Early computer training to elementary students
The advantage of computer literacy is huge and wide. We know that in this computer age, even toddlers or as soon as they can get hold of computers or any gadget, they will tinker with it and will get themselves so familiarized. This is inevitable. Again, computers are necessary for growth and advancement at this age. But a little consideration there could be is teaching children how to be responsible in using computers and teaching them how to appreciate the healthy benefits of computers.
Because we are in a digital era,
Mawang Elementary School, Tapaz West District, Division of Capiz we need to enhance children as early as elementary to learn how to think like computer engineers, or computer literate at least. Teaching computer science (CS) in elementary is worth it. Word of caution first is that teachers need to understand what computer science in the elementary grades really looks like. It is not about learning how to use the keyboard and mouse, except for the purpose of moving instruction blocks around to form an algorithm. And it is not just about advocating for safe digital literacy practices, like visiting
certain approved websites, unless the website happens to be a coding environment or community where students can share their work. The most important part of the computer science experience is its ability to encourage and support creative expression and problem solving.
The computer just happens to be our era’s best and most accessible tool for this purpose. Coding puzzles, tutorial progressions and unplugged activities (learning computing concepts without a computer) are all on ramps to a world
where students can be passionate and powerful enough to express their imaginations. Creativity, collaboration, persistence and abstraction are all thinking skills that coding builds. Many fear that reading, writing and math instruction (and scores) will suffer if we add one more thing to the curriculum. But CS is more than just another subject. It can serve as the glue for interdisciplinary study, which means the time we spend on it is not added, but integrated.
We need
to make
sure
that elementary teachers and administrators have the opportunity to participate i n high- quality computer science professional learning so they can build enthusiasm for this important subject and learn how to integrate it into their classrooms in relevant and meaningful ways. Just as we want our kids to learn more than just how to count to 10 in math class, we should want to give our young students a thorough background in the field that is revolutionizing every aspect of our world. We owe it to them.