What do you know about coding? Tell The Sunday Times for a chance to win a £250 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

The Sunday Times have asked us to let Mumsnetters know that they’re running a Learn to Code series this weekend to coincide with the inclusion of coding in the national curriculum.

They told us: “With coding hitting the national curriculum this week, and our readers becoming more tech-savvy than ever, we will be demystifing computer programming in this weekend's edition of the paper. In partnership with Decoded, a company that specialises in digital training, the Learn to Code in a Day guide out this Sunday will take readers step-by-step through app-making.”.

“Editorial Director Eleanor Mills, who did Decoded's Code in a Day course herself, said: 'This is an exciting moment for us as we are the first British newspaper to offer a course like this. With five year-olds now learning computer programming in school, it is essential that adults keep up too.”

“If you’re nodding whilst reading the above then why not give it a go yourself? The easy guide will empower and equip you with the knowledge needed to tackle those potential conversations with your children over homework after school."

“Simply sign up to The Sunday Times for a £1 for 30-day trial and start learning now: thetim.es/1uD6qml”

So, what do you think about the addition of coding to the curriculum? Do you think it’s beneficial for children to learn this from a young age? Is this something you think you could get your head around when you were younger? Are there any other additions to the curriculum you feel are necessary for children to cope with today’s technologies?

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

I think it's a very good idea. I got into this kind of thing when I was at junior school with my BBC Model B and typing in programs because that was the only way to play a game. It definitely taught me a lot and I am very happy that children will now be exposed to this kind of logical thinking and problem-solving. I think it's a good thing for every child, not just those who might go on to be programmers themselves.

MrsCakesPrecognition makes a great point about logical thinking and reviewing your work. I strongly disagree with those that have said that 5 is too young to learn logical thinking. Coding is going to become more and more important to our children's lives and there is so much scope for well taught basic coding to have a positive effect on many areas of a child's education.

For some children I can imagine it will be hugely inspiring and unlock endless possibilities, however it is presented to them. For others, particularly if it's taught badly, which I am fairly sure it will be in many cases, it will have no impact.
I understand the value in teaching it to children, but I do worry about the implementation.

I know nothing about it! But it sounds really interesting & kids seem to enjoy it - and technology is the future.

I do remember typing for hours into an old BBC computer, and an Atari... for not much reward!!

I'm teaching my children Python at the moment, with some success

My ds is in year 5 as I think would enjoy this. He loves minecraft etc. Can anyone recommend where to start? Is there any benefit to getting him a raspberry pi for Xmas? I know nothing about this and although I'd be happy to look into it I am not convinced I would be much help?

Sorry I forgot this was a Sunday Times thread!

My coding knowledge starts and finishes with programming our ZX Spectrum to do circles, colours and bleeps.

I was planning to buy the dc's a raspberry pi for xmas, I've already got them a DK kids book on coding. It's going to be a learning curve for all of us .

I think it's a good idea, I'd love to learn more about it myself.

Starting young is a good thing, for those who find they have a talent / interest they'll be able to pursue it further. I'll definitely pick up the Sunday Times and have a look at this.

If your kids are learning coding, please be prepared for tears, threats of violence against laptops and screams of "THERE IS NO FUCKING SYNTAX ERROR ON LINE 122 YOU FUCKING USELESS PIECE OF SHIT PROGRAMME."

...Or is that just me?

There WAS a syntax error on line 122 by the way

Not at age 5 I hope !
Don't forget the helpful "object not set to an instance of an object"

Noise why do you think you have to start at a young age?

I think it should be taught in schools. It encourages logical thinking, an eye for detail, and demonstrates that some things have to be absolutely right for them to work properly.

Haha, very true Stealth! Maybe 10

& Oh I do love an object having an identity crisis!

Seriously though, I do think we underestimate what children are capable of. We are one of very few countries who do not teach a foreign language from a young age, for example. Children's brains are bloody brilliant! The more you fill it, the more it will expand. The later you leave learning a new skill, the harder it will be. (Please be aware I have no actual facts to back that last line up, just personal experience)

And hey, think of the money they could make you from the App Store!

Yes it will probably help them as computers are a big part of life nowadays, I think it's a good idea.

There's part of me that thinks we don't need to know how to code - most of us will just use our computer programmes, and as long as they do what they should, won't worry too much about how they do it (magic, imps, code), but in the other hand perhaps it's useful for people to know more about how things work, so we aren't at the mercy of the people who do have the Knowledge.

