Wired Magazine is exploring how early kids should learn to code. One of the challenges is to find the proper time in schools to teach programming. Are teachers at elementary and middle school levels really able to teach this subject? The article suggests that even very young kids can learn to program and lists a couple of early experiments as well as more established ideas including the Scalable Game Design curriculum. However, the article also suggests that programming may have to come at the cost of Foreign language learning and music.
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I learned to write in BASIC before I learned to write in script. The earlier, the better. Just ask yourself, do you think your kids’ life/career/success will be better because they can program? Or play the trumpet?
That’s a tough question to answer, rye … learning to play an instrument teaches discipline and attention to detail, both of which are important to programming (and other aspects of life).
I’m not sure that teaching "programming" as such is as important in the long run as teaching the above, and logical thinking.
I learned to write in BASIC before I learned to write in script. The earlier, the better. Just ask yourself, do you think your kids’ life/career/success will be better because they can program? Or play the trumpet?
That’s a tough question to answer, rye … learning to play an instrument teaches discipline and attention to detail, both of which are important to programming (and other aspects of life).
I’m not sure that teaching "programming" as such is as important in the long run as teaching the above, and logical thinking.