how to choose a program for a student

how to choose a program for a student

Choosing courses from scratch for schoolchildren is a controversial and difficult task. It is important to take into account the child’s age and hobbies, interests, pay attention to the content of the direction and other points. What exactly and why? Let’s understand each other.

Courses or self-study? Aiti or another direction? When to start and what is needed for a child’s first steps to be successful? We are at school Pixel we believe that extreme accuracy is important in these matters. It is necessary to move forward and push back from:

  • age;

  • interests of the child;

  • The content of the chosen field, its correspondence to the educational abilities and cognitive needs of the student.

But this is a limited number of factors that need attention. Classes, whatever they are, should give the child something that he can understand, remember and usefully apply in the future. But about everything in order: we will come to this point later and share our thoughts.

Today we want to consider all the mentioned issues and take IT as an example, because information technologies are an integral part of the objective reality of the XXI century. Technology, electronics, telecommunications, digitization – all this surrounds children and adults, requires the development of computer literacy and understanding of how the modern world is structured.

What factors should be taken into account when choosing IT courses for schoolchildren or directions for independent study

Together with our teachers, we identified the 5 most important factors. We recommend that you pay attention to each if you plan to teach your child in IT.

1. Age: when courses for children from scratch or self-study are suitable

This is quite a delicate and serious question. While some children successfully complete their first projects with Scratch Jr in preschool, others, even as teenagers, struggle to master Python. In part, this is due to both interests, which we will talk about later, and age characteristics. It’s obvious that teaching a preschooler, say, C# is not appropriate, just like giving a 15-year-old to write games in the Scratch language.

“Before fully studying programming and other IT areas, it is necessary to prepare the basics. Without them, no lesson will be useful. So, in the case of coding, it is about algorithmic thinking and understanding the principles and structural aspect of building programs. Scratch helps with this, but you can use Code Builder using the Minecraft Education Edition projects as an example.

If we take the average, then in this context, 6-7 years is a completely normal time to learn the basics of block programming, after which you can move on and switch to the same Python.”

Sapozhkova K.S., teacher of the Pixel school

Indeed, Scratch Jr and Wednesday’s so-called older brother – Scratch – will help even preschoolers and younger students get started. Free video lessons, lessons with a teacher in a classroom at any school or online – it doesn’t matter: even a small child can immerse himself in IT and find the first relevant skills.

Here we will note other approximate age periods that are suitable for starting in various IT areas. The list is based on the Pixel blueprints. Here’s what we’re talking about:

  • 6-9 years – a normal period for immersion in IT using Scratch Jr, Scratch and TinkerCAD as an example;

  • 7-10 years is a good time to get acquainted with Code Builder;

  • In 9-13 you can start Python, including using the example of creating mods for Minecraft, as well as web design, Lua coding in Roblox Studio and more;

  • At the age of 12, according to the practice of our teachers, teenagers cope with the creation of websites, Figma and an advanced Python course, and by the age of 13 they successfully complete projects in Blender.

The intermediate thesis is as follows: when choosing an IT field of additional education, it is necessary to start from the age of the student. This is a criterion that determines educational abilities and cognitive needs. But it is also important to look at interests: without taking them into account, a child is unlikely to be willing to write code in Python or develop games in Roblox or Unity.

2. Interests: why it is important to take into account the interests of the child

If it seems that IT courses for teenagers or younger children are interesting in principle, you should think again. It is not worth sending a child to study only based on personal subjective considerations.

“You need to study programming or another IT field when you want. And here I emphasize age, not desire. It may be rude, but even without programming, some people live normally, while others feel that this is their sphere. And if the child belongs to the second conditional group, his aspirations must be supported and developed.”

O. V. Shimanovych, Pixel teacher

Let’s agree with the statement and emphasize that interest is the basis of the basics, therefore, without lyrical digressions, we will present examples of directions with reference to the appropriate criterion and age. The indication of the latter is important because of the connection with methodical plans. Here are the conditional situations:

  • The child is fond of developing games. If it’s a preschooler or younger student, Scratch Jr, Scratch, and Code Builder will work. Teenagers better understand the Python language using the example of coding in Minecraft, as well as creating games on Unity using C#;

  • The child shows interest in creativity. In this case, in adolescence, we recommend learning web design, working with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, three-dimensional modeling in Blender.

