Coding is ONLY for "Techies." A Life Long Excuse...

Coding? No thanks, I am not a “techie.”

This has always been my thoughts around coding and therefore, I have not engaged with it within the classroom. The one time I did engage with it, I had someone else come in and do it with my students. When this occurred, the students loved it but I have never felt equipped enough to teach coding to my students.

I think coding brings value to students as it gives them an opportunity to try new things with technology and create. Firstly, most of my students are gamers, who spend most of their free time, well gaming. Coding is something that would bring them joy and excitement as they would be creating their games. I think it is valuable in that they would feel accomplished/successful in creating a game or “telling the computer what to do”. My students would get a thrill from sharing it with each other and trying each others game. I think it is also valuable when looking at Bloom’s Taxonomy, as they are able to take this knowledge and create. Technology is everywhere and it is not going away. In many different professions, this would advantage them.

“Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer.. because it teaches you how to think” (Steve Jobs).

In my personal opinion, I think all students benefit as an in class activity, grades 2 and up. Students may not benefit with the idea of taking it home to try, as many of my students do not have access to technology at home. However, in class, with computers provided, I think all would benefit. Looking at the website we explored in class, Hour of Code, it varies with grade level and experience, which would allow all students the opportunity. There is even an option of pre-reader, if they struggle or are unable to read. I think coding gives opportunities to students within school and gives them the potential to try to create!

“Programming is an incredibly empowering skill to learn” (Hadi, code.org)

I currently do not engage in this, as discussed prior as I feel like I have never had the knowledge to and would be a lot of pre-teaching. I feel I already use so much of my spare time to mark, coach, plan and create that I honestly feel lazy in the aspect of teaching myself something else (how bad that sounds, but honest). It is my own self holding me back and I can acknowledge that. As discussed in Code Stars, it can be summed up as intimidating, but Chris, NBA star, had a point.. What isn’t?? Everything new is intimidating. Being provided with this website within class, I feel this is a start to beginning to engage with coding in the classroom.

"Most people won't grow up to become professional computer scientists or programmers, but those skills of thinking creatively, reasoning systematically, working collaboratively … are things that people can use no matter what they're doing in their work lives.”

I think this is valuable to acknowledge as creating is something we actively encourage students to do and think outside of the box; digging them to dig deeper.

I disagree in saying that coding should only be taught by techies as it is true, technology is everywhere and there are so many resources now accessible that anyone can learn at the tip of their fingers. Through these different resources, like Hour of Code, it is beyond easy to navigate and learn. I think saying it can only be taught by techies is simply an excuse. I have been using this excuse but its not valid. Technology is only evolving. Creating is empowering. Creating is fun, as suggested when I type in “creating is” to Google.

As stated in Teachers Essential Guide to Coding in the Classroom,

"Coding also provides students with skills that apply across content areas. By learning to tell machines what to do, students engage in problem-solving and computational thinking, which apply to academic and professional disciplines across the board."