Envision, Build & Launch Your First App!
FAQ
The club is open to Peel DSB students in grades 7 through 12.
No prior coding experience is required! Students of all experience levels are welcome.
Please speak to your teacher about how you can join.
You will be coding in Apple’s official language, Swift, the same language professional developers use to create iOS, visionOS and more!
You can use your personal MacBook (running macOS 14.5 or greater) , or iPad (running iOS 16 or greater). You will need to run either Xcode (MacBook) or Swift Playgrounds (iPad & MacBook). If you do not have a personal device you can request a lender from your school.
High school students will be placed in the Xcode stream (MacBook) and Elementary school students will be placed in the Swift Playgrounds stream (iPad or MacBook).
There are two tools used to develop iOS apps. Swift Playgrounds (iPad & MacBook) or Xcode (MacBook).
Elementary school grades will be placed in the Swift Playgrounds stream. Swift Playgrounds is a game-like program, which is ideal for learning the basics of coding in Swift. It is also a full fledged tool used to build and publish iOS apps.
High school grades will be placed in the Xcode stream. Xcode is the tool professional developers use to create apps for all Apple platforms.
Both are great tools and you will be able to participate in and gain the full Swift Coders Lab experience with either!
You are welcome to bring your own device. If you do not have the required hardware you can request a loaner from your school.
Both Swift Playgrounds and Xcode can be downloaded for free on the App Store.
The club meets weekly for one hour. You will meet bi-weekly over Microsoft Teams with your instructor. You will also complete homework and assignments, with a total time commitment of maximum 5 hours per week. However, you are welcome to put in more hours if you wish.
Lesson Meetings are held from late February through August on Tuesdays over Microsoft Teams.
Swift Playgrounds stream meets from 3:15pm - 4:15pm.
Xcode stream meets from 4:15pm - 5:15pm.
Meetings are 1 hour long.
For sure! All meetings will be recorded, so you can watch them at a later date when it suits you.
Meetings will be recorded and viewable on the course webpage. Each week there will also be an “office hours” session where you will be able to meet with a mentor to ask questions.
As a member of the Swift Coders lab you will be expected to:
1. Attend meetings
2. Engage in the online community (students from all over Peel who are members of the club)
3. Complete 1-2 hours of homework assignments per week
Wireframing
App development
Swift coding
21st Century skills, including presentation skills
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Computational thinking
Entrepreneurial skills
Primarily, you will be learning to code in Swift and how to build iOS apps. You will also learn additional skills like Wireframing, design and the business aspects of being an app developer!
This will all be done through the course website.
Your Swift Coding Lab Mentor will have a 1 hour office hour on Thursdays. You can meet with them to discuss any questions you may have about your work, or projects related to the club.
In addition to weekly meetings and projects we have more exciting events and opportunities throughout the year, which include guest speakers, workshops, challenges and more!
Yes! You can include your membership as well as the projects you worked on, on your portfolio, resume and as part of your application package for college and university.
Students who were previous members of the club may return in future years to participate as mentors and in leadership roles.