🎯 Lesson Objective:
Help learners reconnect with the basics of code through a “flow-first” mindset, understanding that coding is a process of thinking in steps — and that AI can help reinforce, clarify, and accelerate what they already kind of know.
👋 Lesson Intro:
You’ve written some code before. Maybe you’ve followed a course or two, built a to-do app, styled a website, or experimented with a tutorial on JavaScript or Python.
But let’s be honest: sometimes you’re just typing what the video says. And when something breaks, you’re not quite sure why.This lesson is about stepping back and seeing what code really is doing — not just line-by-line, but as a flow of logic. It’s also where you’ll learn how AI can help you understand that flow faster, spot gaps in your logic, and become a clearer, more confident builder.
🧩 Key Concepts Covered:
1. Code = Flow of Logic + Instructions
- Computers don’t “think” — they follow.
- Everything in code is a chain of cause → effect → outcome.
- You don’t need to know everything, just what happens next.
2. You Already Know More Than You Think
- If you understand functions, loops, variables, and if/else — that’s your starter toolkit.
- The missing link is applying them intentionally — and not guessing syntax.
3. AI Helps You See the Gaps
- Use tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, or Cursor to:
- Explain what a function or block is doing
- Predict what might break
- Refactor code for clarity
- Ask “what if” questions to explore
🤖 Real-World AI Prompt Practice:
Try this prompt inside ChatGPT or Cursor.dev:
“Here’s a short JavaScript function I sort of understand — can you explain it line by line and show me what would happen if I changed the variable here?”
This builds your “coding intuition” — understanding not just what code does, but how to shape it.
📌 Big Takeaways:
- Code isn’t about writing the perfect syntax — it’s about understanding the steps.
- You already understand the building blocks — now it’s about linking them with confidence.
- AI can act like a coding buddy who never judges your questions and helps you close the gap from “kind of get it” to “I can build this.”
📝 Assignment: Reverse-Engineer Something You’ve Seen Before
Choose a simple code snippet (your own or from a tutorial).
- Paste it into ChatGPT.
- Ask it to explain it line by line.
- Then tweak one line and ask: “What did I change, and what would this do now?”
📥 Submit:
- The original code
- Your edited version
- A 2–3 sentence summary of what you learned or clarified
