Whiz-kids cracking the code already
Coding, de-bugging, HTML and algorithms might sound like a foreign language to an older generation. But for children, not so much.
And, come 2018, children from the age of five will be even more drilled on digital technology now that the subject has been added to the national school curriculum.
Matthew Walmsley, 13, is a prime example of the way kids are getting into coding early.
The Tai Wananga Ruakura student was just eight when his brother’s Hamilton business, Code Avengers, piqued his interest.
He sometimes works for the company in the school holidays, writing code and setting up web pages.
‘‘I’ve always really liked math and numbers, and creating things and Lego and Connect,’’ he says. ‘‘So you put those two together, I enjoy creating things involving lots of numbers and on computers.’’
Last year, while still at intermediate, Matthew and his group gave a presentation on artificial intelligence, and he built a website. ‘‘I did the coding, so that involves HTML, CSS, design and that kind of thing.’’
He’s also helped teachers with I enjoy creating things involving lots of numbers and on computers. tech problems and thinks it is a great advantage to start learning digital technology from Year One.
Orion Health chief executive Ian McCrae says the new subject needed to be taken seriously rather than being positioned in the ‘‘less academic’’ subjects, such as food technology and metal work.
He believes the sector is generating about 3000 jobs a year.
‘‘You cannot succeed today if you’re not technologically literate. In any field.
‘‘We’re directing our kids into areas where there are far less job opportunities. The digital technology sectors are heading towards being the second-largest exporter after dairy.’’
Gerard MacManus, a member of the New Zealand Association for Computing, Digital and Information Technology Teachers, warns that there are not enough staff to meet the need for the new subject.