Can kids under 10 be possibly taught coding, without even mentioning the word syntax to them ??🤔🤔🤔
Is “syntax” a bad word now? Don’t dumb things down for students, elevate the students!
Weird question. Can a child under 10 be taught coding? Yes, I started learning under 10. Was the word syntax used? Fuck if I can remember. I don’t think it would have mattered. Why do you think it matters?
Yeah, kids are really smart.
Yes, when I was a kid in school in the 90s we learned logo and qbasic.
http://www.petesqbsite.com/sections/tutorials/tuts/felix_qb_for_kids.htm
Logo uses a little turtle to draw, it was a blast!
Check out scratch (or even scratch junior).
If they like robots, go for a micro:bit or a similar kit. The ide is from Microsoft, but microblocks.fun is a good alternative
I started learning when I was ten, so I’d say yes. That was almost thirty years ago when learning to code was less accessible, so having more resources should make it even easier.
I was learning BASIC on a VIC-20 around that age.
We were taught basic programming when we were 6. It was Kyiv, 1992.
Just call it something else 🤷
I’ve never used it, but people I work with teach Scratch to in their spare time. I quick search suggests it is years 8+. I guess it’s more programming than coding, but could be a starting point and lead into coding under 10?
more programming than coding
What’s the distinction?
Good question!
“Programming and coding are closely related but not the same. Programming is the process that covers problem-solving, designing, building, and maintaining software, while coding is the step of writing the actual instructions in a programming language. Both are important and work together to create complete software solutions.” - Geeksforgeeks
I got my kids started on Scratch - I recommend it! Syntax is communicated with puzzle block shapes. Statements have a tab on the bottom, and a matching slot on top; number and string values are pill-shaped; boolean expressions are diamond-shaped. If the pieces fit together, it’s a valid program.
I started learning BASIC when I was 8. But I’m pretty sure I learned about syntax, too.
What aspects of coding?
Turing Tumble is a marble run puzzle game that’s Turing complete, i.e. in the abstract sense, it can compute anything a computer could. It implements bit flippers, logic gates, and memory using falling marbles and levers. Completely mechanical and very tactile.
For textual programming, check out Hedy, a language designed for the classroom. It stands out vs others like Scratch or Snap because Hedy is gradual. A presentation by its creator
I started learning when I was 9. I think to some extent it was easier back then in the 80ies because computers were relatively simple machines. On the other hand I also had to learn English at the same time to be able to read manuals and programming books etc. So I think it must be possible because even if I saw the word “syntax” I doubt I had a full grasp of what it means.
In the 80s I learned logo. I was so young that “repeat” was the longest word I knew how to spell.
The first place to start learning coding is with logic games. Pipe Dream was the OG of this type of game but there are plenty of clones on every platform. It introduces concepts like order of operation and problem solving. And there’s plenty of variations besides pipes there’s also rivers and streams, electricity and circuits, magic circuits, ect.
The next step would be logic gate type games that teach OR, AND, XOR, ect.Coding is a bit like puzzles. Sometimes the pieces must go together in the right way. But the great thing is, we are cutting some of the pieces so we can change some things, but not all.
