In the future, we envision that computer programming will be taught in elementary school, just like reading, writing and arithmetic. We really mean computer programming–not just computer use (which is already being taught).
In this “expedition into the future,” we want to explore the notion that virtually everybody can obtain some level of computer programming skills in school, just as they can learn how to read and write.
They recognise that if everyone is programming then the number of poor programmers will increase. By the same token however, programming talents will be more able to be discovered (and will have increased resistance to cultural gender bias) and there will be a greater awareness of how hard it is to make really great software.
I’m still looking for the names of folk who would sacrifice a few hours to help some complete noobs, including some young kids, and get them on the road to programming. How about you?
[UPDATE: This has been retweeted a few times. I’ve created a Twitter list here. Mail me or DM me if you want to get added to it. ]
It’s not me, but I’m in K12 IT and I have a non-programming staff member that wants to start teaching fundamentals in middle school.
I sent her a list of resources that I found, including:
http://www.alice.org/
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/kodu/
http://teachcomputers.wordpress.com/category/programming/page/3/
http://answers.oreilly.com/topic/1514-best-way-to-teach-programming-to-children/
http://www.teachingkidsprogramming.org/
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/programming-scratch
I’d love to know if anyone has any other suggestions.
We’ll be teaching kids on the MissionV programme (20 primary schools in Ireland) how to use Scratch (programming environment for kids out of MIT) to add interactive elements to their virtual worlds.
Hello Matt,
Despairing over the lack of coding in schools, or even anything else that teaches clear-thinking, analysis and problem solving, I started teachyourkidstocode.org a few weeks ago.
The idea is:
i) Make resources available for *all* children to learn from early age [1]
ii) De-mystify computing & present IT as creative and positive career choice (Geek liberations 😉
iii) Produce ground for as rich a generation of coders as 8-bit home-computing gave us 30 years ago.
I’ve had conversations with many people about this, and a lot of interest [2]. However I’m rather time-constrained at the moment, so although I’ve started producing resources, none are really good enough to publish yet.
Would love to hear more about what you’re doing 🙂
[1] My first efforts are for 10-13yrs, but I’m also working on playground games to teach 5-8yrs old logic gates & the workings of computers.
Meanwhile Stuart Parker is investigating IT for pre-schoolers.
It’s important to get to kids before high school persuades them that IT is all about spreadsheets and powerpoint :-/
[2] http://igniteliverpool.defnetmedia.com/2011/06/richard-smedley-teaching-coding-for-infants/