Teaching coding can open up a world of possibilities for your students. From helping them to think analytically to opening the door to lucrative careers, here are six of the biggest reasons to teach coding.
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1. Prepare Students for the Future
With technology taking over many jobs and careers, coding is becoming increasingly important. Teaching your students this skill will provide them with a competency that could help set them apart in the job market and give them an edge when applying for internships and fellowships. Furthermore, introducing them to coding isn’t just about preparing for solely for their career – it also teaches students a set of logical problem-solving skills that can be applied in any field.
2. Strengthen Problem-Solving Skills
A major benefit of teaching coding is that it encourages students to hone their problem-solving skills. This skill will be beneficial in any field the student chooses to enter. Coding teaches you the basics of logic and how to think about problems with an analytical mind, which can be applied to real-world scenarios like finding a job or starting a business. Being able to think through a problem during coding helps students become better strategists, critical thinkers, and overall more creative professionals.
3. Develop Logical and Mathematical Abilities
Coding teaches the basic structures of logic (also known as “Algorithms”). This is a crucial step in programming and problem-solving. By learning coding, students can develop their ability to think logically and use decision-making processes in new ways. This helps students understand how to approach problems and apply principles of deductive reasoning. By mastering logical abilities, coding can help students build better critical thinking skills that will benefit them academically, professionally and personally.
4. Facilitate Open-Ended Tasks
Coding can help facilitate open-ended tasks. By using algorithms, students can creatively approach problems and understand the results of their work. This allows for greater freedom and improvisation within the classroom setting. It also allows learners to better visualize tasks, as well as offer opportunities to revisit problems from various angles. Teaching coding can help students better understand various problem-solving strategies, which is a crucial skill in all disciplines—not just computer science!
5. Introduce a New Language
Learning to code will help your students develop a new language, giving them an understanding the nuances and functions of another way to communicate. This transferable skill is applicable to so many different forms of communication, from social media posts and emails, to coding software and apps.
Ready to plan a coding unit?
Now that you know the reasons to teach coding, it’s time to take the next step and plan your computer science curriculum!
Introducing middle school students to the basics of computer science can be tricky! Check out this Intro to Computer Science Unit to get 3-weeks of coding lessons done for you. This complete unit will engage and amaze your students as they learn about computers and the fundamentals of computer coding. Your students will learn about computer parts, algorithms, flowcharts, code, and the role of computer science in our daily lives.
Grab these lessons today to get back your nights and weekends while knowing your students will get all the benefits that come with learning to code!
