Have you found yourself wondering, "what's with all the hype about programming lately?"
As Tynker points out on their blog, programming isn't gaining traction "just because." With over 1 million Computer Science jobs expected to go unfilled by 2020, educators and parents have realized that coding has become as vital as reading, writing, and math. For modern students who will be entering college and the workforce in the next decade, it's a basic literacy--one we can't afford to overlook.
Code.org's viral video emphasizes the importance of teaching kids to code:
Top 5 Reasons Kids & Teens Should Learn to Code
1. Programmers are in high demand. In a world where CS jobs are growing at twice the national average, learning to code will increase your odds of securing a lucrative STEM career in the future. Coding has quickly become a vital skill.
2. Coding gives students a competitive advantage when applying to colleges, internships, or jobs. If you possess a hot skill that many of your peers lack, you instantly appear more desirable in the eyes of potential colleges and employers. Students ages 7-18 can gain a competitive edge this summer at iD Tech.
3. Coding fosters other crucial 21st century skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. For many developers, part of the appeal of coding is the challenge and reward of seeing their code come to life after a good debugging session. Don't be fooled, however--with the right instruction, getting started with programming can be easy and fun.
4. With programming knowledge, students better understand the world around them. Most of us don't know the first thing about what makes our smartphones, laptops, social networks, and video games run. Basic programming knowledge can change the way we interact the technologies we consume daily, and can open our eyes to the infinite possibilities of coding.
5. Programming is fun and satisfying. While programming is logic-based, it’s also an extremely creative activity. If you know how to code, you can develop apps, video games, web sites, and more!
Kids and teens can start learning to program today. Try out the tutorials on code.org, or subscribe to Tech Rocket, our online learning platform for all ages, complete with hundreds of tech tutorials, a booming Minecraft server, an arcade, contests with prizes, and more. Or, learn code at summer camp! View iD Tech courses for kids and teens. Starting this summer, we've incorporated the Code.org Hour of Code into all iD Tech Camps courses nationwide. Get your code on!