International Journal of Elementary Education

| Peer-Reviewed |

Teaching Coding to Children: A Methodology for Kids 5+

Received: 12 September 2017    Accepted:     Published: 14 September 2017
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

As new education models gain traction, discussions about how to incorporate programming skills and the “maker mindset” throughout the curriculum intensified. A growing realization among educators that teaching coding to children will, not only make it easier for them to understand how the information technology works, but give them a skill for life. In 2013, England wanted to be the first country in the world to make computer programming a compulsory school subject at all levels. In the US, administration was a strong proponent of expansion of programming teaching, President Obama stated “everybody’s got to learn how to code early.” Many different programming language tools exist for teaching children how to code, but none of them are based on comprehensive methodologies so that, fundamentals of coding can be easily understood by minors. Tools like Scratch Jr. and Tynker provide intuitive suite of visual-programming language for children ages 5 and above and they are more game oriented. This paper argues that there are seven aspects of coding that are fundamental in teaching coding to children, and three out of this seven is a must at any level. A new open source platform called CiK is also introduced.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11
Published in International Journal of Elementary Education (Volume 6, Issue 4, August 2017)
Page(s) 32-37
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Coding, Programming Tools, Children Learning, Scratch

References
[1] M. Armoni, O. Meerbaum-Salant, and M. Ben-Ari, “From Scratch to ‘Real’ Programming”, ACM Transactions on Computing Education, 14 (4), 2015, pp. 25:1-15.
[2] D. Bau, J. Gray, C. Kelleher, J. Sheldon, and F. Turbak, “Learnable Programming: Blocks and Beyond”, Communications of the ACM, 60 (6), 2017, pp. 72-80.
[3] B. Moskal, D. Lurie, and S. Cooper, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of a New Instructional Approach”, Proceedings of the 35th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, Virginia, USA, 2004, pp. 75-79.
[4] J. M. Wing, “Computational thinking”, Communications of the ACM, 49 (3), 2006, pp. 33-35.
[5] A. Kamenetz, (2016), The President Wants Every Student To Learn Computer Science. How Would That Work? http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/01/12/462698966/the-president-wants-every-student-to-learn-computer-science-how-would-that-work.
[6] 2015 European Schoolnet Report http://fcl.eun.org/documents/10180/14689/Computing+our+future_final.pdf/746e36b1-e1a6-4bf1-8105-ea27c0d2bbe0
[7] P. Olson, (2012), Why Estonia has started teaching its first-graders to code? Forbes, http://www.forbes.com
[8] N. Heath, (2013). Programming set to be core of new computing classes for English kids. ZDNet, http://www.zdnet.com
[9] P. Kemp, (2014) Computing in the national curriculum: A guide for secondary teachers. Computing at School, http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/data/uploads/cas_secondary.pdf
[10] E. Haaramo, (2015) Building a digital future should coding be mandatory for every schoolchild. ZDNet, http://www.zdnet.com
[11] NYC Department of Education website http://cs4all.nyc/2016/09/23/cs4all-anniversary/
[12] SEP website http://sepnyc.org/about/
[13] P. Matio, (2016), California moves to catch up on K-12 computer science curriculum. EdSource https://edsource.org/2016/california-moves-to-catch-up-on-k-12-computer-science-curriculum/565265
[14] M. Resnick, J. Maloney, A. Monroy-Hernández, N. Rusk, E. Eastmond, K. Brennan, A. Millner, A. Rosenbaum, J. Silver, B. Silverman, and Y. Kafai, “Scratch: programming for all,” Communications of the ACM, 52 (11), 2009, pp. 60-67.
[15] J. V. Barth, (2014). Summer games: Learn to program http://googleresearch.blogspot.com.tr/2014/08/summer-games-learn-to-program.html
[16] S. Gee, (2014) Blockly Games introduce kids to code. http://www.i-programmer.info/news/150-training-a-education/7673-blockly-games-introduce-kids-to-code.html
[17] T. R. Weiss, (2014) Google introduces kids to coding through Blockly Games Project. http://www.eweek.com
[18] J. Demmitt, (2015). Microsoft and Code.org will use Minecraft to teach kids basics of computer programming. http://www.geekwire.com
[19] L. Ibanez, (2015). Blockly makes it easier to learn code. https://opensource.com
[20] J. F. Lefferts, (2013). Preview of writing code for future. The Boston Globe. http://www.bostonglobe.com
[21] Y. Gülbahar, and F. Kalelioğlu, “The effects of teaching programming via Scratch on problem solving skills: A discussion from learners’ perspective,” Informatics in Education-An International Journal, vol. 13 (1), 2014, pp. 33-50.
[22] Y. Lee, Y. “Scratch: multimedia programming environment for young gifted learners,” Gifted Child Today, vol. 34 (2), 2011, pp. 26–31.
[23] C. Wilson, “Hour of code: we can solve the diversity problem in computer science,” ACM Inroads, vol. 5 (4), 2014, pp. 22-24.
[24] N. Ungerleider, (2015). Code.org: 1 million girls, 1 million African-Americans and Hispanic students learn to program. http://www.fastcompany.com
[25] Ş. Çatlak, M Tekdal F.Ç, Baz, “Scratch Yazılımı İle Programlama Öğretiminin Durumu: Bir Dokümanİnceleme Çalışması,” Journal of Instructional Technologies & Teacher Education, vol. 4, 2015, pp. 13-25.
[26] SEP Jr. website http://sepnyc.org/sepjr/program-overview/
[27] Computer Science For All website http://cs4all.nyc/academic-programs/software-engineering-program-jr/sepjr-curriculum/
[28] SEP Curriculum Development Opportunities website http://cs4all.nyc/sep-curriculum-development-opportunities/
[29] C. Y. Cheung, G. Ngai, C. F. Chan, and W. Y. Lau, “Filling the gap in programming instruction: a text-enhanced graphical programming environment for junior high students,” ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, vol. 41 (1), 2009, pp. 276-280.
[30] Z. Demirkol, Çocuklar için kodlama. Istanbul, 2016, Pusula.
Author Information
  • Management Information Systems, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

