As a first post I think it is important to answer the foremost question – Why are the concepts of computing important for kids? Everything else can follow, the hows and the whats. If you look around, you can see it for yourself. In a public bus, in a park, maybe in your house, or wherever there are kids. Notice what they are doing, a good percentage of them would be engaged with device. The most weird example I have seen is a mother and son (7-8 years), walking to school, both checking their phones. May be it is just me who finds it strange, but this wasn’t like it few years ago.
These kids are smart, they can handle technology much better than their parents. They can outsmart their parents when it comes to handling a device. Notice their nimbleness when they are playing Temple Run or Angry Birds. It is difficult if not impossible to beat their scores. However there is one problem. If you take the analogy of a language and consider technology to be a language as a means of communication. In order to be considered fluent in a language one needs to master three things – Read, Write and Speak. When someone masters handling device it could be analogous to reading, the aspect of writing comes when they can create the content that can be read. In the context of technology it would mean they should be able to create the technology. The focus needs to move from consumption to creation.
The good news is that it is not difficult or even cost a fortune, mostly free. I am not expecting a 7 year old to learn Python or C++ or whatever programming language comes to your mind. It is about building the foundation around the principles. When a child starts studying Maths, they don’t start with Algebra, but with basic principles of numbers. This is true for any subject taught in the school. This is where the trouble starts, Computer Science is not in the curriculum of many primary and secondary schools. The first time children start learning the concepts of computing is in much later years and by then it becomes too complex to enjoy. Learning should enjoyable and not forced.
We don’t want the entire generation to become a software engineer, just like we don’t want everyone to become an engineer, doctor, architect or artist. Just like every student learns to perform basic dissection, principles of basic chemical reactions, how stuff works they should be taught how apps work, what is Internet and how it works and what is inside their computers. They need to understand how technology works and not take it for granted that it just works.
So how can we teach the concepts?
In the coming posts I will break it down into simpler pieces and start looking at various ways you can help kids learn about the principles of computing. A lot of foundation has already been laid by many who have a similar belief. The platform that is Zoom With IT will be a gateway to many of these if not all. Even if this helps foster an interest in one child it would make this worthwhile. All it needs is persistence. “Persistence is all about hanging in there, when you really want to give up”. Enjoy this video in the meantime.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZqKqI8AvnA&rel=0&w=640&h=385&theme=light]
Source: http://code.org
