I know this is a topic that is getting a bit repetitious on my blog, but I really can’t emphasize enough how important I think it is that we offer programming to our students at an early age. This article from MindShift, explains how learning programming has far-reaching effects, and should not be reserved for only those who aspire to careers in technology. “Why Programming Teaches So Much More Than Technical Skills”, by Ian Quillen, explains 4 specific benefits of receiving an education in this area: Subject Mastery, Systems Thinking, Collaboration, and Passion.
Robotics clubs are a good start in the elementary schools, but we need to think about adding more. Here is my Pinterest board of resources for “Programming for Kids” with links to app, websites, and other articles of interest in this area.
I so agree with you on this. Children can nowadays use a whole host of technical devices from iPads to computers, but few actually know what happens behind the user interface. Teaching them coding is a necessity. It’s like learning a language that will allow them to express themselves much better.
Sometimes it is not even the language that is important. It is the experience of learning how to problem solve and use logic to reach a certain goal.