What language or programming tools should be taught to children according to their age

0
55
What language or programming tools should be taught to children according to their age
what language or programming tools should be taught to children

What language or programming tools should be taught to children according to their age

Programming, robotics, computational thinking … this vocabulary that until a few years ago did not enter the conversations associated with children’s education or leisure, has gained enormous weight. It is no longer strange or unusual that in different subjects at school, STEM toys, extracurricular activities or time with parents, teaching programming is a clear and defined objective.

The big question then is: What language, game or programming tool is recommended to teach or practice with children according to their age?

Teach programming to the youngest without programming (3-6 years)

When we talk about teach programming to a child less than 5-6 years, we are actually referring to knowing and beginning to become familiar with the world of programming and its general language without realizing it. Have a first contact with this discipline in a playful way and at the same time formative.

At just 4-5 years old, games of logic and physical movements are a perfect start to take those first steps in programming and computational thinking.

Through games, challenges, puzzles and resorting to their creativity, in these early ages we can start the development of computational thinking. The common thing to all of them is that we must try that the tools we use are not linked to visual elements, since their entire reading and writing abilities and CSUnplugged there are numerous very well documented examples (with printable cards, links to resources and organized by stages and ages ) and in which we can follow several itineraries. The games in which the little ones seek solutions to problems creatively and making use of algorithms without realizing it can be very varied.

Kidbots Little Red Riding Hood With older age we can include increasingly complex or collaborative challenges

From a rescue mission playing in a physical space like a chessboard to planning the dance steps of a party where they can inadvertently discover concepts such as signals or loops.

Also the process to plant seeds and other habitual activities of the children (that we can have previously organized in visual cards) can serve so that they learn to decompose a problem into multiple parts or sort events in a logical order.

Kidbots Step The patio or any place in the open air can be used to organize a game of robots that follow the orders we give them to reach their destination.

In these early ages (from 4-5 years) we can also start working with a computer or tablet, even if the children do not know everything.

Angry If we read them the instructions and the final objective of the challenge, they can already place the instructions with a simple drag and drop

The workflow associated with this type of activity, where the most complicated thing for them may be the drag and drop gesture, they practice it before with puzzles, gaining dexterity with the mouse or gestures.

Puzzles To Before starting to program by blocks, the gestures and mouse movements can be practiced with fun puzzles that simulate the way of joining the blocks of code that you will discover later

Although there are very complete and free resources on the net, ready to print or copy, we can also use robotics starter kits with which to achieve the same objective: use logic games and physical movements with which to represent and understand different concepts related to programming.

SEE ALSO  Why scientists hate Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite Internet

We have several options, but both Code & Go (70 euros) and Let’s Go Code (both from Learning Resources) are the ones that we would recommend at this age.

Physical board for robot movements

Scratch Jr

From 5 years old and if the child already has some fluency with the use of a tablet, it is recommended that they begin to take their first steps with Scratch Jr. This tool is based on programming by blocks and although it has limitations, is an excellent option so that they can create their first animated stories with which to start in this programming language.

Scratch Jr is gratuitous, is only available for iOS and Android devices, and we can get started with the help of the Code21 getting started guide.

Scratch

Starting with block programming (7-10 years)

Once we have literacy at a more advanced level, the possibilities for learning to program expand exponentially. There are a multitude of platforms, apps and resources that resort in all cases to a block programming fully visual.

Code.org

At this age we can already make full use of the excellent platform that is Code.org and not only its unplugged or disconnected resources. There we find tutorials of different levels associated with different ways of programming, but the most interesting of all is that these challenges are based on themes and universes that children are especially attracted to. Star Wars, Minecraft, Frozen or characters from your favorite cartoon series are used in hundreds of resources for the first steps of programming.

The Code.org tutorials are a comprehensive and varied starting point to begin engaging with block programming

The tutorials are organized by age, themes and type of resource. It is advisable to start with one of those proposed for the Hour of Code initiative. They only require an hour of dedication and are a great motivation for the first steps. Then we can start some of the programs associated with each age range and that are guided and with a very clear scheme and that we can continue at various times.

