Teachers Can Code!

There is a lot of talk about teaching kids to code, but most of us don't have a lot of experience with it. We've been trained by Hollywood to think of coding as tech wizardry, but it's really not.  It's a few learned skills combined with thoughtful planning and creative, logical problem solving.

This is NOT what coding is like:

THIS IS what coding is like

As someone who likes puzzles, I love coding in my spare time. Even though it uses computers, it is a surprisingly creative process that taps the part of me that enjoys logic games and riddles.

If you would like to explore the world of programming and coding, there are three great places to start, depending on your style. You won't be hacking NORAD, but you'll make basic programs yourself and get an idea about what it's all about.

1. Scratch. Scratch is a free coding program for children, and requires almost no typing. It involves linking colorful blocks together to create instructions. For example, kids can attach "Move left" and "Move up" to a cat picture to make the cat move around the screen. Kids at Miller Elementary are taught basic coding with Scratch -- it's cute. fun, and educational.



2. SoloLearn. SoloLearn is an app that teaches specific, real-life computer languages. It assumes you no nothing about programming and starts at the very beginning. It teaches in small, easy-to-pickup chunks with simple multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank tutorials, so you can teach yourself the basics while waiting in line at the grocery store. SoloLearn is a free app on iOS and Android and can also be done on the web. If you are a true beginner, I recommend SoloLearn's C++ tutorial and the HTML tutorial.



3. Codecamy. Codecamy is a web-based site similar to SoloLearn, but is the most "authentic." It also starts you from the beginning, but has you learn to type in real computer language. Codeacademy has a free level which is great for beginners, and a premium level for more advanced lessons. I recommend the Intro to Javascript course for beginners.


If you try any of these out, let me know what you think!

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