  • Computer Engineering, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ugur Tevfik Kaplancali, Zafer Demirkol. (2017). Teaching Coding to Children: A Methodology for Kids 5+. International Journal of Elementary Education, 6(4), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Ugur Tevfik Kaplancali; Zafer Demirkol. Teaching Coding to Children: A Methodology for Kids 5+. Int. J. Elem. Educ. 2017, 6(4), 32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Ugur Tevfik Kaplancali, Zafer Demirkol. Teaching Coding to Children: A Methodology for Kids 5+. Int J Elem Educ. 2017;6(4):32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11,
      author = {Ugur Tevfik Kaplancali and Zafer Demirkol},
      title = {Teaching Coding to Children: A Methodology for Kids 5+},
      journal = {International Journal of Elementary Education},
      volume = {6},
      number = {4},
      pages = {32-37},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijeedu.20170604.11},
      abstract = {As new education models gain traction, discussions about how to incorporate programming skills and the “maker mindset” throughout the curriculum intensified. A growing realization among educators that teaching coding to children will, not only make it easier for them to understand how the information technology works, but give them a skill for life. In 2013, England wanted to be the first country in the world to make computer programming a compulsory school subject at all levels. In the US, administration was a strong proponent of expansion of programming teaching, President Obama stated “everybody’s got to learn how to code early.” Many different programming language tools exist for teaching children how to code, but none of them are based on comprehensive methodologies so that, fundamentals of coding can be easily understood by minors. Tools like Scratch Jr. and Tynker provide intuitive suite of visual-programming language for children ages 5 and above and they are more game oriented. This paper argues that there are seven aspects of coding that are fundamental in teaching coding to children, and three out of this seven is a must at any level. A new open source platform called CiK is also introduced.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Teaching Coding to Children: A Methodology for Kids 5+
    AU  - Ugur Tevfik Kaplancali
    AU  - Zafer Demirkol
    Y1  - 2017/09/14
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11
    T2  - International Journal of Elementary Education
    JF  - International Journal of Elementary Education
    JO  - International Journal of Elementary Education
    SP  - 32
    EP  - 37
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7640
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20170604.11
    AB  - As new education models gain traction, discussions about how to incorporate programming skills and the “maker mindset” throughout the curriculum intensified. A growing realization among educators that teaching coding to children will, not only make it easier for them to understand how the information technology works, but give them a skill for life. In 2013, England wanted to be the first country in the world to make computer programming a compulsory school subject at all levels. In the US, administration was a strong proponent of expansion of programming teaching, President Obama stated “everybody’s got to learn how to code early.” Many different programming language tools exist for teaching children how to code, but none of them are based on comprehensive methodologies so that, fundamentals of coding can be easily understood by minors. Tools like Scratch Jr. and Tynker provide intuitive suite of visual-programming language for children ages 5 and above and they are more game oriented. This paper argues that there are seven aspects of coding that are fundamental in teaching coding to children, and three out of this seven is a must at any level. A new open source platform called CiK is also introduced.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections