We hear a lot about coding and robotics these days. We hear that our world is changing rapidly because of technology and coding. We hear that in the future most careers will rely heavily on computer-based skills and coding. We are told that when our learners leave school there will be most likely be plenty of tech-related jobs, requiring specific skill sets that include coding, waiting for them. We hear that the DBE (Department of Basic Education in South Africa) has released the draft Coding and Robotics curriculum in schools, and that they are piloting this as from April 26 2021 in the Foundation Phase in 200 pilot schools and in Grade 7 in 1000 pilot schools. All of this makes us sit up enquire, “What is coding all about?”
What is coding?
Coding is a basic
literacy in the digital age in which we live. Coding is a language that the
computer understands. It is the language we use when we want a computer or a
robot to carry out certain tasks. Coding involves giving a computer or a robot
step-by step instructions in a way that it can understand and follow to achieve
specific outcomes. It is the language
behind app creation, website creation; and, in fact, many of our day-to-day
objects are powered by coding.
The interesting thing is – that
children enjoy coding. We can see as parents, how our children take to
technology almost from the cradle. We gasp at how quickly they can pick up how
smartphones work, for example, much more rapidly than we ourselves do as
adults. In primary school learners basically work on block coding as shown in
the image above. In High School they will most likely progress to text coding.
Is coding good for children?
In the
digital age coding is becoming a basic literacy. It teaches children to
problem-solve. It teaches them computational thinking. This means that our learners learn how
to take complex problems and break them down into smaller manageable problems (decomposition); recognise patterns
in solving these problems (pattern recognition); use simple rules or steps to
solve each problem (algorithms); and focus on the important details
(abstraction). Coding helps our learners to think more clearly.
Coding in the South African
context
In a webinar on 28th April entitled ‘The state of coding and robotics in South African schools’, ASSAF (The Academy of Science of South Africa) invited a panel of four experts from the public and private sectors to discuss the new development in South Africa of introducing Coding and robotics into the Grade R-9 curriculum. The first panelist represented Higher Education. He was Professor Hussein Suleman from the Dept. of Computer Science at UCT. He presented what IT will look like in an IT-enabled future world…it will be used across all disciplines. He stressed that learners wanting to study in Higher Education will require strong Maths skills as well as strong language and communication skills.
Emma Dicks from Codespace represented the private sector. She emphasised that the economy of the country will flounder if our learners’ IT skills are not developed. Jean Greyling who is an Associate Professor in Computing Sciences at
Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth), represented the school sector. He believes that we cannot let coding widen the digital divide. He is already presenting coding to hundreds of learners as an unplugged activity in workshops (no devices needed) as well as a computer device activity via two apps - Boats and Tanks. The final panelist, Jonathon Freese, from the WCED, represented the Department of Basic Education’s point of view on the panel, He alluded to the fact that studies show that 4 out of 5 Grade 4 learners countrywide, currently, are not able to read for meaning; and 6 out of 10 do not demonstrate basic Science knowledge. He stressed that participating in Coding activities at school could become the game changer in these statistics.
How to get a child started in coding
If a parent wants to get their child coding and they are not yet provided with an opportunity at school, a good place to start is for the child to work through a free
www.code.org curriculum. They could do the Express course 2019 as Intermediate Phase learners, or the Pre-Reader Express for Foundation Phase learners. These courses provide video explanations of what is required in each activity. Alternatively, your children could try out one of the many Hour of Code activities on the same site. Your children will really enjoy these activities and, at the same time, learn important skills.
Let’s all climb aboard the coding train together, as we get our South African children coding and developing the skill sets that will make them globally relevant and employable.
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