Why Do We Teach JavaScript at ScriptEd?

I’m often asked why ScriptEd chooses to teach students JavaScript instead of other programming languages.  Why not Java -- like the AP Computer Science test? … Or Objective-C or Swift so kids can make iOS apps?

We chose JavaScript (and HTML and CSS) at ScriptEd for a whole bunch of reasons. Here are four:

1) The resources our students have in schools and at home make it difficult to teach any other programming language. For students without powerful computers, and for students who attend schools that don't give students access to the command line or the ability to install things, we're really limited to choosing JavaScript as the first programming language. Students can start developing using nothing more than notepad and a web browser, no need for a compiler.   

2) Most of our students don’t have a clue about what programming entails when we first start working with them. Websites are a product they're already familiar with. They're already largely aware of what's possible and can immediately see how they can apply the technologies they're being taught. Our students are easily able to quickly build something and share it with their friends on the web. The "cool" factor of being able to do this is very important -- if the kids are not having fun, they'll lose interest and drop out.  Other more 'serious' languages don’t offer the immediate feedback that students receive from using JavaScript.  

3) JavaScript is a relatively forgiving language and is everywhere --  from writing mobile apps to robotics to just about any website.  Further, the prevalence of sites like JSBin, CodePen, and JSFiddle make development even easier.

4) The demand for JavaScript developers is soaring. Since we're focused on developing real world skills in the long term and placing interns in the short term, high demand skills are what we teach or something.

We see web development as a gateway for students. Students can either choose to stick with web development, or they can go on to learn other programming languages as they continue their education.  Our intention at ScriptEd is to get them excited and employable, and JavaScript does the trick.