CodeSpace: Online Learning Platform

Firia Lab's CodeSpace online learning platform makes learning to code easy, fun, and interactive.

  • Text editor based off of VS Code
  • Web-based Python editor – no software to install!
  • Learn, develop an debug in browser
  • Chromebook compatible
  • Interactive textbook with step-by-step instructions
  • Self-guided projects offer help with CodeTrek, hints & documentation
  • Scaffolded for student success, with detailed explanations
  • Built-in teacher dashboard for setting up and managing classes
  • Easily track student progress
  • Each objective must be completed before the next objective is unlocked (See Progress Unlocker to Unlock Missions)

CodeSpace: Demo Mission Pack - How to Use!

CodeSpace: Teacher Testimonies


Teacher Dashboard

If you're a CodeSpace Teacher, you can monitor student progress in our Teacher Dashboard!

To set up your classroom:

  1. Login to CodeSpace at make.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab) using the google account you use as a Teacher.
  2. Select Class Dashboard from the Help menu.

  1. Once on dashboard.firilabs.com, click the + button in the Green Bar, Top Right to add a New Class.

  1. Assign each class a name and pick which curriculum you want to progress monitor.

  1. Once created, you can Edit the classroom, get a new Join Code, and Disable joining.

  1. In each class, you can delete a student using the remove function.
  2. After you’ve set up your classes, Students go to make.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab), and Login by clicking the button on the bottom left of the page:
  3. Next, the student can click on the Select Class button on the top left:

  4. A pop-up will show all the classes the student is in. The student can click the JOIN CLASS button in the top right corner of the pop-up to enter your Classroom Join Code.

  5. When the student enters the Join Code, that class should automatically be activated and the student can start working.


Progress Unlocker & Progression Gates

Firia Labs Teacher Dashboard introduces two powerful features designed to enhance classroom management and student progress tracking: Progress Unlocker and Progression Gates. These tools provide greater flexibility for differentiated instruction while fostering a structured, step-by-step learning experience for students.

  • Progress Unlocker: allows teachers to manually UNLOCK specific Missions that students haven't yet accessed through their progress, making it easy to catch up students who are behind or have been absent. This feature ensures that students are focused on the right material at the right time.
  • Progression Gates: allow teachers to LOCK specific Missions, preventing students from advancing to the next lesson until access is granted by the teacher, ensuring students focus on mastering coding concepts instead of rushing through the content.

Instructions for Using Progress Unlocker

Use these instructions to manually UNLOCK specific Missions that students haven't yet accessed through their progress, making it easy to catch up students who are behind or have been absent. This feature ensures that students are focused on the right material at the right time.

To Unlock Progress for the Class

  1. Go to the Teacher Dashboard at dashboard.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab).
  2. Login to view your current classes.
  3. Click on the class you want to select.
  4. On the right side of the screen, the Edit Class menu will open. Click Open Lesson Access Controller:
  5. In the Lesson Access Control Options box, make sure Progress Unlocker is highlighted:
  6. Next, select Missions that you would like to manually unlock for the class and click Apply Changes to Class:
  7. Note: by clicking the ? symbol, you can review helpful info in the Dashboard:

To Unlock Progress for Specific Students

  1. Go to the Teacher Dashboard at dashboard.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab).
  2. Login to view your current classes.
  3. Click on the class you want to select.
  4. Click on the student you want to select.
  5. On the right side of the screen, the Edit Student menu will open. Click Open Student in Lesson Access Manager:
  6. In the Lesson Access Control Options box, make sure Progress Unlocker is highlighted:
  7. Next, select Missions that you would like to manually unlock for the student and click Apply Changes to Student or Apply to Multiple Students:
  8. Note: by clicking the ? symbol, you can review helpful info in the Dashboard:

Instructions for Using Progression Gates

Use these instructions to LOCK specific Missions, preventing students from advancing to the next lesson until access is granted by the teacher, ensuring students focus on mastering coding concepts instead of rushing through the content.