I hope they bring in coding lessons to secondary school quickly so older kids don't miss out. Dd would love that. She's teaching herself a little bit by the Internet but has got stuck and given up.

This curriculum change isn't just about coding, it's about teaching computer science (this covers the coding bit, the maths and the science) and information technology - the use of the technology.

The "coding" referred to for primary schools will be teaching them algorithms - or instructions and doesn't have to include computers. You can demonstrate algorithms by following a recipe or by blindfolding a student and issuing instructions on how to get through a maze.

When they are older learning to make Minecraft mods or programming Lego Mindstorms are all fun and practical ways to demonstrate both technology and computer science. It doesn't have to be as terrifying/dry as the media is making it sound.

The curriculum change is driven by industry concerns that there will not be enough IT-skilled people entering the workforce. It won't provide value for every child, in the same way that not all of them will enjoy or benefit from learning German (for example) but it will open up opportunities for those who embrace it.

I was unusual and got involved with coding at school in 1981 when I was 11 and I loved it. Not all children do but my work with computers has taken me around the world. My job now is to use my background in a wide range of computer technology - programming, cloud, networks, storage, infrastructure etc and design solutions to business problems using technology. I'm starting a PhD in technology/computing next year.

I found programming a pain to learn, hopefully it's more interesting now.

As a techie of sorts I think this is a good idea, so long as it's taught at a suitable level for their age. Coding is basically languages and logic - I think you can start grasping some basics of these from a pretty young age, and those principles are also relevant to or link up with lots of other things (maths, sciences, foreign languagues...).

I also agree with learning to type too snice, it seems mad how many people work on PCs all day but are still poking at them with a couple of fingers!

Or hateful Fortan returning ** because you hadn't defined the exact format of the answer correctly

I'm a lousy programmer, I'm not precise enough. Making Commodore 64's flash me and DSIS name in lots of colours in ever shop in town was about my level. DM always knew where we'd been.

DH happily writes Python, various dialects of C and Fortan and Assembler if he has to.

In theory teaching DCs programming/coding is a great idea.

In practice it will end in tears. The teachers haven't a clue, senior school can't find decent IT staff let alone primaries.

The boys who get it will race ahead and even fewer girls will feel it for them than do now.

No I don't know why boys seem to find coding appeals more than girls, but female IT geeks are very rare.

I am the only female in a team of 14 programmers. I remember doing very basic programming at secondary school trying to move something around a screen and finding it very dull. This was in the late 80s/early 90s though. It was only when I learned programming as part of my degree that I started to enjoy it, and see the wider application for it.

I think the introduction to the curriculum is a great idea in theory, but it will be interesting to see how the schools implement it. Would be great to have more people understanding what coding is, and why coders are needed, and how it impacts into so many areas.

Reading this thread has made me consider approaching my DC's school to find out their approach and see if I can contribute in any way.

I must admit to being pretty clueless about coding so may try the trial. I do find myself wondering how many teachers feel the same. It's not like the new Computing Curriculum is the only change, there must be so much new stuff to learn before teaching it. It must be absolutely overwhelming, especially to the less techy.

I think this is an excellent idea, how else would children get to know whether they are interested in it or any good at it if they don't get to learn at school. Do you think it’s beneficial for children to learn this from a young age? Yes I do. I think the more technologically aware children are, the better in this day and age. Is this something you think you could get your head around when you were younger? No but then we only had 1p a minute dial-up internet then! No one had heard of google and we had pushed the boat out if we bought the Encarta cd rom! Are there any other additions to the curriculum you feel are necessary for children to cope with today’s technologies? Building websites, internet security; keeping themselves safe on the internet and safety when using websites to purchase things.

I can't really trust their coding to be accurate information when their articles aren't.

Several years back they did an interview with my ex, for their weird Family Courts agenda, and not only featured a huge picture of him but said 'Names Have Been Changed' (they hadn't and his distinctive surname essentially named my sons, who were indirectly the subject of the piece). In the paragraph about my disgruntled ex, there were 5 facts. Every one was incorrect. Out of interest, I used simple online searches, to double check the facts - each pulled up an accurate result in a fraction of a second. Their 'journalist' hadn't checked a single fact, inother words and every piece of hard info in his piece was wrong.

I would rather learn coding from a reputable source.

Put that in your prize draw and smoke it.