We are an after-school code club focused on computational thinking, inspired by the Constructivist theory of learning and the Maker Movement. Children get to learn problem-solving skills by making computer games, animations, and puzzles in a stimulating playful environment without any pressure of syllabus coverage. In our course when children learn to program a computer they also acquire essential life skills including – teamwork, design thinking, presentation skills, creativity. These skills when acquired in the coding class are also useful outside in other contexts of life including academics, social situations, extra-curricular, etc.
Coding is an extremely engaging and intellectually satisfying endeavor for a child. It not only builds the technical skills that are relevant for the future but also brings out the innate creative talent within a child. From our experience, we have learned that a child very quickly falls in love with computer programming just within a few classes. And as he becomes more fluent he starts creating computer programs to express his creativity. All this is done while having no external pressure from either parents or the teachers. A surprising and fascinating transformation soon starts to happen in the child thereafter, they start seeing themselves as a creator and an inventor. They believe they have “Superpowers” which other kids don’t have. They realize that computation is a powerful medium of creation and they recognize the power of creating with and for others.
One of our Student Laksh, a 3rd standard child worked on a ”secret project” as a surprise gift for his younger brother’s birthday. It was an interactive greeting card in Scratch which he made for one month before gifting on the Bday!
Such incidents reaffirm our faith in using computer programming as a versatile tool for a child’s overall learning and growth.