Examples are given: there are enough areas based on IT technologies and intended for schoolchildren. The choice is a task that is solved taking into account the age and interests of a particular child. But other details deserve attention, for example, the content of the desired educational program.

3. Curriculum content: close attention to detail is an important point when choosing a school for a teenager or younger child

We believe that the following scenario will be an advantage: the child is offered a minimum of non-boring theory against the background of a preponderance of practice. In this case, a specific children’s course will be most useful. Especially when you can create your first projects under the sensitive guidance of an experienced teacher: he will guide you, help you correct mistakes, and simply support you if something cannot be done correctly.

At Pixel, we emphasize practice and, after introducing the theory, teach children to repeat after the teachers: this forms the foundations and initial understanding of the principles of the same programming. And only then, in groups or individually, students carry out their first independent projects, applying the knowledge and skills acquired while working with adults. The approach seems dubious, but it is not so: our practice shows that the presented option of actions leads to a better consolidation of the learned theory and passed practice.

Note that there are 2 ways: self-study or enrolling in courses. The first is possible through books, free lessons and other ways. With courses (online or offline – it doesn’t matter) everything is easier: materials are already prepared and simply given to students. In each of the possible situations, it is necessary to pay attention to the content.

On the example of choosing in favor of the courses, we consider the advantages:

  • Detailed descriptions of directions. Modern IT schools often publish them on their own websites. The more detailed the information, the better;

  • Instruction for practice. If a paid or free course is just a set of dry theory with few examples and projects, learning will be boring. Especially for a small child;

  • Availability of methodical materials. Acquaintance with them will help to understand what exactly students do during classes;

  • Indication of age range, level, languages ​​and mediums offered, their potential, etc.

In short, the more detailed the school tells about the proposed directions, the better. Understanding the appropriate moments is a great help for both children and their parents. Even if it concerns free courses or trial lessons: there is no need to waste time on a direction that is clearly not suitable.

4. Gamification as a way of working out restlessness: the child will not quit classes if there are additional incentives and motives

Children undergoing IT training do not drop out, they are more involved in the process if there are elements of gamification. It is not so much about the background in the form of the opportunity to create a game or complete a similar project, but about the presence of additional incentives and motives, for example, points for activity and conscientious study.

When choosing courses for schoolchildren to go online or offline, we recommend paying attention to the specified moment. Especially if the child is still very small.

For example, we encourage students – novice programmers, creators of websites, games and more – for:

This is an incentive and a motive: boys are more willing and better at studying, accumulate points, and then exchange them for gifts. As a result, the number of students who refuse classes and drop them out becomes minimal, and in a number of areas it is completely reduced to zero.

5. Study alone or with a teacher: what is the effect of having a mentor

Programming lessons for schoolchildren and IT in general is a complex and complex topic. The last question within its framework, which we want to consider today, is related to the criterion of independence.

Let’s emphasize that really talented guys easily cope with learning even without the help of teachers: they willingly master different environments and languages ​​from video lessons, read books and use interactive simulators. But it does not work for everyone: errors are likely, especially in the case of coding. They extinguish interest and force them to stop studying.

Having a mentor is an advantage. He:

  • It will help to find errors and eliminate them;

  • Will show visual examples;

  • He will tell you how to better implement a specific project.

The child will not have to figure it out for a long time and face additional difficulties, which will make the first steps on the way to IT confident and simple.

We consider it mandatory to have specialized education and experience working with children. Therefore, it is a plus if the chosen school provides relevant information about teachers. Thanks to their analysis, you can come to a conclusion whether it is really worth sending the child to study or it is better to build an independent educational route.

Yes, we want to sum up and emphasize once again: the choice of the IT field of additional education for a schoolchild should be responsible and based on taking into account his age, interests, as well as the content of a specific program and other factors. This approach will make learning really exciting and useful: the child will not just sit out the clock in lessons, as in a general school, but will engage with increased interest and have useful knowledge and skills.

And how do you teach your children? What do you take into account or took into account when choosing a direction? Do you analyze the criteria presented by us?

The material is prepared by the Pixel school. If you want to make a child a novice IT user and instill an interest in information technologies, visit us.

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