As we advance through this digital age, some people still find it acceptable to call programmers nerds or geeks. The percentage of the geeks is still on the rise, and the geeks are proud to wear that title. Programming has become a mental activity that is essential to everyone. Even routine jobs that focus on spreadsheets eventually require some programming.
Coding literacy is a term that implies that everyone should learn how to code. This is a relatively new concept, so why is there so much interest in programming now? For most people, having at least a basic level of programming knowledge will make it easier to use a smartphone, link devices, and manage files across multiple platforms. These are just a few of the benefits of learning programming at a young age. By helping your kids learn a little bit of computer programming, you can give them a head start in many important aspects of their lives. You can even learn along with them.
There are many benefits to a coding education. Many schools across the globe have started redesigning their schedules to create room for programming sessions. Kids can feel successful as they get a computer to do whatever they tell it to do. This creates a foundation that can set kids up for a lifetime of successful use and management of the technology in their everyday lives.
Computational thinking is the process of solving problems in a way that can be programmed into a computer so that the computer can replicate the programmer’s thought process. Software engineers, computer programmers, and logistics specialists use this method of thinking to solve problems. Computational thinking is a combination of advanced mathematics, algorithm development, and logic. The development of this type of thinking involves considering a problem and breaking it down into single-action steps.
What differentiates computational thinking from other methods of problem solving is that computational thinking encourages your child to move from creating a specific solution to a specific problem to creating a generalized solution that can be applied to similar situations. On the other hand, critical thinking involves finding solutions in a more “out of the box” way. Coding usually inspires kids to strengthen both computational and critical thinking skills, especially when it is done for fun such as to create a game or an animation.
Children will need to be literate in tech to be competitive in the job market. Most jobs today require knowledge of basic IT skills. Programmers are well-paid and highly demanded in today’s market, and opportunities for these skilled employees will only continue to expand in the future.
Learning to code has a positive impact on most areas of peoples’ lives and gives them a newfound sense of energy to really pursue the goals they want to achieve. If you’re a beginner and want to see if coding is for you, why not try out a RoboGarden’s journeys? There’s nothing to lose, so register now and start coding!
