Our
class has started exploring coding! This is the basic information about coding that I sent home to families last week. Read on to find out more about coding!
What is coding?
According to Code
Conquest, "Coding is what makes it possible for us to
create computer software, apps and websites. Your browser, your OS, the apps on
your phone, Facebook ... they’re all made with code."
Coding is what many of us call "computer
science" or "computer programming" and, in the simplest terms,
coding is how we give computers directions/instructions.
Why teach coding?
Personally, I feel that coding helps students develop
critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Coding also provides opportunities for practicing math, reading and
art/design. Although my students are still very young, coding is also important in MANY jobs!
I think it is great that young learners can try out coding in a kid-friendly,
fun situation before they get older and are intimidated by the idea of
“computer science”.
How are
we learning to code?
Since there is a strong movement to include coding in
schools, there are a number of kid-friendly coding tools now available. At this point, our class is using a fun tool
called Kodable to learn about giving coding directions. Kodable is available as a free iOS app or you
can play/download it online at http://game.kodable.com/
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