Marc Benioff, Chairman & CEO, Salesforce
Learning to code at a young age opened my eyes to the incredibly exciting world of technology and entrepreneurship. Our youth deserve the opportunity to learn the skills that will enable them to succeed in our connected world.
Learning to code used to be an advantage, today it has become the norm
The days where coding was a niche area of expertise accessible to only the smartest of minds are numbered. The prevalence of technology in every aspect of life coupled with the introduction of higher level coding languages such as Java and Python has made coding an essential life skill for children today.
Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE) certainly concur. MOE is moving quickly in 2019 after a well received pilot project in 2014 to scale the coding exposure program nation-wide.
To us at The Logic Coders, this is recognition that coding has become mainstream. Coding and computational thinking skills are now a necessity in the world that our children will grow up in.
Is 10-hours sufficient in developing a foundation in coding and computational thinking?
Concepts within computational thinking are abstract and often challenging for children to understand as they tend to be tangible learners. Learning such concepts requires constant repetition and exposure to various applications. Using mathematical concepts as an analog to computational thinking, mastering addition and subtraction takes years of practice - from kindergarten all the way to lower primary! From that perspective, 10-hours will almost certainly not be enough.
However, as a means to expose our children to these concepts, these programs provide immense value should they ignite an interest in coding.
Cultivating an interest in coding in your child
Options for parents to expose their child to coding concepts are growing by the day - they range from online coding games to enrichment classes and everything between.
We think that the following characteristics are important for any coding exposure:
1. Age appropriate - setting the difficulty and focus right to minimize unnecessary frustration and maximize fun
2. Application based - real-world applications provide context and meaning to what they are learning
3. Wide range of possibilities - platform limitations should not restrict creativity
4. Environment - positive feedback for the child to make them feel proud of their achievements
Core Coding Logic Program
The Core Coding Logic Program is our flagship program consisting of 6 progressive levels. This program seeks to equip students with a comprehensive foundation in coding logic, while providing a conducive environment for students to hone crucial cognitive skills. The program is specifically designed give students a good foundation in coding logic and to get them started in self-exploration.
For more information: https://www.thelogiccoders.com.sg/core-coding-logic
MOE Code for Fun Enrichment Program
Is a 10-hour program for upper-primary school students that includes visual-based coding language and robotic kits such as the Lego EV3.
This program aims to:
1. Facilitate the exposure of a large base of students to coding and computational thinking
2. Help build an entire generation of workforce inculcated with basic coding and computational thinking skills
Links for more details on MOE Code for Fun Program
https://codesg.imda.gov.sg/in-schools/code-for-fun/overview/