With the rapid development of technology, programming is no longer the exclusive skill of programmers. Just as only a few people used to be able to master the skill of writing, but now everyone can write easily, programming is gradually becoming a basic ability.
Especially in the field of artificial intelligence, big data, and other emerging technologies that lead the era, programming is indispensable.
As an important branch of STEM education, children’s programming education is quietly emerging!
It is dedicated to cultivating children’s computational thinking, innovation, and problem-solving skills, opening a brand new door to the future for children.
Why is children’s programming education so important?
It develops computational thinking
Computational thinking allows children to learn how to break down a big, complex problem into small, easy-to-handle parts, identify the patterns, abstract and refine them, and then design a step-by-step algorithm to solve the problem.
This way of thinking is not only useful in programming. It can come in handy when studying subjects such as math and physics in school, or when planning travel routes and organizing rooms in everyday life.
For example, when children write a program to make a robot follow a specific route, they have to think about how to break down the entire route into smaller movement instructions, and this is where computational thinking comes into play. According to studies, children who have been taught programming score on average about 20 points higher on tests of logic problem solving than those who have not been exposed to it.
ance your child’s creativity and problem-solving skills
Programming can turn the whims of children’s minds into something tangible.
In the process of programming, children will definitely encounter various kinds of problems, and it is in the process of solving these problems that their logical thinking and problem solving skills are practiced. Taking ACE, a graphical programming tool, as an example, children can easily create interesting animations, exciting games, or heartwarming stories by dragging and dropping those lovely graphical modules.
This not only lets kids indulge their creativity but also allows them to express their thoughts and emotions through their work. Some surveys show that children who participate in Scratch programming and creation have improved their scores in creativity assessment tests by 30% compared to the previous ones.
Enhances logical thinking and math skills
Programming is closely related to logic and math. When children write programs, they are frequently exposed to mathematical concepts such as variables (which can be thought of as small boxes that can hold different numbers), functions (which are tools that can be used to perform specific computational tasks), and geometry (which is used when designing the trajectory of a character in a game, for example).
Also, the logical relationships in programming, such as conditional judgment (performing an action if a condition is met) and loops (repeating a piece of code), can help children improve their abstract thinking skills. An educational study in the United States found that children who studied programming for a semester improved their math scores by an average of 15 points.
Prepare for the future
Looking around the world, many countries have already incorporated programming into their primary and secondary school curricula.
In the United States, programming education has been popularized since kindergarten, and teachers will let children initially understand the concept of programming through some interesting games and activities. The UK is even better, directly listing programming as a compulsory subject for children aged 6 – 15 so that children can build a good foundation in programming from an early age. South Korea is also vigorously promoting programming education in an effort to improve children’s digital literacy.
Current status and challenges of programming education for children
In many developed countries, programming education has taken firm root in primary and secondary education. In addition to the United States and the United Kingdom mentioned earlier, countries like Finland and Israel are also actively promoting programming education. Finland’s education system is known for its innovation and practice, and they integrate programming into the teaching of various disciplines so that children can experience the charm of programming in different learning scenarios.
Challenges
Insufficient teachers:
Currently, there is a serious shortage of qualified programming teachers for children. Programming education requires teachers who understand both programming knowledge and children’s educational psychology, and who are able to impart complex programming concepts in a way that children can understand. But the reality is that there are too few such complex teachers, which largely limits the promotion of programming education.
Incomplete curriculum system:
There are a variety of programming courses on the market, with varying quality and a lack of uniform standards. Some courses focus too much on the instillation of theoretical knowledge so that children find it boring; some courses are unreasonably difficult to set, either too simple or too difficult so children learn to be confused. This requires the relevant departments and industry organizations to develop scientific and reasonable curriculum standards as soon as possible to regulate the market.
Insufficient parental cognition:
Some parents do not have a deep enough understanding of the importance of children’s programming education. Some parents think that programming is too difficult for their children to learn; some parents think that their children should spend their time on traditional subjects, ignoring the important role of programming in the development of their children’s comprehensive quality. It is necessary to strengthen the publicity and guidance to parents so that they recognize the value of programming education.
How to choose the right programming education for your child?
Understand your child’s interests and characteristics
Every child is unique, with different interests and cognitive levels. When choosing a programming course for your child, be sure to take these factors into full consideration. If your child is younger and more interested in graphics and animation, then a simple and easy-to-use graphical programming tool like Scratch is a good fit.
It is like building blocks, and children can complete programming by dragging and dropping graphic modules, which can make it easy for children to get started and feel the fun of programming. If children already have some programming foundation and have a stronger desire to explore code, then Python, a code programming language, is more suitable for them to learn at an advanced level.
Choosing the right programming language and tools
Graphical Programming:
Scratch, Blockly, and other graphical programming tools are especially suitable for programming beginners. They replace complex codes with intuitive graphical interfaces, and kids can quickly start programming creations without memorizing a lot of syntax rules.
For example, Scratch has a variety of characters, backgrounds, and action modules that kids can use to create their own animations and games by simply dragging, dropping, and combining them.
