Coding for Kids
Now is the perfect time to start exploring computer science and coding, especially for teens thinking about their future—whether applying to college or heading into the job market. Computer coding for teens has never been so necessary, given today’s digital world.
Of course, coding itself is a valuable skill that can provide career benefits for a lifetime. In addition, through the process of learning how to code, teens strengthen their critical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills. That’s why most parents want their child to have the opportunity to learn computer science.
Despite this, only about half of US high schools currently offer a computer science class of any sort! To tackle this problem, a group of tech industry leaders wrote a letter to call for change—the movement is CEOs for CS.
Joined by Tynker CEO Srinivas Mandyam, this group is asking education leaders to “update the K-12 curriculum in each state, for every student in every school to have the opportunity to learn computer science. Computer science provides an essential foundation — not only for careers in technology, but for every career in today’s world. Studies now show that students who learn computer science outperform in school, university, and beyond.”
The letter goes on to explain the looming tech skills crisis in the United States, where there are 700,000 open computing jobs but only 80,000 computer science graduates every year. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, signed the letter and then tweeted:
“Coding is one of the most valuable skills a person can learn. It can open new doors, jumpstart careers, and help big dreams seem like achievable goals.”
Why is Coding Important for Youth?
Coding is incredibly important for youth because it equips them with valuable skills for the future. First and foremost, coding fosters problem-solving abilities and logical thinking. It teaches young minds how to break down complex challenges into smaller, manageable steps and develop solutions systematically. These problem-solving skills are applicable not only in coding but also in various aspects of life and any career they may choose.
Coding empowers youth to become creators rather than just consumers of technology. It allows them to bring their creative ideas to life through software, websites, apps, and games. This creative aspect of coding encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, inspiring young individuals to explore their passions and turn them into tangible projects.
Coding is a gateway to numerous career opportunities in the digital age. As technology continues to advance, the demand for skilled coders and computer scientists is growing rapidly. Learning to code at a young age opens up a wide range of potential career paths in fields like software development, data science, artificial intelligence, and more. It gives youth a competitive edge in the job market and prepares them for the increasingly tech-driven world we live in.
Here are 5 great reasons for teens to learn how to code:
1. Knowing How to Code Improves Academic Skills and Grades
Teen coders see their high-school math scores improve as they see real-world applications to the mathematics they’re studying, along with real-world solutions, too. Computational thinking and mathematics go hand-in-hand. Coding also helps teens with reading and writing—both areas where organization and time-management are essential.
Code.org gathered results from seven different studies, finding that “children who study computer science perform better in other subjects, excel at problem-solving, and are 17% more likely to attend college.”
A Tynker survey* showed almost 9 in 10 teachers and parents believe that learning to code improves overall academic performance, especially in mathematics, while almost two-thirds saw better grades in reading and more than half in writing.
2. Coding Develops Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Problem-Solving
In addition, coding also allows teens to express themselves creatively by learning to make their own apps, games, art, music, websites, and more—with code! This is where dreams come to life. When kids can choose a project that’s meaningful to them, they’re more likely to stick with a challenging topic like computer science.
Well over 90% of teachers and parents surveyed* believe that coding helps children develop their critical thinking skills as well as their creativity and ability to problem-solve. Tynker’s innovative platform offers hundreds of short, inspirational project ideas in every course, so your child can see themselves with a future in coding.
3. Code Solves Many of the World’s Most-Pressing Problems
Coding has the potential to make a profound positive impact on society and the world as a whole, developing solutions in diverse fields such as environmental conservation, space exploration, farming and food shortages, medicine, and many others. For instance, ecological conservationists are using cloud computing.
What once required a trip to the Tanzanian jungle has significantly changed thanks to coding. The Jane Goodall Institute uses remote sensing technologies to monitor and protect great apes and their habitats. Satellites, GPS, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) map animal ranges and other natural resources while tracking changes to critical habitats over time.
4. Coders Have Many Career Choices and Great Salaries
As teens begin to think about college and a potential career, they quickly realize that the tech market is booming and the need for coders is only increasing. That’s why Tynker is focused on developing innovative ways to get teens interested in coding by teaching popular, in-demand programming languages like Python and JavaScript. These are the skills that employers and introductory collegiate classes are asking for.
According to U.S. News & World Report in 2020, coders can make anywhere from $67,370 to around $116,220 per year, averaging $89,190. Careers include jobs like app makers, hardware developers, database administrators, web developers, government computer programmers, financial coders, e-commerce coders, network security coders, computer engineers, and many more.
