In an interesting EdSurge article by Alexandra Diracles and Katarina Pasinsky (2017), the authors attest to the awareness that most educators currently have of the current challenge of coding for students. The article describes it as follows:
Educators across the globe are increasingly familiar with the staggering statistics: Between 2010 and 2020, STEM jobs growth will outpace all other jobs at 18.7%, leading to an estimated 1.1 million computing jobs by 2024.
The article continues to describe the challenges of lack in overall exposure to coding, lack of gender equity in access to computer coding, as well as lack of diversity in general of teachers who feel prepared to teach coding and this is a challenge for the future of students.
Among the listed “Roadblocks” the article lists for many teachers, are those of teachers feeling overwhelmed or isolated, feeling under-prepared or lacking in knowledge. The reality is that, while these challenges may be very real for many teachers, there are general approaches which can be taken by teachers which will facilitate progress and keep students engaged:
Anomaly Studios is happy to work directly with you and your students to meet those goals!
TIP: Never stop learning and that means you have to start learning to begin with – that includes coding 😊
Coming up next, “How can you assess higher ordered thinking?” Stay tuned...