How Apps Can Help Teachers And Students Learn Coding At Primary Level

Wed 06 July, 2016

While many schools and teachers agree that general computing and coding skills are important for students, many worry that a primary-school child is ready for the complexity of computer coding. It is true that coding can be complicated, but there are many different levels of coding. If you start at a level which children can understand and make it fun, you’d be surprised how quickly they will catch on. Luckily, with the introduction of coding into the primary curriculum there have sprouted a multitude of platforms which are aimed at teaching coding in a straightforward, fun way. There are many different platforms out there to help children learn to code from Scratch to Raspberry Pi, but we’re going to focus on apps:

  • Daisy the Dinosaur: This free iPad app is an introduction to simple coding as students order actions to make the dinosaur move and make gestures on the screen
  • Kodable Pro: A sequential ordering programme introducing the concept of coding over 90 levels. It even has lesson plans available. It is a paid app.
  • Hopscotch: This free app teaches visual programming using building blocks to create animations and games that can be shared.
  • Lightbox Jr 4+ Coding Puzzles: This paid app works on a simple interface with cute, colourful graphics to teach young students coding skills through various puzzles
  • Cato’s Hike: An app which uses a story-driven narrative and adventure maze to make learning programming fun and engaging. It is a paid app.

These are just a few of the many coding apps aimed at young students available. Most of them work across Apple and Android devices, and more.

Technology is such an integral part of our children’s lives and by teaching them coding you are enabling them to understand how these devices work and how to control them. This not only benefits their educational careers but can be a huge benefit to their professional ones as well, widening their skillset and connecting them to an important industry of work.

The earlier you start, the more natural coding will feel to the children, and the more they can progress with their skills during their educational career.