Computers have become an integral part of our lives and using computers is a necessary skill, not just for education but for everything. We use our computers to pay our bills, communicate professionally and personally, find and document information, and much more. Computer skills and literacy are now a requirement and programming and coding are growing fields. This means that these skills are helpful and useful for our students, and like most skills the benefits extend beyond coding. Mary Moen points out in her article, Computer Coding and Literacy: Librarians Lead the Connection, that “computer coding helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills” (2020, July 22). Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are relevant and important to every aspect of learning and help to instill the necessary ingredients for life long learners. Our students are getting screen time, why not use it to advance and develop useful and practical skills?
Through playing with coding programs for kids, I saw how easy it is to learn the basics of coding through playful games that use colorful and fun backgrounds and characters to appeal to young kids. This makes learning feel like a game and I could see young kids enjoying these programs. The options for coding games is as full of variety of theme and character as most kids’ games, increasing the likelihood of finding an option to appeal to any kid. There are general fun themes like ninja and fluffy, rolling balls with eyes and character specific themes, like Star Wars, Grinch, Frozen, and Minecraft. The programs vary by age but code.org has games available for pre-readers to high schoolers. The pre-reader games teach through verbal explanation and demonstration. Kodable, a game that teaches through mazes, has a faded gloved hand that demonstrates what kids should click and if they should hold and move before each new skill/level. The coding games geared toward older kids are more advanced and require some reading and critical thinking. For example, the Crossy Roads coding game, for grades 9+ opens immediately into course options for the student to choose before learning. These options include algorithms and sequencing, inputs and outputs, loops and iteration, selections and if-statements, and comparative operators; implying that the expectation is for the older student to have a basic understanding of game building. For the older kid who might feel overwhelmed or lost in this coding game, there is a tutorial option in the top left hand corner that can help walk them through the game option chosen and explain the steps necessary.
Coding programs are made in a variety of age appropriate themes and levels of difficulty while providing useful and practical skills. This makes them a great addition to educational and makerspace activities.
References
Gamefroot. (n.d.). Learn to code with Crossy Road. Retrieved July 22, 2020. https://make.gamefroot.com/activity/code-with-crossy-road.
Kodable. (n.d.). Make your own mazes with Kodable. Retrieved July 22, 2020. https://game.kodable.com/hour-of-code#maze-maker.
Moen, M. (2016, September 30). Computer coding and literacy: Librarians lead the connection. Literacy Now. International Literacy Association. https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2016/09/30/computer-coding-and-literacy-librarians-lead-the-connection.
Sheldon, E. (2017, March 30). Computational thinking across the curriculum: Four of the skills used to solve computer science problems can be applied in other classes as well. Edutopia. George Lucas Educational Foundation. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/computational-thinking-across-the-curriculum-eli-sheldon.
After my time on code.org, I immediately signed up for a classroom account. There are so many options that make learning coding fun. As you stated, there are options for beginners at every level, as well as options for more advanced coders.
You are right about critical thinking skills being important to every aspect of learning. I really like your point about children already having screentime, why not make it educational, so they learn meaningful and practical skills.
Yes, I also signed up for my son! It’s such a positive use of game and screen time. It’s win-win!
I am all about trying to make learning fun and incorporating it as much as I can. I strongly feel that learning is more effective when kids are engaged.
Mary,
You are absolutely right that learning through play is one of the major benefits of coding, and I think it’s truly amazing that the wide array of options means that there is something for every student.
-Gray
Getting kids excited and invested in invaluable. I am all for taking advantage of any opportunity to do so and let them reap the benefits!
You brought up a great point about the options available in terms of interests and levels. Especially with technology there may be a wide variety of comfort levels, so this is a great resource that would allow complete beginners to not be overwhelmed while also challenging those who may already have some knowledge.
Critical thinking skills are such an important part of education and learning but they are also the skills I see my students struggle with the most. As a government teacher we often discuss topics that don’t have a “correct” answer and it frustrates them to no end. As a teacher I have had to work a lot with them on these skills, as well as problem solving as I see them give up or want me to tell them how to do something if they do not immediately know how. Allowing students to work on these skills in such a fun way with coding will help in other content areas.
Yes, your point leads us to another important point, which is letting kids practice being frustrated and figuring out difficult problems. When they are doing something they enjoy, they can practice this skill without it feeling like work. Persistence and pushing through frustration, as well as critical thinking and problem solving are all important skills that kids can use in every aspect of life. I love finding things that teach great skills without making it feel like work and this has the added bonus of actually teaching a valuable skill (coding) along with all of these other bonus skills.
Yes, I think we have to expose students to those critical thinking problems and issues more so that they are more comfortable with them. I think there can be so much focus on memorization and fact based learning that critical thinking and problem solving are not a major part of the educational experience. This is unfortunate for our students and I like the idea of putting more focus on these skills and getting them comfortable in that space.