by Hannah Mccarthy
Teaching children how to code will undeniably take some imagination because it is not only a fairly complex subject, but teachers also have to contend with the limited attention span of primary age pupils. So what techniques are currently being used in schools and are they effective?
Graphics
Using graphics can be a great way to make programming appealing to younger students, particularly because it softens the more complicated aspects of the tasks. For example, replacing variables with pictures which is what lots of online games and tools do makes the process seem less mathematical and therefore more enticing for some children. Children are also more likely to be engaged for longer if they are working with animations to create their code and it makes the whole activity less daunting. Some professional programmers would not advocate such a technique arguing that it's better to introduce children to programming languages from a young age. Certainly, teaching the real language is valuable, but introducing children to graphics and moving on to using the language is potentially more powerful. Initially, it is important to establish an interest in coding for young children; it is unlikely you will be able to do this with numbers alone.
Use coding to make fun things
The easiest way to make coding relevant and accessible to young children is to put it into a context that they understand and enjoy. Encouraging children to write programs to create animations, graphics, games or simulations is far more likely to receive positive feedback than having them create a program to solve maths problems. Eventually, they will need to use programming for everyday tasks, some of which will be less exciting than creating their own game, but this is best left until they have good technique and fully understand everything they are doing. Games and animations also provide a lot of scope for editing and improvement such as changing colours, design or style. When creating something they would actually use or want to share with their friends, children are more likely to spend time perfecting and adjusting their program until they see the results they want. There is perhaps nothing more motivating for a child than the sense of achievement they get from having made their own game.
It is important that children realize the importance of programming and are able to see what can be achieved by writing an accurate and logical code. The beauty of coding is that the developer can instantly see the effect their changes have on the program. For example, if they are trying to change the colour of an animation, they can tell instantly if their code is correct, just by looking at the animation.
Ultimately, teachers will have to use their own judgment and find coding tasks that are appropriate for the age and capabilities of their students. While a mathematical and logical approach to teaching programming will definitely be required at some stage, it is perhaps easiest to introduce younger children to the basics in a lighter way. With the new curriculum starting children on coding from key stage 1, there will be plenty of time for children to progress to more advanced techniques throughout their education.
More Information:
Hannah McCarthy works for Education City, which provides eLearning primary resources for families and schools. The website offers Key Stage 1 and 2 information and modules as well as a code crunch tool for programming lessons.
Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article451648.html
Teaching children how to code will undeniably take some imagination because it is not only a fairly complex subject, but teachers also have to contend with the limited attention span of primary age pupils. So what techniques are currently being used in schools and are they effective?
Graphics
Using graphics can be a great way to make programming appealing to younger students, particularly because it softens the more complicated aspects of the tasks. For example, replacing variables with pictures which is what lots of online games and tools do makes the process seem less mathematical and therefore more enticing for some children. Children are also more likely to be engaged for longer if they are working with animations to create their code and it makes the whole activity less daunting. Some professional programmers would not advocate such a technique arguing that it's better to introduce children to programming languages from a young age. Certainly, teaching the real language is valuable, but introducing children to graphics and moving on to using the language is potentially more powerful. Initially, it is important to establish an interest in coding for young children; it is unlikely you will be able to do this with numbers alone.
Use coding to make fun things
The easiest way to make coding relevant and accessible to young children is to put it into a context that they understand and enjoy. Encouraging children to write programs to create animations, graphics, games or simulations is far more likely to receive positive feedback than having them create a program to solve maths problems. Eventually, they will need to use programming for everyday tasks, some of which will be less exciting than creating their own game, but this is best left until they have good technique and fully understand everything they are doing. Games and animations also provide a lot of scope for editing and improvement such as changing colours, design or style. When creating something they would actually use or want to share with their friends, children are more likely to spend time perfecting and adjusting their program until they see the results they want. There is perhaps nothing more motivating for a child than the sense of achievement they get from having made their own game.
It is important that children realize the importance of programming and are able to see what can be achieved by writing an accurate and logical code. The beauty of coding is that the developer can instantly see the effect their changes have on the program. For example, if they are trying to change the colour of an animation, they can tell instantly if their code is correct, just by looking at the animation.
Ultimately, teachers will have to use their own judgment and find coding tasks that are appropriate for the age and capabilities of their students. While a mathematical and logical approach to teaching programming will definitely be required at some stage, it is perhaps easiest to introduce younger children to the basics in a lighter way. With the new curriculum starting children on coding from key stage 1, there will be plenty of time for children to progress to more advanced techniques throughout their education.
More Information:
Hannah McCarthy works for Education City, which provides eLearning primary resources for families and schools. The website offers Key Stage 1 and 2 information and modules as well as a code crunch tool for programming lessons.
Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article451648.html
good article guys.i like your article.
ReplyDeleteWebsite Development Company in Bangalore