Coding to Learn: 5 Ways to Teach Kids to Code

May 13, 2015 - Filed To: STEM

By 2020, there will be one million more computer science jobs than students, with less than 2.4% of college students graduating with a degree in the field. In order to prepare students for the 21st century workforce, educators are challenged to inspire students to take an interest in computer science.

Why teach computer science to k-12 students?

Computer science is a foundational 21st century skill, and it reinforces skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
Girls and minorities are severely underrepresented in computer science. Early exposure can lead to an increased interest among the groups.
Computer programming jobs are growing at 2x the national average. Courses in computer science will set students on an early path to a career in computing.

Teaching coding, or programming, is a great way to integrate computer science in your classroom or extended learning program.

Here are 5 ways to teach kids to code:

Scratch is a great tool for teaching the basics of programming. Children learn to think creatively and work collaboratively as they create interactive media like stories, games and animation. Users can also share their creations with Scratch’s online community.
Use KidsRuby to teach children how to program using Ruby, a popular programming language. Ruby is easy to write and natural to read, and KidsRuby provides tutorials and resources that teach users how to easily create simple programs in Ruby.
Introduce computer programming to children in a fun and easy way with Tynker. This app helps them to understand the fundamentals of coding, such as playing sounds and manipulating characters.
LEGO Mindstorms set, a pricier alternative, is a robotic kit that combines sensors, motors and an electronic brain with LEGO Technic components to help childrenbuild and program a robot. Mindstorms bridges software programming with real-world, physical actions.
Suggest a summer coding camp to give children an opportunity to practice their coding skills during summer break by building things they enjoy, such as robots, games and mobile apps. Camps are offered across the country at many organizations and universities, and are a great way to avoid the “summer brain drain.”