I can! Sort of.
I do have some experience teaching and learning coding in Internship using code.org. It isn't as daunting as it may seem! There are even unplugged coding activities to start with, and allows coding to be something that is more accessible to students. If I teach coding, unplugged activities will be what I use to introduce the idea to my students. I've seen Hour of Code is action, but haven't tried it myself. Today that changed. I chose an option that my Grade 7 students would likely be interested in and Language Arts, as that is what I am interested in. I chose the activity called Responsible Consumption and Production, as this relates to Resources and Wealth in grade 7, our current Social Studies unit. See for yourself what coding is all about. This was my second attempt (the first it wasn't recording properly). This is just a short snippet of the hour of code.
From this short experience, I learned that transitioning from the tutorial to creating the code myself was intimidating! Each little button and step took a lot of thought. I really like that the options are colour coded. Each of the options on the left hand side show colours as the mouse scrolls over and the corresponding buttons match. This made it easier when I tried to copy the practice blocks. Colours and visual cues really help me, and would help any students.
WHy Code?
Coding is more important, and useful, than it may appear on the surface. There's even articles written as to why every kid should learn code.
Coding is fun, but it also provides valuable skills. Skills from all over curriculum outcomes relate to coding and the learning process that comes from the experience. For younger students, math skills connect - problem solving, patterns, counting, visualization, spacial awareness, etc. For older students, math skills connect as well - graphing and coordinates, problem solving, 2-D relationships of lines and angles and adding and subtracting integers. Specific outcomes for grade 7, for example, can be found here. English Language Arts is another strong curriculum connection to coding. Students of all ages can learn comprehension, practice reading and following procedural writing. Creative thinking and design is another skill. Also, the approach that naturally comes from using code offers new learning to occur.
This approach mimics the reality of adulthood and prepares them.
If that doesn't convince you, the world of technology as our future is inevitable. The logical step would be to set students up for success who will be engulfed in that type of world even more than we have been. Computer programming especially is a 21st century skill that not many people have on their resume. As well, if not for anything else, trying something new is always beneficial.
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