Apps to Start Kids Coding

The 2016 Horizon Report on Education has some great points about digital literacy as being 'not a checklist of skills' but core competencies. Drowning kids in a 'sea of digital tools' has been a problem that I've noticed and there does need to be a cohesive vision of how to use them in schools.

Coding is a response to the need for computer science degrees which are booming. As I've perused free online courses on Coursera, Udacity and EdX, there is no field which is driving courses like computer science. Getting fluent in the language of Java helps average teachers manipulate data in spreadsheets and basic programming gives kids the ability to program robots. Here are some apps to get you started!





Code.org-This is one of the easiest platforms to use. Code.org has a number of tutorials that use "drag and drop" programming that makes computational thinking easy to visualize and see. We used this for "hour of code" when I worked at Saigon South International School and after signing in with your account, it gives a series of lessons that students can go through at their own pace. Using fun sprites from "Angry Birds" and "Plants Verses Zombies" it connects to media that students may have used before and encourages persistence and problem solving. There are some extension coding opportunities for kids to apply programming skills on their own.








Tynker- Tynker uses similar drag and drop programming, but is very explicit on the tutorials. From a learning perspective, they are very straightforward on the skills on the left side bar with learning objectives clearly posted. The characters are very cartoonish and makes coding seem less like coding and more like digital storytelling.








Hopscotch- My daughter really likes hopscotch as it works through a game-like interface with a host of different projects to learn from in their project tab. Some have obvious math and physics applications. The real strength of hopscotch is the tutorial window where a narrator walks you through the process with easy to follow examples.








Scratch Junior- One of pioneers of coding, Scratch has a nice database of resources on its site. Although the graphics are a bit dated, the drag and drop features and ability to customize the backgrounds give it not such a canned approach to coding. The learning and teaching tabs on their websites have great resources.










Swift Playgrounds- This is apples new rockstar coding platform complete with courses, and a book that you can download for app development. It requires the newest OS on your Ipad, but the graphics are dazzling as sprites bounce through an isometric world. Swift playgrounds strength are their graphics and nice programmer interface.






Final Thoughts
Since most businesses and organizations have an online space to share their idea, I firmly believe having some coding skills will help with website development and marketing initiatives. We can't wait for the slow bureaucracy of education reform to catch up to the skills that our students need to graduate with the skill set to help their future earnings potential.

Related Posts
Hour of Code
My Students Completed 20 Hours of Code-Now What?

Comments

  1. In today's world all college students have lot of activities to do along with their academic tasks. We know the importance of academic grades for students. So. we are here to help you with all your academic worries. we provide the best assignment writing help. We have qualified assignment helpers who can help you with all subjects like law assignment help. Students who are persuing law can take our online taxation law homework help at affordable price.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Why would you say that? LOL. Drowning kids in a sea of digital tools is perfect. It’ll prepare them for when they get in college like me. Being a student, the outdated books weren’t helping me with Management Essay Writing Service until the top notch professionals examined my written task pieces and offered unique content that’s been serving me highest grades. Start ‘em young, as digital age would offer assistance 24/7.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a very educative and helpful blog post, I really learnt a lot going through it, and I must commend you for this great piece which I consider very useful to me and other readers, please keep it up, thanks. motivational good morning message for her

    ReplyDelete
  4. I didn't know much about kids coding I saw your blog and videos and i knew it was a very good thing and I wanted to make an him then i was told by many people that i should get the help of Essay Writers Dubai and now I am very happy that i can also make it myself.

    ReplyDelete
  5. If your kids have an interest in coding then you should encourage them to use these Apps to learn to code. They will start learning gradually after some years they will become an expert. It is good to develop kids' interest more in the field they like and are interesting to make their career.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I appreciate you taking the time to discuss it since I have strong opinions regarding it and I want to find out more information about it. Could you perhaps add some details to the post you made on your blog? It will actually be to our collective advantage.
    Source : professional SEO UK.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello, that's indeed valuable information. The arguments you've presented in the article are quite rational. Please continue your excellent work! If anyone is encountering challenges while composing their accounting assignment, you can seek Accounting Assignment Help from our skilled experts, who are available round the clock to provide assistance.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Teaching ahead of the curve is the best way to educational life and complete the lifestyle. At that time, nursing assignment writers were announced so that every university student could achieve their academic life and start teaching ahead of the curve.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This blog post couldn't have come at a better time. I've been researching this topic for a while now, and your insights have shed new light on the subject. Keep up the excellent work! and As someone who has been struggling to create the best dissertation to get good grades, I found taking dissertation help from "Do My Dissertation" experts really supportive as they provide high-quality dissertation writing services online.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts