Coding the New Buzz Word
Teachers love a buzz word. The current word of choice seems to be ‘Coding’. Everyone is talking about Coding in Education, Coding the in the Classroom, and Coding in the Curriculum. Does anyone really know what this fantastic new idea means? This new idea that is going to change education forever?
A quick Google gives almost 70million hits for Coding in Education. So it’s a pretty popular concept :-)
But… is it really a new idea. In NSW BOSTES immediately, in one sentence, tracks Computational Thinking back to none other than Jean Piaget (http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/go/science-and-technology/statement-on-coding). In fact the BOSTES statement, A Guide to Coding and Computational Thinking Across the Curriculum, is a great place to start reading on the topic. It importantly backtracks from just the word Coding, to the ways of thinking required to complete a Coding task. BOSTES explains them as Computational and Algorithmic thinking. In a sentence, the concepts of Computational and Algorithmic thinking are problem solving to find effective and efficient solutions, and organising these solutions in a logical sequence that can be applied in multiple and varied situations.
I don’t believe anyone would claim those styles of thinking are new, revolutionary or 21st Century. Applying this type of thinking in a computer science application, with new and constantly evolving technology, is what Coding in Education is truly about.
Coding in Education is about students learning complex problem solving skills, that can be applied in a variety of situations utilising new and yet to be invented technologies.
That is why Coding is so important in Education.
Coding is a vital skill for studenst and relates closely to the 21st Century Skills for Students (read my blog post on those here http://teachingdeeds.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/21st-century-skills-for-students-21css.html). A good Coding task will teach these skills. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, Creativity and Innovation, Technological Adaptability – these are the skills 21st Century citizens need and Coding is a important step down that path of learning.
I continue to be interested in new things that seem old and old things that seem new.
Jaquelin T. Robertson
