While schools prepare pupils as best as they can for the workplace, one increasingly hears the concern that traditional academic subjects do not translate to useful skills for future careers. Five years ago, Dell predicted that 85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 have not been invented yet in their ‘Vision of the Future’ forecast which echoed a similar view from the Californian think-tank, Institute for the Future.
As parents and educators, it is our responsibility to equip our children with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the modern world; it is crucial that the next generation be digitally literate in the fast-moving cybersphere. Fluency in the 0s and 1s of binary code as the language of tomorrow may yet replace Ancient Greek on the curriculum in the coming few years, if it has not already done so.
Whilst the current workforce hurtles along the exponential curve of technological advancement, teaching children to code will open up a new world of opportunities and help them to develop the necessary skills to succeed. Coding is a valuable tool for students of all ages: it not only develops problem-solving skills, but also encourages both logical and creative thinking. Coding will help children better understand the technology they use every day and how it works.
There are many ways students can learn to code at school and at home: from coding clubs and interactive kits to online resources – we’ve pulled together a handful of our favourite resources below. Although our suggestions may resonate at first with children who naturally gravitate towards STEM subjects, these platforms are also a vehicle for creative expression and experimentation and should not be overlooked by more artistically-inclined individuals.
- Scratch (for students aged 8-16 years) and Scratch Jnr (for children aged 5-7 years)
The world’s largest coding community for children, these sites use a simple coding language to allow them to create fun animations, stories and games online.
This platform teaches students basic programming principles in a 3D game development environment.
Downloadable worksheets for children which offer step-by-step guides about how to create games, animations and software online.
Programming simple commands, children can enjoy interactive games online across music, animation and puzzles.
Alongside tutorials on a variety of other subjects, this site boasts a wealth of resources for JavaScript, HTML/CSS and SQL.
by Ingrid Clover, Head of Tutoring, Bonas MacFarlane Education