Why coding is vital for our future
Why coding is vital for our future
Why teaching code to children is essential for a brighter tomorrow
The future generation will hold jobs we can’t even dream up yet - How will those jobs come about? Who will create them? What will happen to old jobs? Where will those jobs be? Not to worry, these “new” jobs are just an evolution of the way we work and the things we do now. Remember Starbucks before it had automatically printed drink tickets? We would just write the drink order on the cup with a big black sharpie. These little advancements bit by bit transform the role of the barista - and these little tech advancements can be seen in every industry if we just take the time to keep an eye out for them.
You might be thinking, why would a barista need to know how to code - well the simple answer might be - they don’t! But if you dig a little deeper and think a few years (or a couple of months) down the road. What happens when the ticket machines stop working or the automatic coffee grinder screen doesn’t reload and needs to be slightly reprogrammed in order to create the precise measure for the espresso shot? Understanding how technology works is NOW an essential part of the role. And understanding the fundamentals of coding is the best place to start.
Learning “how to code” is the buzz phrase we might say for computational thinking. We are not trying to create a new generation of 100 percent computer programmers but understanding the basics of coding, computational thinking, and general tech literacy is essential to becoming an active part of our communities and the future workforce.
Now, let’s look at the top three reasons, in my mind, why learning how to code is essential for a brighter tomorrow:
- Why coding is crucial for the future of businesses
- Computational Thinking = creative problem solving
- Resilience = determination that no challenge will be unanswered
- Diversity and Equality = better technology and therefore a better world.
Computational thinking
It’s incredibly important for children to learn computational thinking at a young age so they can learn to take a problem, understand it, and develop solutions for both humans and computers to solve. One of the benefits of learning computational thinking, the core concepts behind developing code and algorithms, is that it gives students both the tools and the idea that there are many ways to solve a problem, whilst at the same time encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and communication.
Not only will learning to code mean solving problems using maths, but it also requires kids to think outside the box, honing those creative skills. Trying to solve difficult problems requires creative solutions, a highly sought-after skill which is often difficult to teach in more traditional classroom subjects. As an entrepreneur, architect and mother of three, I use the same skills honed through years of coding and problem solving in the day to day running of my business and household!
Resilience
Coding can be challenging at times especially when faced with a complex problem. By grasping and understanding the problem using computational thinking, children will learn to come up with creative ways around it if at first, they don’t succeed. This is key to teaching children to develop resilience when faced with a challenge and a level of perseverance that will also keep them focused and engaged.