Is Coding a Fad?
In short, no. Coding is a field that is growing and changing quickly; there is a world of opportunity for young students looking to get involved in the tech world. Opponents to this position might argue that today’s popular languages, like Python, won’t be used ten or fifteen years down the line. So what’s the use in learning these programming languages?
While it is true that programming will continue to advance, it is
important to remember that there is so much more to learning a coding language
like Python than memorizing syntax and applications. When we teach coding, we
teach concepts beyond one particular language. Students gain knowledge about
how computers process and “think” about a given problem, regardless of which
language they are learning. They gain important intuition about fundamental
concepts, like basic control structures (e.g. loops and conditional statements)
and algorithms, that will undoubtedly be useful in our highly technological
future. Below are 8 of the many reasons why coding for kids is not just another
trendy or silly fad.
1. Our world is growing more technological
In the 21st century, we have seen enormous developments in the
technology industry. The world is moving in a direction that is both fast-paced
and information-centered. Data is quickly becoming one of the most valuable
resources in the global economy, and individuals with digital literacy are
becoming more valued in the labor market. With all of this in mind, it’s hard
to ignore the massive role that fields like data science and software
engineering, both largely centered around coding, are going to have. Figures
estimate seemingly outrageous numbers - an
estimated fifty billion smart devices are projected to be in use by 2020 - illustrating the abundance of technology in our lives.
With such statistics in our near futures, it is clear to see that
industries are changing. The internet is a hub of information, applications,
e-commerce, social networking, and communication platforms, all of which are
designed to increase efficiency, performance, and convenience. As industries
become digitized, new jobs are simultaneously emerging. Coding is an asset that
will only continue to grow as we move forward as an increasingly connected
society.
2. It teaches kids to strategize for unique solutions
Computer science is a highly useful tool beyond its direct
applications. As there is rarely one right answer to a given problem, computer
science encourages students to create solutions that are unique. For computer
scientists, this means that coders have a great amount of leeway to create
their own intuitive solutions.
Teaching kids how to code pushes
young students to actually learn, not
just memorize facts and regurgitate them. It challenges students to critically
think about a problem, what they want to accomplish, and how to get it done.
There are plenty of kid-friendly coding languages, such as Scratch, that give young students the opportunity to build unique
projects using coding techniques. Scratch also allows coders to share their
projects with the world. This connectivity can inspire new and aspiring coders
to learn from their peers and guide them through more complicated projects and
concepts. This collaborative environment also allows students to work together
and learn from one another. Encouraging kids to utilize these programs not only
teaches them useful skills for computer science, but it also allows them to
exercise their creativity.
3. It teaches students to not give up
Most coders will advise, while there is plenty of room for
creativity in coding, there is also plenty of room for error. Learning to code
teaches students how not to give up on their solutions, but rather to debug
their code, even when repeated error messages appear. Coders tease out
solutions by using their understanding of computational thinking (see point 6)
to isolate any errors and achieve the goal at hand.
That code can always be improved upon motivates coding students to
go back and better their solutions, an incredibly valuable skill set to have in
general. Code also instills resilience, yet another invaluable tool in the
workplace. While programming can feel tedious, frustrating, and difficult at
times, the process of problem solving inherently makes for better coders and
better students.
4. It can be applied to almost everything that students are
learning
Computer science is expanding into every corner of the world, with
applications for anything one can imagine and automated services that are
permeating thousands of business models worldwide. On top of that, programming
incorporates many mathematical concepts, and it can complement the concepts
students are learning in their math classes.
Coding also promotes
problem-solving, an important skill for
any student. Beyond math, students can use code to support other interests they
may have. With coding, young professionals’ career options extend across
industries. By teaching kids how to code, students will find the confidence and
tools to explore aspects of software engineering, data analysis, video game
development, and mobile app development - in just about any industry that they
know and love.
5. It is challenging and collaborative
Coding challenges young students to explore new fields. Computer
science is a collaborative field, allowing individuals to work together to
complement one another’s skill sets, and write code that is efficient and
intuitive. Students can and often do learn to code in a group setting, so that
they can discuss their ideas and learn from each other’s successes. Learning to
code encourages students to work together when they reach a roadblock. It
promotes collaboration via idea exchange and allows students’ to compare and
contrast solutions. Teaching kids about computer programming can be a catalyst
for inspiring teamwork and leadership among students.
6. It teaches students about computational thinking
Whichever languages a student decides to pursue - Python, Java, or
any of the long list of popular coding languages today - will help them develop
computational thinking. This means that students will learn how to effectively
break down problems into manageable parts, observe patterns in data, identify
how these patterns are generated, and develop the step-by-step instructions for
solving those problems.
Computational thinking and digital literacy are arguably the most
important aspect to learning to code at any age due to the huge technological
shift in nearly every industry on the global market (see point 1). Establishing
a foundation in computational thinking will pave the way for future success in
and outside CS related fields. All students can benefit from understanding
computational thinking, as it applies to the technological aspects of daily
life.
7. It’s good for the brain
Like any good challenge, coding is an excellent way to strengthen
young, developing brains. It encourages students to combine their knowledge of
computational learning and out-of-the-box thinking to strategize unique
solutions.
Multiple
studies support the hypothesis
that learning to code has real, long term benefits on young children.
Researchers have found that individuals who code tend to have reduced odds of
getting neurodegenerative diseases in older age. Coders also tend to do better
in cognitive tasks, because coding activates areas of the brain that are
associated with memory, attention, and logic. Learning to code at an early age
supports neural connections in these regions, leading to high performance in
other fields, as well.
8. It’s fun!
While we may be slightly biased, computer science is an
educational way to bring fun into your children’s lives! Computer science is
one of the few fields of study in which students can see the immediate outcome
of their work as they build out their projects - by running their code, they
get instant, live feedback.
Programs like Scratch and Repl.it utilize software that is kid-friendly and permits students to
visualize their projects as they come to life! They can build code that creates
a videogame or a website and share their work with friends. Developing kids’
proficiency with computer science now will lead to a future generation of
coders who have the skill set to advance our world.
This article originally appeared on junilearning.com
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