Coding is the Language of the Future, or is it the Language of Today?
“Coding is the language of the future,” are the words of Reshma Saujani, a New York attorney, politician, and founder of Girls Who Code. However, technology innovation has advanced so quickly that many people believe “the future is now.” For those of you who don’t know what coding is, it’s the language that allows computers to understand what you want them to do. Code makes computer programs function, from basic word processing, to building a website, to operating GPS navigational systems and creating video games. The software written to operate these technologies is done with lines of code and code is created by people who have learned the language of code.
The explosion of technology startups around the world has caused a huge demand for workers with degrees in the Computer Sciences. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth in computer science related fields to grow between 15 – 20% by 2029, that translates to 600,000 new well-paying jobs to fill.
DPIE Courses Teach the Language of Coding
Clearly, job opportunities await those students who get excited about learning the language of coding and want to turn it into a career. For educators in the United States, the challenge is to keep pace with the demand and train coding literate students to fill the growing job market. A second challenge for educators is gender equity. Even though women comprise 51% of the US population, only 20% of computer science related jobs are held by women and that percentage has shrunk over the last 15 years.
With those concerns in mind and knowing that 90% of parents want to see more coding education for their children, DPIE made the decision four years ago to partner with Code to the Future to introduce coding courses to elementary and middle school students as part of our after school and elementary and middle School summer academies.
Coding Teaches Kids to Think Logically - “Kids are having so much fun they don’t even realize their learning.”
“One of the benefits of learning to code is that coding teaches kids how to think logically rather than emotionally. After a while, students in our courses learn how to break problems down into small, separate parts and figure out how they affect one another. This is an important skill for anyone to possess” explained Rhodri Freeman who is the Manger of Online and After School Programs for Code to the Future.
Code to the Future has a national reputation for their coding education programs and was recognized by the US Department of Education for their outstanding work in integrating coding education into the regular school room and training teachers to use coding in everyday classroom activities. They offer a variety of courses that help students learn the language of coding while creating their own digital games.
“Our goal is to teach coding to students in a way that is fun and exciting for them and motivates them to come back for more,” said Mr. Freeman. “We are flexible in how we teach and students can progress at their own speed. Kids think they’re just having fun while they’re in class and don’t even realize they are learning. I love it when kids tell us that our class is the best part of their day.”
In partnership with Code to the Future, DPIE is offering four different coding courses in this summer’s Elementary STEAM & Middle School STEM Academies. Each course is designed to work with students at their ability level and it does not matter whether they are beginning their coding journey or have several years of coding experience under their belts. “We can teach kids at any level,” said Mr. Freeman.
Coding classes will be taught all summer in the STEAM Academy. For students new to coding, they are encouraged to enroll in either Video Game Design and Coding or Beginner’s MineScratch. Both courses teach the basic scratch language of coding and students will create their own game using one or two sprites (two-dimensional bitmap images) characters they create. Kids will learn a variety of coding skills including graphic design, movement, and movement in degrees and although both classes are for beginners, there is a difference in what students are asked to do and each class can be taken multiple times since students can progress at their own speed.
Advanced Level Courses
There are also two courses for students with one or more years of coding experience. Level 2 Galactic Scratch requires at least one year’s experience with coding and students will work at multiple levels of their games and be challenged to introduce and program 2 – 3 sprites at the same time and create more challenging graphics.
Advanced Super Scratch Camp requires two years of coding experience and will challenge students to create and maneuver four game characters at once, at multiple levels with a variety of more advanced challenges and graphics. “If kids enjoy coding, they will love these classes,” said Mr. Freeman. “Most of our kids just can’t get enough and since they are always learning new skills and facing new challenges. They just never get bored!”
While its clear that your children are not ready to enter the work force just yet, you can help your child prepare for their future by introducing them to the universal language of coding by enrolling them in one of the coding courses being offered in the DPIE Elementary or Middle School Academies this summer.