Will teaching Computer Science impact students positively?
Monica Kochar
Educational Strategist| Instructional Coach| Humane Maths| Ex IB Teacher| USCC Math K8 Expert|
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Introduction
Will teaching Computer Science impact students positively? There are many votes for and against the same. However, the vote for yes is stronger as of now. Computer Science impacts the student’s growth and academic achievement positively. It certainly to the skills needed by the rapidly expanding markets in the 21st?century and their demands centered around education technology (Gokce,?Yenmez,?&?Ozpinar,?2017). One would need to convince the schoolteachers and administrators and hence need for a letter of advocacy towards beginning coding classes in the schools.
A Letter to School Heads
Science,?technology,?engineering?and mathematics (STEM education) is now an integral part of teaching in most schools and computer science cuts across all of them. Post pandemic especially, technology is with us and there is no sign of slowing it down as yet. Hence, we need to take it seriously to bring it in some aspect as a part of school education.
What is coding?
Coding is the language that creates instructions for computers, popularly called programming language (Weinstein, 2021). Computer code language is?used to program the websites and apps that we interact with every day. This is the language of the young world today and as?teachers, we should be mindful of the same. Also, coding is in almost every aspect of modern life. Every?application?on?a?phone and other?digital?systems?like?smart TVs and calculators use?it as well?(Meyster, n.d.). Coding professionals are highly sought after in the industry and there is a need for such personnel to run the programs effectively. Therefore, the need to teach coding in schools as it impacts the choice of career powerfully.
President Obama in the document (President Obama asks all students to?learn computer science) also acknowledges the importance of coding as a way of imparting powerful skills in the learners to prepare them for the?future (What’s wrong with this picture? 2015). Globalization has made the world smaller but the need for relevant skills is much more. Skills such as critical thinking,?creativity,?collaboration,?communication,?information?literacy?and?technology?are much more in demand than before?(Mubarak?2014). Also, the?ability?to?communicate?effectively,?work?as?a?team?member,?ability?to?prepare and face changes and challenges and to solve problems would have the higher premium than ever (nodding, 2007).
Parents, teachers and administrators please be sensitized to the need to knowing coding and programming for they are used almost in every industry. The best paying jobs in the world are IT related and the wealthiest human beings on the planet world in IT relate industries such as Apple or Google (Mallios?&?Vassilakopoulos, 2015). Coding also builds creativity in the children and hence is good for all learning styles. We believe that introducing coding in class would increase on student?engagement and interest. It will intrigue learners while doing activities?such as creating gaming programs. Learners will create?and that is the cornerstone?of STEM education.
Conclusion
Coding ignites both cognitive and creativity skills engaging students in higher order thinking (Gokce,?Yenmez,?&?Ozpinar,?2017). Further, computational and algorithmic thinking are fundamental skills for STEM related courses (Mallios,?&?Vassilakopoulos,?2015). Hence, I hope that my letter is impactful enough for the school administrators to take teaching of coding seriously for the kids.
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References
Gokce,?S., Yenmez, A. A., & Ozpinar, I. (2017). An Analysis of Mathematics Education?Students’?Skills?in?the Process of Programming and?Their Practices of Integrating It into?Their Teaching.?International Education Studies,?10(8), 60.?https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1150292.pdf
Mallios, N., & Vassilakopoulos,?M. G. (2015). Evaluating Students’ Programming Skill?Behaviour?and?Personalizing?Their?Computer?Learning?Environment?Using‘?The?Hour?of?Code’ Paradigm.?International Association for Development of the Information Society.?https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED562457.pdf
Meyster, A. (n.d.).?What is Coding used for??Retrieved from?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKGQl0Hun0&t=17s
Mubarak. M. K. A. (2014, Feb 24). Education System Needs to Adapt to a Fast-Changing?World.?The?National.?Retrieved?2019,?June?7?from?www.thenational.ae/education-system-needs-to-adapt-to-a-fast-changing-world-1.473481
Noddings, N. (2007).?Curriculum for the 21st Century. Educational Studies in Japan:?International Yearbook No.2, pp.75-81.?Retrieved from?https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ842882.pdf
Weinsten, J. (2021, January 24).?What Is Coding? Coding Definition and Uses. Retrieved from?https://careerkarma.com/blog/what-is-coding-used-for/
What’s?wrong?with?this?picture??(2015).?https://code.org/promote
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1 年Unfortunately most schools don’t offer enough pay for technology teachers. How much can someone make at a job coding compared to teaching?
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1 年Thanks for sharing
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1 年For that matter any skill development program will provide the opportunity for students to develop their Critical thinking and Creativity. Even Art is a powerful form of developing these skills. The challenge for teachers and school administration is how they can integrate the 'act' of coding or painting to develop Critical and creative thinking skills. Mind you merely coding will not help but helping students to observe, become aware, reflect and going beyond the lines is what will help in this cause. ??