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Should Kids Be Taught to Code?

posted by n1 on Wednesday May 14 2014, @12:08PM   Printer-friendly
from the only-if-they-start-with-cobol dept.

Thexalon writes:

The New York Times is running a Room for Debate on whether all children should be taught to code. Opinions range from "Teach it as soon as possible" to "It's a scam".

Despite the rapid spread of coding instruction in grade schools, there is some concern that creative thinking and other important social and creative skills could be compromised by a growing focus on technology, particularly among younger students. Should coding be part of the elementary school curriculum?

I'm curious what Soylentils think about this: Is teaching kids coding in elementary school a good idea?

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 14 2014, @12:40PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 14 2014, @12:40PM (#43139)

    I think teaching the kids how to do basic arithmetic is more valuable. Throw in some basic Boolean algebra (it being the digital age and all). Though I do remember quite well the time when a parent of one of the kids in my class (I must have been 9 years old or so) who worked at the (then state owned) telecom provider set up a working telephone exchange in one of the rooms. We could actually call each other and watch the exchange operate. And I could hold some of the PCB's in my hands and get explanations about what was what. This was quite impressive and I guess it did (at least partly) lead me to study telecommunications in addition to analog electronics later (in which I was already interested).

    So what I think is that it is important to make the kids familiar with some of today's technology in a fun way and also provide support for those of them that want to know more. Of course not all kids will be interested, but for those who are it's a great stimulus.

  • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday May 15 2014, @12:56AM

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Thursday May 15 2014, @12:56AM (#43514)

    I'd put coding somewhere near the intro to Geometry and Proofs class... coding is procedural like a proof, and a great way to exercise algebra and trig skills.

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