Code Programming:
Python, JavaScript, and other code programming languages are suitable for children who have some programming foundation and want to learn programming in depth. Python has become the first choice for many children to learn code programming because of its concise and easy-to-understand syntax. It is widely used in data analysis, artificial intelligence, and other fields. When children master Python, they can not only improve their programming ability but also lay the foundation for learning related professional knowledge in the future.
Examine the course system and teacher’s strength
A good programming course should have a systematic and scientific curriculum system. The course should focus on cultivating children’s computational thinking and problem-solving skills, rather than simply teaching them to knock out codes. When choosing a course, you can find out whether the teaching objectives of the course, and the arrangement of the teaching content are reasonable, and whether there is a step-by-step approach to guide the child’s learning. At the same time, the strength of teachers is also very critical. It is important to understand the professional background of the teachers, whether they have a programming-related professional degree, and also examine the teaching experience of the teachers, whether they can explain the programming knowledge in a lively and interesting way to stimulate the children’s interest in learning.
Consider the pros and cons of online vs. offline courses
Online courses:
The biggest advantage is the flexibility. Children can learn anytime and anywhere according to their own schedules. And online courses usually have rich teaching resources, such as video explanations and online exercises. However, online courses also have disadvantages, they require children to have strong self-discipline, because without teachers around to supervise, children may be distracted.
Offline courses:
High interactivity is an outstanding advantage of offline courses. Children can communicate with teachers and classmates face-to-face and get timely answers to their questions. The teacher can also adjust the teaching method in time according to the child’s classroom performance. However, offline courses are more restricted by time and location, and children need to go to the designated location on time, which may take a lot of time and energy if they are far away.
Parents’ role in children’s programming education
Stimulate children’s interest
Creating a good learning atmosphere:
Parents should encourage their children to explore and try programming boldly. Don’t put too much pressure on your child and overemphasize learning results. For example, when children encounter difficulties in the process of programming, don’t help them solve it right away, but guide them to think for themselves and try different methods. Let your child feel the fun of programming in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Learn together:
Parents may wish to learn programming with their children, which not only enhances the parent-child relationship but also sets a good example for the children. Parents and children discuss programming problems and make progress together, which can make children more motivated to learn.
Provide support and encouragement
**Patiently answer questions**: Children will definitely encounter various problems in the process of learning programming. Parents should be patient in answering questions for their children and helping them overcome difficulties. If parents don’t understand themselves, they can check the information with their children to find the answers.
**Giving Positive Feedback**: When the child makes a little progress or completes a small piece of programming work, parents should give timely affirmation and encouragement. For example, say to your child “You have a great idea!” “Your method of solving the problem this time is very skillful!” This positive feedback can boost your child’s self-confidence and make them more willing to engage in programming.
Guide your child to use technology properly
Control the time of use:
Although programming learning is important, you should also pay attention to letting your child use electronic products reasonably to avoid getting addicted to them. Parents can work out a schedule for using electronic products with their children, stipulating the time for learning programming every day, as well as the time for rest and entertainment.
Pay attention to network safety:
In the process of children learning to program online, parents should educate their children to protect their personal information and not to freely disclose their names, home addresses, and other important information online. At the same time, it is important for children to know how to avoid cyberbullying and to tell their parents in a timely manner if they encounter undesirable information or behavior.
Looking into the future: the infinite possibilities of programming education
The integration of programming with other subjects
STEAM Education:
Programming will be more and more widely used in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. For example, in science classes, children can control experimental equipment, and record and analyze experimental data through programming; in art classes, children can use programming to create music, paintings,s and other artworks. This interdisciplinary integration enables children to understand and apply programming knowledge from different perspectives and develop their comprehensive literacy.
Interdisciplinary Program:
In the future, children will be encouraged to use programming knowledge to solve real-life problems. For example, designing an intelligent garbage sorting system or developing navigation software to help the elderly travel. Through these interdisciplinary projects, children will be able to better connect programming with real life and improve their ability to solve practical problems.
Personalized Learning
Customize learning content according to children’s learning progress and interests:
With the continuous development of education technology, future programming education will be able to customize personalized learning content for each child according to their learning progress and interests. Children with fast learning progress will be able to learn more challenging programming knowledge; children who are interested in a specific field (e.g. game programming, artificial intelligence programming) will be able to access more relevant learning resources.
Provide personalized learning guidance using AI technology:
AI technology can analyze children’s learning in real-time and provide them with targeted learning advice. For example, when a child makes a mistake during the programming process, the AI system can give timely error tips and provide modification suggestions, just like having an exclusive programming teacher accompanying the child at all times.
Programming for All
In the future, programming is expected to become a universal basic skill, just like reading, writing, and computing now. Everyone can acquire some knowledge of programming and utilize it to create value. Whether it is to increase efficiency at work or to solve practical problems in life, programming will play an important role. Perhaps in the near future, children will learn programming in school as naturally as they learn languages and math.
Conclusion: Embrace Programming for the Future
Programming education for children is undoubtedly an important trend for the future.
It has many benefits in developing children’s computational thinking and enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills.
This requires parents, educational institutions, and all sectors of society to make concerted efforts to promote the development of children’s programming education, create more possibilities for children’s future, and allow children to open their own exciting future in the world of programming.
I hope this article can give you a deeper understanding of children’s programming education, and work together to help children’s bright future!