Structural and systemic inequality are realities of the school and work world. Growth industries like coding provide the opportunities to level the playing field for underrepresented groups. Consider a recent article for the Huffington Post titled “Coding: The Ultimate Equalizer.”
Joel S. Bloom of the Huffington Post writes, “Should ‘coding’ be taught in all-American public schools? We know the U.S. is falling behind the rest of the globe in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. By exposing kids to coding, starting in kindergarten, we give them the tools they need to both compete and make smart life choices in a digital world. Coding is how technology, including software, apps and websites, is created. There are thousands of coding languages, such as JavaScript, Python and SQL, and early exposure helps young people understand and interact with the devices that provide the means to shape our technology-driven culture. Coding is valuable in that it teaches problem solving, design and innovation. It is practical in that it creates solutions to immediate challenges. It is creative in that it allows people to imagine and invent with few boundaries. It is liberating in that one can go from knowing code to owning one’s own company. It is equalizing in that code is not limited by the stigmas humans readily cling to, such as race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion. But even more exciting, children love to code. That’s why the U.K. last year infused coding into the national curriculum starting at age 5. That’s why there are movements all across Asia to get young people, particularly girls, to code. They understand that you don’t expose young people to code simply to create a bunch of computer scientists. Exposure to coding can open up a love of learning that builds pathways to other critical skills, including many important ones in STEM.”
Even if coding were taught in all public schools, there is still a major need for individualized lesson plans. The only place to find this style of customized education is with a program like CodeRev Kids.
At CodeRev Kids our students learn computational thinking, which encompasses a wide range of programming concepts and languages. Our lessons build upon one another and we adjust starting points to each student’s level of expertise, making the entire curriculum customized. Even though we are known for saying we are the most educational tech camp out there, we also keep the focus on having fun. As a result, students stay engaged while learning to blend creativity with technology.
Whatever youth coding education needs you might have, we’ve got you covered at CodeRev Kids!