Don't learn to code. Learn to think

Re:Don't learn to code. Learn to think by jacquesm on Saturday May 24, 2014 @04:19PM (#7794288)

If you want kids to learn how to code make games with them. It's by far the most approachable subject and it doesn't take long until a game of any complexity allows you to slowly introduce more serious material. I'm pretty sure there were only two phases in my career when I jumped a level (or two) up in capabilities in a very short time, the first was when I was a professional games programmer, the second when I wrote an operating system.

I would strongly recommend against the second ;)

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Re:Don't learn to code. Learn to think by pbhjpbhj on Saturday May 24, 2014 @07:58PM (#7794875)

Except you have to call them stories, just in case some girls might be put off ... eg http://kata.coderdojo.com/wiki/How_to_encourage_girls.

[It's relevant because all the "communities" mentioned in the post promote girls as deserving special treatment that is not offered to boys. Either overtly or less conspicuously - code.org and coderdojo make special notes on how to encourage girls but no special notes on how to encourage boys that I can find (please correct me).

I'm not saying you shouldn't consider that some children might prefer a story-based approach (boys and girls); a specific active/physical approach might be preferred by some children, or ... ]

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