This week we learned a bit about coding. It is so awesome that kids these days can learn how to code. I never learned how to code and always thought that making a website was just for very smart people! This is far from true and everyone and anyone can learn the language.

I had no idea that Minecraft is now used in K-12 education. I used to play Minecraft a bit, and really enjoyed creating my own world. I also thought the music was very calming. This program teaches children the importance of communication, more specifically technical education. It teaches children to pay attention to detail, because one small blip can get in the way of your goal! I could certainly see some people enjoying code more than others. Code is basically a different language that allows you to express yourself digitally. This is a powerful tool, seeing as the ability to communicate online allows one to reach a large audience. 3.5 billion people are online! Wow!

I think computation thinking could help learners become better problem solvers. Computation thinking requires you to look back at your work for the specifics that need to be fixed in order to solve the problem. It makes you almost introspect and think deeper in to the situation. I think in a world where people are quick to give up on fixing problems, or look for a quick solution, these types of activities teach us to slow down and take the time and patience.

There are definitely non-math related opportunities for integrating coding and computational thinking. Science is all about looking at problems from all angles in order to solve problems. Look at how instant ramen noodles were made. Momofuku Ando wanted a noodle that could be cooked and eaten to a satisfying standard by simply adding hot water. He looked at the problem from all angles and it took him months to get to the final product. With lots of trial and error he was able to create the perfect formula. So, in a way, computational thinking could be used in cooking! It could be used in art as well, just like in the Learning to Code with Anna and Elsa program that we used in class this week.

I think teaching how to code must be done carefully. From the get go I feel it is crucial to educate children and youth the dangers of the online world. While the online world is a magical place where we can learn and play and connect, we must not forget there are dangerous people that have access to the internet as well. This includes bullies. This includes predators.

I also think that in this wonderful world of Tech, it is important to educate our children and youth about Kids Help Phone. With children and youth becoming more comfortable with communicating online, they might feel more inclined to get support online. I interned at Kids Help Phone during my undergrad, and I got to be in an office with the counsellors. They didn’t speak over the phone with the children, they chatted with them instead. They said that they rarely get phone calls these days, and that the majority of the support they offer is done so online. I think children and youth will be happy to find that they will be anonymous as well.

Back to computational thinking. I think metacognition is a fascinating topic that wasn’t talked about when I was in school. In today’s day and age when we are prepping children for jobs that don’t even exist yet or may not exist when they enter the working world, it is critical to teach children how to solve problems. I think that computational thinking will work for some, but not for all. It is important to remember that there are many different types of brains, and that certain strategies may work for some and not others. And that computational thinking may be one way for people to solve problems of all sizes.