Coding for Kids
Table of Contents
How Learning to Code Promotes College and Career Readiness
Students who are college and career ready know more than just content – they can apply what they’ve learned to whatever problems they encounter. College and career readiness includes mastery of textbook academic knowledge, as well as technical and cognitive skills. The good news? All of these can be developed by learning to code!
Unlike other subjects, coding easily fits into any lesson plan. Whether you’re teaching math, earth science, or social studies, you can seamlessly integrate coding with Tynker’s range of STEM lessons. And with Tynker, a coding education – and thus preparation for college and beyond – can begin as early as Kindergarten! By incorporating coding early on, you are preparing your students to both develop and execute on ideas in whichever fields they enter.
“[CS] prepares them for those jobs not yet created. Coding teaches problem-solving. It encourages collaboration. And it’s engaging. All of those things are directly related to future success.” – Tamara Sanders, Instructional Technology Specialist
STEAM Skills
We know that students need a certain level of reading, writing, math, and other academic skills to succeed in the future. How can coding help them get there? As students learn to code, they learn technical skills that prepare them for their futures in college or the workforce. They also improve core skills like writing and math.
Engineering: Engineering is about solving problems. What better way to gain those skills than by learning to code? When kids break down problems and spend time debugging, they fine-tune their engineering skills and prepare to take on the future.
“He’s learned to look at bigger problems and understand that with smaller solutions can help him solve a big problem.” –Arnaud, Featured Maker William’s father
Writing: Coding helps kids organize their ideas and become better writers. When children start a coding project, they plan out the organization of different functions they need to make the project work. Likewise, to write an essay, they must organize their ideas into paragraphs and understand how the paragraphs fit together.
Math: It’s no secret that math and programming are closely related. Programming helps kids visualize abstract concepts, explore the real-world applications of math concepts, and learn problem-solving skills!
“One of the most common cross-curricular benefits of computer programming is that the kids have an easier time learning math skills.” – Michelle Lagos, computer science teacher at the American school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Coding is a 21st Century Skill
When we say that coding is a 21st century skill, we mean that the future will depend on the ability to navigate and interact with technology. Computer Science skills are ubiquitous, important for both college and careers.
According to the BLS, software developer jobs will grow 24% by 2026. CS salaries are more than double the national average. There are dozens of tech jobs on the horizon, like Avatar Manager or Virtual Habitat Designer!
But your students don’t have to opt for a job in the tech sector to use their programming skills! Programming jobs are growing 12% faster than the market average, but only half of these jobs are in tech (via Burning Glass). Exciting opportunities await your students in the financial, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors!
A job as a programmer isn’t the only way your students can make the most of their coding skills. Computer Science skills are useful in almost any profession from doctor to journalist. Having a skill as in-demand and necessary as programming will open doors for your students in the future. Having both programming skills and other knowledge renders them well-rounded and ready to take on any challenge!
“Tynker allows us to provide all students (beginners and advanced) a curriculum to develop and/or hone the skills needed to be successful in 21st century learning.” – Kyle Ivey, Instructional Technology Director
Coding Builds Cognitive and Social Skills
Both the workplace and higher ed classrooms require strong cognitive and social skills. Those skills expand as kids learn to code!
Resilience: Debugging and rethinking projects builds a strong sense of resilience in kids. Those who iterate to get their projects working bring that skill to other aspects of their lives.
“If something’s wrong, it’s fun for me to figure out; it’s like challenging myself. If there’s something wrong, it makes me more determined to fix it.” – Featured Maker Yaamini
Focus and Organization: When students code (and enjoy it), they get invested in their projects. That motivation drives them to stay focused and see them their projects through to completion!
Creativity: The ability to build their own projects and mod their own worlds opens a whole new realm in which kids can express themselves. They use their creativity for self-expression as well as problem-solving. They have to be creative to think of alternative ways to get their code working!
“Students have to think and be creative while using Tynker because it is all about problem-solving.” – Kyle Ivey, Instructional Technology Director
Communication: Communication and collaboration skills are essential to kids’ futures. Programming helps them recognize and organize communication and thought patterns.
Whether your students are gearing up for post-graduation studies, work, or both, their programming skills will serve them well. Armed with the technical skill of coding, great cognitive skills, and excellent academic skills, learning to code will take your students far – wherever they go.
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