Teaching Kids To Code

Back


Google Tech Talks
March, 7 2008

ABSTRACT

Learning to code has become both more important and more complicated
in the last decade. We need to make it attractive and easy again.

Most western countries currently experience a shortage of skilled
computing professionals in the employment market. We have seen a
similar problem in the 1990s, but this time the situation is
different: While the problem in the 90s was university capacity (we
just couldn't educate enough people quickly enough), this time around
it is enrolment: Universities have the capacity, but not enough
students sign up to study technical, computing related subjects, such
as computer science or software engineering.

The real problem lies before university: at school age, students
decide against computing as a subject, because it is perceived as
geeky, tedious, intellectually not challenging, and most of all
boring. At the same time, programming in schools is on a sharp decline.

We need to counter this trend by bringing programming back into
schools, and make it an engaging, challenging, relevant and enjoyable
activity. To be successful, the public sector, academia and business
should work together to make this happen.

At the University of Kent, we have developed two successful
development environments, named BlueJ and Greenfoot, and educational
material to address these challenges. In this presentation, we will
discuss both, with the main focus on Greenfoot, a system for beginners
to learn Java programming through development of interactive graphical
applications.

Greenfoot and its associated materials can be used to teach
programming in schools, computer clubs, or to your own children. Kids
develop computer games, and -- almost as an aside -- learn object-
oriented programming in Java.

In this talk, I will present the software, strategies for learning of
programming, and the benefits and drawback of Java as a first language.

Speaker: Michael Kölling, Computing Laboratory, University
Michael Kölling is the lead designer of the BlueJ and Greenfoot programming environments. Both environments are designed for beginners to learn the basics of Java, and are widely used by schools and universities all over the world. Michael is also the founder of the Sun Center of Excellence in Object-Oriented Education at the University of Kent. He works as a Senior Lecturer in the Computing Laboratory at the University of Kent, where he teaches Java to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is co-author of a successful Java textbook, "Objects First With Java."

Channel: People & Blogs
Uploaded: March 13, 2008 at 5:13 am
Author: googletechtalks

Length: 00:56:31
Rating: 4.51
Views: 15098

Tags: google techtalks techtalk engedu talk talks googletechtalks education

Embed Code: Paste this code in your page


numbing numbered numerous Comments:
GodHard777 (November 6, 2008 at 1:33 am)
This stuff is so easy and i havent even started to study. I wonder if its possible to be naturally born with this talent? Mmm..
meetmalz (October 30, 2008 at 12:23 am)
thanks a lot for posting this video and to the pple who made it. i find it makes programming so much more clear and attractive. i've been watching so many on coding and never undertood all these concepts as strongly as i did now
guitarpoison (October 24, 2008 at 2:26 pm)
Java is so hard, i am 15 and i can just get a few numbers on the screen like x =3. I want to learn like animation and make something good which can grow and i see results. Not like putting worms and crabs on a screen.
skatercdub16 (October 28, 2008 at 4:36 pm)
dude im 15 and im also learning java
just take a lot of time to get the basics down
and then its fun to take that to user input apps adnd stuff like that
ismetteren (October 5, 2008 at 2:18 pm)
We dosent even have "computing" in denmark, only the IT thing... :(
xRen0x (September 6, 2008 at 4:07 pm)
i dont think you should force kids to become code monkeys at sucha young age

if you want more developers train the delvlopers you have to write good code
and design good products

imo many developers code for 4-6 years after which they become managers and lose their skill
fishbowl998877 (September 21, 2008 at 2:26 pm)
"Many developers code for 4-6 years after which they become managers and lose their skill"

this is exactly what happened to Andrew Gower
creeparraid (September 6, 2008 at 9:32 am)
i loke it its fun its learning and i also like the fact that the man had to look up something that he forgot "keydown" in stead of "is keydown" the fct that informaition can be accesd fast and easy to the new users it would be some thing that i would love to have in schools to teach codeing to new young minds
zenniz1992 (August 12, 2008 at 9:02 am)
I builded my buget gaming computer when i was 16. I learned from watching just a few video of computer assembly.
arbiter220 (July 26, 2008 at 8:21 am)
no, a bunch of sites r blocked like youtube