15+ Ways of Teaching Every Student to Code (Even Without a Computer)
According to Code.org, 90 percent of parents in the U.S. want their children to learn computer science—it will be crucial for many jobs in the near future—but only 40 percent of schools teach it. Critics claim that it is mainly the more affluent schools that offer computer science courses, thus denying those who attend poorer schools the chance to learn necessary skills. A focus on STEM is not enough: Code.org also reports that while 70 percent of new STEM jobs are in computing, only 7 percent of STEM graduates are in computer science. In my opinion, parents of every student in every school at every level should demand that all students be taught how to code. With the following resources, you can teach programming to every student and every age. Teaching Coding to the Youngest Students Tynker Games: Use these age-appropriate games to teach your elementary students coding concepts. Teaching Coding to Kids 8 and Up Hopscotch is a free iPad app for upper elementary and above.
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Coding in the Classroom: A Long-Overdue Inclusion
One need not look to superstars such as Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates to justify reasons for using code and programming logic in the classroom. There's plenty of literature that illustrates its positive learning outcomes. Coding in the classroom is linked to improved problem solving and analytical reasoning, and students who develop a mastery of coding have a "natural ability and drive to construct, hypothesize, explore, experiment, evaluate, and draw conclusions." But there are other compelling reasons for integrating code in the classroom. Reasons to Teach Coding 1. Wired Magazine reported that reading and writing code is the new literacy. 2. Coding in the classroom is a means of bridging the digital divide. 3. Temple Grandin, author and professor at Colorado State University and an autistic adult, said, "Without the gifts of autism, there would probably be no NASA or IT industry." Knowing there are programs for kids with ASD is good news for parents who shoulder the responsibility. 4.
Life After the Hour of Code
Now that the excitement of the Hour of Code has passed, and you still vividly remember your students' eyes light up while completing their coding challenges, you may be wondering how to keep that excitement going in your classroom. The only thing is, you don't teach computer science -- and you have no idea how to teach coding. The great news is, that's fine! Whether you are an English teacher, a history teacher, a math teacher, an art teacher, or any other subject area specialist, your students can still incorporate coding into what they are learning. If you're a math teacher, coding is a natural fit -- math skills are essential to programming. You can check out the lessons at Code by Math to see how your students can apply what they are learning in class to a coding challenge. For non-math subject areas, there are a number of ways that students can incorporate coding into their classwork and projects. Playing and Learning There are many rewards when creating a project through coding.
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Why teach coding in school?
Whether you're a technophobe or a geeked-out early adopter, there's no denying that the world is run on computers, and the language of computers is code. It seems only natural that there's a wave of interest in the idea of teaching kids to code -- some say it should be a requirement in every school. I think no one would argue that every kid is cut out to be a programmer, but a basic understanding of code couldn't hurt. In fact, this knowledge could give a leg up in an increasingly technology-centric society. Hopefully this playlist of videos will help you learn more about some of the people and organizations who are working to change the opportunities available for kids to learn code. Video Playlist: Teaching Kids to Code Watch the player below to see the whole playlist, or view it on YouTube. What Most Schools Don't Teach (05:44) This video by Code.org went viral a year ago. More Resources on Teaching Coding Ready to jump in to play with some code in your own classroom? see more see less
Fun Programming - video tutorials to learn creative coding
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4 ways forward-thinking districts are inspiring more students to code
How innovative districts are exposing more students to coding and closing the participation gap Recently, President Barack Obama announced his administration’s commitment to provide computer science education for all students. Endorsement by the White House is valuable to those new to introducing computer science (CS) in the classroom, as well as others, like members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, who have championed CS for years. Members of the League, a coalition of 73 of the most forward-thinking U.S. public school districts, have long prioritized computational thinking and CS education for their students. Thirty League districts, representing over one million students, made commitments to the White House to further the President’s proposal. Districts in the League have committed to developing thoughtful, long-term solutions to overcome the obstacles that many populations of students face one of the world’s most important languages. About the Author:
15 Free Games to Level Up Your Coding Skills
Find Out in Three Minutes (or Less!) If a Career in Tech Is Right for You Our quick and easy quiz will help you pinpoint exactly how to get started in tech, in hardly any time at all. When I started learning to code, the options were limited—lots of books (not even e-books), some very basic online tutorials, and a whole lot of experimentation. Online learning has come a long way in the last few years. While a game alone probably isn’t going to teach you everything you need to know about coding, it can be a really incredible way to practice the skills you’re learning. I’ve tried out some of the most entertaining and useful games for learning to code. CodeMonkey CodeMonkey teaches coding using CoffeeScript, a real programming language, to teach you to build your own games in HTML5. CodinGame CodinGame offers up games to learn more than 25 programming languages, including JavaScript, Ruby, and PHP. CSS Diner CSS Diner is a simple but fun way to learn CSS. Flexbox Froggy Flexbox Defense CodeCombat
