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Computer coding is an interactive and applied skill that can engage students, improve their computational thinking and problem-solving skills, and assist them in mathematics. After viewing several different sites and formats for beginner coding, it is best to teach in upper-primary classes that already have a foundation in reading and math and are familiar with computers. Computer programming involves extremely specific instructions that a computer database can follow and generate a visual. The instructions you provide must be exact because computers do not have the ability to solve problems logically. Simple instructions can be followed by people but technology does not think like this. This makes students have to re-attempt their code multiple times until they succeed. This assists in the development of students’ problem-solving skills and can contribute to their computational thinking.
Scratch is an easy-to-use coding program that simplifies the process and makes it more accessible to children. It provides different forms of games and activities that engage students, which motivates them to find interest while they are doing it. Activities like this are fun for classes to do together and students often do not feel like they are actively learning when in reality it provides them with a great basis of technological knowledge and problem-solving skills.
I used a platform similar to Scratch and coded a variation of the Flappy Bird game. You can try it out here.