To LOCK Access to Missions for the Class

  1. Go to the Teacher Dashboard at dashboard.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab).
  2. Login to view your current classes.
  3. Click on the class you want to select.
  4. On the right side of the screen, the Edit Class menu will open. Click Open Lesson Access Controller:
  5. In the Lesson Access Control Options box, make sure Progression Gates is highlighted:
  6. Next, select Missions that you would like to manually LOCK for the class and click Apply Changes to Class: Important: notice that all Missions after the selected Mission will be automatically locked.
  7. Note: by clicking the ? symbol, you can review helpful info in the Dashboard:
  8. Reminder: Once you are ready for students to access LOCKED Missions, you will have to update Mission access by using the same procedure: click on Missions to unlock for the class, and click Apply Changes.

To LOCK Access to Missions for Specific Students

  1. Go to the Teacher Dashboard at dashboard.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab).

  2. Login to view your current classes.

  3. Click on the class you want to select.

  4. Click on the student you want to select.

  5. On the right side of the screen, the Edit Student menu will open. Click Open Student in Lesson Access Manager:

  6. In the Lesson Access Control Options box, make sure Progression Gates is highlighted:

  7. Next, select Missions that you would like to manually LOCK for the student and click Apply Changes to Student or Apply to Multiple Students:

    Important: notice that all Missions after the selected Mission will be automatically locked.

  8. Note: by clicking the ? symbol, you can review helpful info in the Dashboard:

  9. Reminder: Once you are ready for students to access LOCKED Missions, you will have to update Mission access by using the same procedure: click on Missions to unlock for the student, and click Apply Changes.


Integrating CodeSpace with Google Classroom

  1. Go to classroom.google.com (opens in a new tab) and login.
  2. Either create a new class or find the name of the class that you want to link to CodeSpace. To create a new class, find the + sign in the top right corner of the page.
  1. Now that you have your class created, go to dashboard.firialabs.com (opens in a new tab) and log in. On the top right hand side of the page in the green bar, click + to add a class.
  1. Name your class, select your product, and choose Google Classroom in the LMS pulldown menu.
  2. Next, find the name of your class in the Google Classroom LMS pulldown list, click to select, and click Create Class. Click the green "Authorize" button if required. Once authorized your class will show in the "Google Class" pulldown.
  1. Now that your class is linked, click on the name of your class in the Teacher Dashboard and look at the right-hand side of the screen. Click the button that says “EXPORT CODESPACE ASSIGNMENTS TO LMS.” A pop-up will appear; then click Generate Assignments. Note: If there are assignments that you do not want to link, unclick them before generating.
  1. Click “Close” on the pop-up window. Now the generated assignments will appear in Google Classroom under Classwork.
  2. You will need to click into each assignment, and “Edit assignment” to provide instructions to your students and to set a due date in Google Classroom. Fill out all necessary information in Google Classroom and click “Assign” in the top right corner. Now, your students will see the assignment that you have posted.

Debugger Instructions



Target Device Connections



CodeSpace: Tools Overview

CodeSpace Tools encourage students to be self-sufficient!

Teachers make sure to encourage your students to use all the goodness that CodeSpace has to offer:

  • CodeTrek
  • Hints
  • Toolbox
  • Debugger
  • Sandbox

CodeTrek

Check out the CodeTrek!

The CodeTrek is a CodeSpace tool that gives you:

  • A starting point for your program
  • Detailed information about lines of code you need to write
  • Explanations of coding topics
  • Holes (TODOs) for you to fill in on your own!


Hints

Don't forget to check the Hints!

CodeSpace provides helpful hints to guide students with extra help and to extend their understanding of complex concepts.



Toolbox

Your coding Toolbox!

As you work through each mission you will be adding concepts to your toolbox.

  • It's an important reference you will need in later missions
  • And when you are coding and debugging your own remixes.


Debugger

Debugger to the Rescue!

The CodeSpace debugger lets you step your program one line at a time, at your own speed, so you can understand exactly what the computer is doing and debug your code. Stepping is a very powerful tool for debugging your code. Be sure to use it whenever you need to understand more clearly what the code is doing.




Sandbox

Need to write your own Program?

Use the Sandbox to code your remixes. Anytime you are not working in the curriculum, you can use the Sandbox tool to create a new program.



CS Unplugged