[Swansea Hackspace] Teaching Children to Code

[Paul Harwood]

Sharon,

I absolutely love the simplicity of this idea and think that workshops around this would be really fun and accessible.

I know this is a bit OT but could we/hackspace put on some workshops like this at TechHub? I think it would be really well attended too. People bring kids and lego to learn how to code!

:)

— Paul


> On 26 Jul 2015, at 11:18, Sharon Mitchell <sharon at swansea.hackspace.org.uk> wrote:
> 
> Hey Richard, 
> 
> Urge to throw my 2c worth in, so here goes..
> 
>> I have been looking at coding tools to help teach my 8yr old son how
>> to code.
> 
> Great news!
> 
>> I've looked at Scratch (can't get it to install on Mac and site is
>> down) and Tynker (paid US offering), code-Cade,y I have used but not
>> right for Max at 8yrs old.
>> 
>> For UK are there better resources that I can use to educate him?
>> Ideally something that will align with School if possible - any ideas?
> 
> If you want to EDUCATE your son and get across the CONCEPT of coding (as
> opposed "here's this particular tool, I am going to TRAIN you to use
> THIS tool" you can do a lot worse than plain old LEGO, graph paper and
> pencils..Hear me out :)
> 
> What is code.? It's simply a collection of explicit instructions given
> in a particular order executed upon certain conditions.
> 
> "LEGO blind builds" and "graph-paper programming" are a great primer for
> this concept.  A tutor-student pair act as "computer" and
> "programmer" in turn.  The "programmers" job is to describe a LEGO
> structure / pixelated graph paper picture to the "computer" who
> builds / shades what has just been described (the "computer" is "blind"
> remember).
> 
> You'd be surprised how often these simple describe-copy creations go
> wrong! But it's a great way to get across the importance of there being:
> 
> 1) zero room for ambiguity in your instruction
> 2) ordering of instruction has importance
> 3) some ops are conditional on earlier ops (the blue 4x4 only goes on
> if the red 6x2 is in place for example)
> 
> I don't believe you need to throw (expensive) resources at the problem
> of "getting kids to code"* what I have described would work as well in
> an outdoor classroom with no electricity as it does here in the UK.
> 
> Sorting and searching can be covered with a "structure" of kids (OK,
> you'd need more kids for that, I'm sure someone will let you
> borrow.? :) )  Have them line up into a 1D array, make them into a
> FILO, whatever :)
> 
> These activities are great for those that learn in a different style
> (proprioception as opposed verbal/linguistic learners but I'm
> digressing here).
> 
> So, yeah, I think what I'm trying to say is don't get too immersed in
> what tool to use to deliver this material.  You'll find you already
> have what you need at home right now.
> 
> HTH
> 
> - Sharon
> 
> * tbh I don't believe the answer to _any_ problem is to throw more
>  resources at it, that way an arms race starts :)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> 
>> All help gratefully received,
>> 
>> Richard
> 
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