Teaching Coding Early

In her programming presentation, Marina Bers talks about teaching young children how to code. Using the playground and playpen as metaphors, the university professor explains why learning coding at a young age is so important.

According to the speaker, playpens limit imagination, motor skills and social interaction, where as playgrounds let kids create and produce. This comparison relates to the role of technology in the lives of young children because the same production found in playgrounds can be found in technology as programming.

The programming presentation demonstrates the Scratch Jr app that helps children code by making stories, but doesn't capture the physicality or social aspects of a playground. Ber also describes a robot kit that doesn't need a screen or tablet that better illustrates how coding is the new literacy.