5. Coding Gives Teens a New Way To Look at the World
Teenagers want real-world computer science skills that teach them the big ideas of computer science, like abstraction and computing systems, whether they start with block coding or Python. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said, “Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.”
In an article written by computer scientist Stephen Wolfram, he talks about the importance of computational thinking: “There’s a certain amount of traditional mathematical thinking that’s needed in everyday life, and in many careers. But computational thinking is going to be needed everywhere. And doing it well is going to be a key to success in almost all future careers.”
So what is computational thinking? It’s a systematic approach that breaks down a problem into simple steps that a computer can execute. Whether you become a doctor, lawyer, farmer, or teacher, Wolfram believes “much of the world’s population will be able to do computational thinking and be able to communicate with computers using code — just as they can now read and write.”
Where to Find Online Coding Courses for Teens?
The availability of online coding courses for teens has made it easier than ever for young learners to develop valuable coding and programming skills. With platforms like Codecademy, Khan Academy, edX, Coursera, MIT OpenCourseWare, and many others, teenagers have access to a wealth of educational resources that cater to their specific needs and interests. Whether they are beginners or have some coding experience, these platforms offer a diverse range of courses to help teens embark on their coding journey and prepare for a tech-driven future.
Tynker Has Amazing Coding Courses for Teens
With Tynker’s courses and activities, teens can:
- Program IOT hardware using MicroPython
- Learn practical languages like JavaScript
- Code data science with Python
- Explore digital art and image processing
- Prepare for AP courses with Java
- Earn CS mastery certifications
Tynker offers teens an Advanced Computer Science Pathway with 6 elective courses and 1,522 activities to transform your child into an expert coder, including:
Image Processing and Art (59 Lessons – 304 Activities)
Create artistic works on a digital canvas using p5.js.
JavaScript and Web Dev (23 Lessons – 266 Activities)
Build web pages using HTML and CSS.
AP Prep with Java (105 Lessons – 449 Activities)
Engineer real-world solutions with Java to prepare for AP Computer Science A.
Data Science (36 Lessons – 159 Activities)
Learn data manipulation, analysis, and visualization using Python.
Certifications
Coders will:
- Build a solid portfolio of 100+ original projects.
- Use programming to solve a wide variety of real-world problems.
- Earn certificates for each level completed, as well as specializations in:
- Game Design
- Web Development
- Python Programming
- Data Science
Tynker also offers teens real-world coding pathways in Python.
Python I – Python Fundamentals (49 Lessons – 199 Activities)
Explore Python basics with simple movement puzzles and bite-sized programs.
Python II – Advanced Python Concepts (53 Lessons – 185 Activities)
Dive deeper into computer science by using functions, lists, data structures, and algorithms.
Python III – Real-World Python (58 Lessons – 199 Activities)
Solve real-world problems in math and science. Design games, visualize data, and generate interactive art.
We can’t wait to see what your teen will create with code!
Check out Tynker and learn more about inspiring the next generation to change the world through code.
How Can Teens Get Real-World Coding Experience?
Teens can acquire practical coding experience through several avenues, offering them exposure to the professional realm of software development. These experiences can help bolster their coding proficiency and provide valuable insight into the real-world applications of coding.
One route to real-world coding experience is through internships or summer programs. Teens may explore opportunities at technology firms, startups, or local businesses. Internships offer hands-on coding exposure, enabling participants to engage in authentic projects.
Engaging with open-source software projects on platforms like GitHub is another method. Many open-source initiatives welcome contributors of all ages. Teens can participate by addressing bugs, introducing new features, or collaborating with seasoned developers. These contributions not only build coding skills but also contribute to their portfolios.
Volunteer work is a meaningful way for teens to leverage their coding talents. Non-profit organizations, schools, and community groups often require websites, applications, or databases. By volunteering their coding abilities, teens can tackle real-world projects and provide support to their communities.
Coding competitions, such as hackathons or coding challenges, offer a platform to demonstrate coding proficiency in a real-world context. Many of these competitions feature authentic coding issues necessitating creative solutions. Participating or succeeding in such events can boost a teen’s resume.
Teens may explore freelancing as an avenue to gain real-world coding exposure. Freelancing platforms connect coders with clients in need of coding services. Launching a freelance career can offer practical coding experience and enable teens to craft a portfolio of work.
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