Coding comes to Primary Schools

[KhornateMonkey]

Volunteers have kicked off a project to set up after-school clubs that teach young children how to programme computers.[Read More]

Whats your opinion?

[Daco]

Man I started learning programming at High School. People barely understood it anyway.. If they integrated it in College it might succeed but in Primary Schools.. lol

[Exterminator]

If you see the bigger picture, then actually its not about programming a computer but about giving them a advanced, problem solving and organised mindset

[ElMartu]

dope

[Mikal]

Primary Schools.... -.-

[Teddy]

I started learning at the age of 13; I'm sure they aren't going to be building advanced programs, however, programming is a universal experience that teaches in many ways that just knowledge of the language.

 Problem solving, people make mistakes, you have to debug code and make changes and maybe even work out complex system errors to solve the system to a working status.

Teamwork, most projects these days are not solo, and are done by a team of people thus requiring teamwork.

Creativity, as most projects are not straight forward. You have to learn to think outside of the box in order to create a unique sequence of code.

There are dozens of other examples; I do remember in 5th grade (10-12) that we did learn a bit of basic coding in some program. So, I think that this is a good idea.
 

[Sphex]

You must remember that the level of programming that will be done in Primary Schools will not be as advanced as secondary or colleges and is most likely going to be a very basic Object Orientated language like Alice
I'm talking about as simple as having an object, giving it properties and making it move from PointA to PointB and dragging models around to create movements, very similar to flash animation. Very simple and basic methods to introduce the concept of object properties.

I'm currently coding in C# as part of my course, although and Object Orientated language like Alice, I wouldn't expect any child in primary school to even know where to begin with that let alone be shown it. The same goes for BASIC, as simple as that coding language is, it can still be seen as being pretty "advanced" with all the current functions, methodologies, rules etc.

Object Orientated programming uses, as the name suggests, Objects which contain methodologies for each item within the program to put it simple enough. No sequencing it required with OOLs which is why it appeals to kids (unless you are doing more advanced work).


As for the Pi itself. This was made as an affordable micro computer for projects, education and to just...see if it could be done. The idea of this in schools, as has been said before, is to provide these children with a  platform on which to build IT skills on. Whether that be an interest on the basics of how a computer works, or as to how programming works.
One of the main reasons the UK and many others are "lacking" in computer skills is that IT and Computing in schools seems to be just typing up a word document, making a couple of spreadsheets and making a powerpoint. These tasks are mind-numbing to say the least and are not considered true IT. Sitting in front of a powerpoint working on it for hours just to be taught "much needed IT skills" is not in anyway going to spark the interests of a younger generation.

[JDC]

It's about time.

[Matt Murdock]

Man I started learning programming at High School. People barely understood it anyway.. If they integrated it in College it might succeed but in Primary Schools.. lol

Same started learning that shit in 8th or 9th grade, 11th grade was java programming was easy but never cared.

[EenBeeFour]

The Scratch program was on the primary school computers at my primary school since I was in Year 2, I think the story is a bit late.

[Gimli]

The Scratch program was on the primary school computers at my primary school since I was in Year 2, I think the story is a bit late.

Same, not sure what program it was though.. Something with moving turtles around

[Reece]

Same, not sure what program it was though.. Something with moving turtles around

The Scratch program was on the primary school computers at my primary school since I was in Year 2, I think the story is a bit late.

The Scratch program

Scratch

http://scratch.mit.edu/

 

[sjdsadsadoisa]

I remember using http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logo_(programming_language) as early as Year 3 or "3rd grade" so yeah this has been going on for pretty long

[Gandalf]

Pity they did not do this in my time. Would probably have mastered C# while others were learning to read...

[Sphex]

Pity they did not do this in my time. Would probably have mastered C# while others were learning to read...

Unlike now when we are trying to master C# while we are trying to master C#.