Basic programming has become an essential skill for grown-ups and children alike. The benefits of learning to code are huge:
Coders are in high demand
Coding provides a competitive advantage
Coding knowledge allows students better understand the world
Coding is fun and satisfying
Coding is fun and satisfying
Coding improves creativity
Coding improves problem solving
Coding improves persistence
Coding improves collaboration
Coding improves communication (to learn more check out 5 Reasons Your Child Should Learn to Code)
In our session on March 3rd, we will be using Code Combat to learn basic coding. To get ready, let’s learn some computer science vocabulary.
Computer Science – The study of computers
Computational Thinking – Modifying a problem so that it can be solved using a computer
Programmer – Someone who writes the code
Code – The language that tells a computer what to do
Algorithm – A list of steps to finish a task
Program – An algorithm that has been coded into something that can be run by a machine
Binary – A way of representing information in only two ways (yes or no, go or stop, 1 or 0)
Command – An instruction for the computer
Run / Go – This causes the computer to do the commands you’ve written
Event – An action the causes something to happen
Bug – A mistake in the program
Debugging – Finding and fixing problems in the code
Loop – Doing something over and over again
Decompose – To break a problem down into smaller pieces
There are many fun free websites that teach coding for children, here are a few of the best:
- Code.org
- Tynker
- Scratch
- Scratch Jr
- Code Monster
- Code Maven
- Make Block
- Swift Playgrounds (Only for Mac iOS)
To learn more about coding, checkout some of these great books:
Get Coding!: Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript & Build a Website, App & Game by Young Rewired State
DK Find Out! Coding by James Floyd Kelly
My First Coding Book by Kiki Prottsman
Coding With ScratchJr by Adrienne Matteson
How Coding Works by Ben Hubbard
