Tech Learning - Coding With The Kids

Influencing the next generation?in tech

“Influencing the next generation in little ways is all part of my ambition to ensure my kids know all their options.”

Darryl Kennedy - Executive Director | Spike

I’ve spoken a couple of times now about spending time?with?my?kids?playing on platforms like Minecraft and Roblox.?Also one of the games our boys play quite frequently is Obby Creator which allows them to build a custom course for other online gamers to play.?

They start?with?a blank canvas and can design and build absolutely anything in their mind.?I’m guessing like me, most parents have a love-hate relationship?with?these platforms, but my perspective is to drive learning out of what feels like gaming.

It's a good idea to encourage children to explore tech platforms, as long as they are interested. I believe in promoting creativity and exploration and allowing them to discover their passions. If they happen to be interested in tech, that's great - it will likely play a big role in their future.

It may come as no surprise that about?70% of kids have access to a personal computer at home and even at 2, 90% of children are online in some way.

As a child of the 80’s I spent my fair share of time on the ZX Spectrum writing (copying) code from a magazine that didn’t make any sense (PLOT 255,160+n: DRAW 2*n-30,0) so to see how much more fun and engaging things these days are is worlds apart!??

As it happens 59% of parents believe in home technology has a positive impact on their child’s learning.

Obby Creator

• All the objects are built from standard shapes (like 3D PowerPoint) and added together to form buildings, doors, windows, desks, tables, chairs and so on.??
• Every object has a set of properties that determine appearance, texture, impact to the player touching it to name just a few.??

Roblox Creator

• Roblox comes?with?a developer studio that is very simple to use.?It’s a proprietary IDE which follows a similar process to Obby Creator around the design side but then brings the power of?coding?into the mix.??
• My boys and I, at ages 9 and 7, have collaborated to bring their creative ideas to fruition. With guidance from me and YouTube, they have learned how to use code to alter the objects they have created. They have even gone on to publish multiple games on the Roblox platform.

It has been fun to see them inspecting the Roblox interface through Chrome Developer to change their player stats and fool their friends.

What it Teaches Kids

Learning 3D art and design is an amazing skill set for kids to acquire. It not only teaches them how to use a mouse and keyboard but also introduces them to the basics of object-oriented programming. By manipulating objects in real-time during gameplay, they learn how to set and modify their properties.

My Final Word

Technology has had a major impact on the lives of today’s children. It has opened up new opportunities for learning, communication, and entertainment. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with technology, such as cyberbullying, addiction, and privacy concerns.

Parents are aware of the importance of tech learning and want more in the class room, but since we know we cant guarantee this will happen lets do it ourselves, and ensure our kids understand all their options.

My approach has been to help my kids understand the potential risks and benefits of technology while making sure they understand all the opportunities that technology provides.

About the Author

Darryl is a automated testing specialist, coach and trainer. An expert at building large delivery teams onsite or remotely and driving innovation into Spike’s client solutions. Passionate about understanding B2C retail customers and how technology can better deliver to their needs.

About Spike

Spike ?are retail technology experts delivering end-to-end, go-live confidence. We enable global retail brands to enjoy painless end to end digital transformations.

We ensure confidence in retail site performances, from end to end, for the best commercial outcomes.

Spike perfects the complex technical landscape that brings true retail business transformation.