"Coding" can teach kids strategic and critical thinking,
problem-solving, collaborative teamwork, systems thinking,
and creative self expression.
How software production can teach a lot more than how to produce software.
Coding is the sine qua non of success in a knowledge economy society. It has become a primordial skill in K-12 education and beyond. The pedagogical importance of coding, besides the technical part of helping students better understand the digital world surrounding them, is that it combines a host of other important skills such as strategic and critical thinking, problem-solving, collaborative team work, systems thinking, and creative self expression among many others. -- Educational websites to teach kids coding
Yes and no
- Not the classroom model. The production model.
- People learn what they practice.
- In the classroom model, the students create code to match an algorithm.
- That is learning to code but not much more.
- In the production model, the students are put into a team.
- and tasked to produce software that satisfies a specific use case.
- That task requires effective use of the skills mentioned in the title.
- That task gives practice in the skills.
- Even so, it does not really teach.
- It simply demands that they figure it out for themselves.
- A digital teaching assistant (DTA) can coach them in those skills
Digital teaching assistant (DTA) support
Team support
- Project-based learning can develop work-group skills--if it uses team projects It needs a DTA familiar with group facilitation roles.
- Digicoach for project-management in self-managed teams: (Note: skills to be learned in doing these tasks)
- Project-based learning with work-groups: Not just the content: project skills, team skills, self-confidence
- Agenda training for a project meeting by a self-managed group. Learning to plan in a group
- Action-item practice for group meetings in project based learning. Effective meetings don't just happen, they are planned.
- Managing workflow for teams: The DTA as coach. (TBD)
- Maintaining the progress report: simplified Kanban board (TBD)
Coding
Agile programming
Sprints in class
- If project-based learning (PBL) is done in groups, the Agile model can apply.
- In PBL) the teacher is in the position of the customer.
- Think of each stage of project execution as an Agile sprint.
- As described in the video above, the customer evaluates the product at the end of each sprint and gives feedback.
- In PBL, the project has stages, which could be treated as sprints.
- The teacher can evaluate each stage and advise on revisions.
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