. This program is a great entry into design and programming skills. Students will follow a kid-friendly process similar to real video game designers who create the games they play at home!

Technology Requirements: Kodu currently only runs on Windows. Please test running Kodu prior to signing up for the class. Kodu Website

In this class, students will learn…

Programming logic to code characters’ behaviors and reactions to events in their games. All programming in Kodu is WHEN/DO (similar to IF/THEN statements).
To use the tools available in Kodu to create land, water, mountains, buildings, and more.
More advanced coding to give their characters power-ups. This involves creating parallel programming that changes the behavior of their characters based on a specific event.
To complete game design planning prior to starting their final projects to create the best video game possible.

Create2Discover classes integrate future-ready skills into the curriculum to help prepare students for a rapid-changing future. This class includes exercises that help students improve their digital communication skills. Students have the opportunity to present their work, receive/give feedback, and learn to use storytelling to grab the attention of their audience.

Parent Reviews

Over 1,200 Five-Star Reviews on Outschool

“My son Jack really loved this class. He learned a lot about coding in Kodu and created a video game with bosses that he was very happy to show off. My favorite part was when he couldn’t get something to work right and he spent an extra 30 minutes messing with it until he figured it out. Highly recommend this class for your budding game designer. We have already signed up for another class with Mr. Shawn.”

Amy T.

“My son (8) LOVED this class! He was excited for it to start each week and learnt so much each session. If you have a child who is looking for a well structured class with a clear plan for layering up the learning week by week with an attentive and knowledgeable teacher then this is for you. My son is keen to show off his learning and create more unique video games. He is also keen to move on to the next set of classes with Shawn.”

Johanna F.

About The Instructor

Shawn D. Walk has been an educator for over 17 years. He was a 4th/5th grade teacher for 11 years at an elementary school north of Pittsburgh. During his time at that school, he focused on project-based learning and engaging students with real-world tasks that allowed them to see how what they were learning is used in the real world. He also developed a passion for technology and worked to include that in his teaching. Shawn developed several robotics and coding programs during his time as a teacher and helped students learn essential 21st century skills in a fun and exciting way.

About 5 years ago, He started a company in Pittsburgh that partnered with schools to offer coding, Minecraft, and other creative classes. The company was one of the first organizations in the Pittsburgh region to use Minecraft to create engaging programs for students. He now hopes to take this type of fun and creative learning beyond the Pittsburgh region to students all over the world.

Shawn has an active Pennsylvania Teaching Certification and a Masters Degree in education. He looks forward to helping your child discover their creative powers.

Class Formats and Registration

Live Group Class

Students join a live small-group class each week via the Outschool platform. Students have an opportunity to ask questions during the lesson and get extra help from the instructor as they practice what they learned. Students are also given multiple chances to share their work with the group during the course.

How do I know if the live group class format is best for my child?

COST: $102 (1x per week, 6 weeks, 60 min)

Self-Paced Class

Students will watch video demonstrations and be assigned tasks to apply what they learn from the videos. Students are encouraged to submit their final game at the end of the course for teacher feedback.

How do I know if the self-paced class format is best for my child?

COST: $9 Weekly or $51 for all content.

How do I get my child started?

Sign up for our email list below and we will send you information on registering your child for a class and a discount code you can use to get $30 off their first class with us. You will also receive monthly articles on how to help your child gain critical future-ready skills.

How do I know which format is best for my child?

A live class might be better if…..

Your child wants to interact with other students and share their work.
Your child wants to ask questions as they arise and get live teacher support if they are having difficulty.
Your child needs reminders to pay attention to the lesson. A live class might be better if you feel they would have a harder time focusing in a self-paced, independent class.

A self-paced class might be better if….

Your child wants to learn at their own pace and complete multiple lessons at one time and not wait each week for the next lesson in a live class.
Your child is more of an independent learner and enjoys teaching themself things using video instruction and interactive lessons.
Your child is at the higher end of the age level for the class or has some previous experience with the topic and would prefer a faster pace for the topic.