Week 1 — Drawing with Shapes: Visual Language of Code (visit from Shawn Patrick Higgins)

Saturday, October 18, 2025

https://youtu.be/L__zdrcO8E0?si=EEGXh_HCHcbejzOp

Session Overview

The first session of the CC Fest Teacher Training Camp set the tone for five weeks of creative coding exploration. Facilitated by Saber Khan (Los Angeles), the session introduced foundational concepts in p5.js through shapes, color, and composition. The focus was not only on coding fluency but also on building community among a global group of educators.

Participants & Introductions

Educators, technologists, and artists from across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America gathered to share their backgrounds and learning goals.

From the United States:

• Joshua — Creative Technology teacher, experienced in Turtle Art and ArtLogo
• Lillian — High school teacher, NYU ITP graduate, transitioning from Python to p5.js
• Elizabeth — Part of a three-teacher cohort from Marymount School
• Fernanda — Immersive Learning Specialist, teaching CS with Python and interested in VR/spatial computing
• Nicole — Private tutor using creative coding with students who need alternative approaches
• Steven — Director of Tech & Innovation, working with middle schoolers moving from Scratch to text-based coding

From Europe:

• Francisca — Teaching younger students, blending art, music, and code
• Paul — Teaching teens, known for grading based on code comments
• Seb — Developing nonprofit coding resources