Codeorg Organization

Scratch

Either with a more advanced level of the Junior version or directly with the full software, Scratch It is the best and most logical step forward that children can start taking from 7-8 years.

SEE ALSO  Microsoft is working on a feature to let you write with your eyes

It is one of the most important educational programming platforms. It is free, we can use it or in an offline version, and its progression curve It is fantastic in that it allows from very simple jobs for 7-8 year olds to complex projects and linked with robots, boards and third party sensors through the extensions.

Scratch Extensions

Tynker, CodeSpark and Code Monkey

Another of the best known and great platforms to learn programming using blocks it’s Tynker. There is a very complete application for tablets but there are also resources that we can use and several similar platforms such as CodeMonkey.

Tynker

Robots with their own programming environments

To learn to program by blocks using robots, in addition to Scratch, mBlock or BitBloq, the different manufacturers rely on their own proposals and very well supported by lessons or guides of use of progressive difficulty. The most prominent are Lego with its Spike and Wedo 2.0, as well as Robo Wunderkind or Zum Kit Junior from BQ.

Dsc 1589 2048x1367

First lines of code (10-15 years)

Already practically entering secondary education, the boys and girls are ready to begin write your first lines of code in various languages, always with the starting point of a block-based and visual programming.

Swift Playgrounds

From the hand of Apple we have its application Swift Playgrounds, available only for iOS and Mac devices. Includes lessons for learning to code with the Swift language with several progressive levels.

At this age it is advisable to start with the first lessons that explain by means of puzzles to solve in a very graphic way the programming basics as well as the simplest instructions with which to overcome the challenges proposed by the app. Later you can start programming robots or drones compatible with the application.

Swift Apple programming

MakeCode to get started with JavaScript

Microsoft It also offers a free open source platform as a starting point for learning real programming. MakeCode is based on different learning experiences that are quite attractive for children and based on boards such as the MicroBit or the Adafruit, the Minecraft game or the famous LEGO Mindstorms.

The platform includes a simulator that allows not to depend on hardware elements to see the results of the programming. Depending on the age we can opt for block-based programming that uses the drag and drop technique, or, if there is already a base, opt for the JavaScript or Python editor.

Makecode Javascript At any time the child can go from block programming to directly edit Javascript or Python code

Python with Minecraft or CodeCombat

Although in MakeCode we already have a good base to start program in Python, the Rpi version of the Microsoft game, or directly with the educational edition of Minectaft, where we have tutorials and guided courses for children from 14 years old.

SEE ALSO  This is how you can restart all Amazon Echo devices with Alexa

Another very attractive platform for these ages and with which you can start programming textually in both Python and Javascript, is CodeCombat. And of course, at Tynker we also have games and complete activities for these two languages ​​for professional use.

Codecombat

More level with Scratch

The ability to start writing code no longer detracts from what children can continue to achieve with Scratch. It is no longer so much about telling stories, learning instructions or replicating instructions but going one step further and, for example, performing arcade video game personal variations, something very motivating at this age.

The first mobile applications with AppInventor

Using a working method based largely on the union of blocks, App Inventor is a simple but powerful solution to teach how to program applications for Android phones. It is free and includes a simulator, although the best thing about it is that, after programming the app or game, we can generate an apk and test it directly on a phone.

Paintpotallblocks

Creating content with code (+15 years)

With an already solid base of what block programming is, key concepts and even with notions of JavaScript, Swift or Python, the time has come for the creation of applications, games and other content to be a reality.

Developing applications with Swift

After the puzzles and challenges of PlayGrounds, Apple has a training itinerary based on visual guides and called App Development with Swift in which upper secondary school students can start programming their own applications for Apple devices in Swift.

App design with swift

Videogames with Unity and C

Programming and video games go hand in hand when we talk about students. Unity It is one of the most used game creation engines today and they themselves have a learning platform where they even obtain a certification after learning to create content programmatically in C #.

Unity Learn

Robotics with Arduino

Although in the first years of secondary education you can start programming Arduino boards and the like using only block programming, it is from 14-15 years when the joint learning of electronics and programming on Arduino reaches enormous potential.

We are facing a very versatile language, with a great community and the attraction of including hardware with multiple possibilities.