Remember when we were all afraid of robots because we had no idea how any of them worked? Yeah, good times. Now, robotics is becoming a regular part of many schools’ curricula and for good reason. Can we really afford to avoid learning with robots, coding and keeping tech out of the classroom much longer?
Could Coding Replace Foreign Languages in 21st Century Schools?
Foreign languages like, Spanish, Latin and French have long been a part of required courses in almost every school across the country. With the emergence of new technologies, including pocket translators and apps that instantly get the point across, many educators are starting to rethink the practicality of teaching foreign languages in schools. That’s not to say they don’t think kids shouldn’t be learning a new language—they just think it’s time for that new language to be coding. Today’s students could go the length of their career without needing to communicate in a foreign tongue, but the likelihood that they will get through it without needing to know how to code is drastically lower.
Coding is a central skill that’s becoming more and more necessary in order for workers to thrive in an increasingly technological era. It’s on its way to (if it has not already) becoming a global language and an undeniable component of global culture. Much more so recently, the enthusiasm about teaching coding in skills has grown in large part to President Obama’s plan for broadening computer science and STEM education. The goal is to make coding a basic skill in all students, but to do that, schools would need to replace a subject these kids are already taking with this new one. Logically, since coding is a language, their foreign language requirement might be the first to go in a lot of cases and that might not be such a bad thing.
Since we consider coding to be a language in itself, revamping what we already teach today’s students to shift the focus to a more modern skill seems like a useful idea. Coding can function as a supplement to today’s math and science courses in a way that both helps strengthen the material previously discussed and allows kids to put their knowledge to use in a hands-on way. Computer languages are used for communication between people and machines—something that today’s students will need to have proficiency in or risk having their careers ended by smarter machines. The language of coding is the great equalizer in sustaining profitable careers and remaining relevant to employers. Can we really risk not exposing all students to the world of coding?
Students are Taking Coding Into Their Own Hands
Maybe they’re interested in the technology. Maybe the trend is really catching on. Or, maybe the large amounts of students showing an innate interest in computer science education today has to do with its irrefutable connection to real-world readiness. Whatever the reason, computer science should be available to students, but sometimes it, unfortunately, is not. Whether districts are unable to fund the equipment needed for computer science classes or provide a space for it to take place, computer science education tends to get left behind. Luckily, though, students are starting to take matters into their own hands.
Even in schools that do offer computer science courses, afterschool coding and robotics clubs are popping up more quickly than we can count and that’s due in large part its undeniable relevance in the future as well as the genuine interest students have for the subject. Oftentimes, these clubs are informal, but what’s most promising is the fact that many of them are student-started. In any case, the kids are usually hooked by the end of the first meeting. The contagious spirit of making is one that progresses so quickly in today’s aspirational children and many maker clubs have them creating their own games in no time while, more importantly, honing the technological skills they need to know.
Once students convince a teacher to sponsor them and secure his or her classroom for weekly meetings, it’s up to them to recruit more members. And, based on the recent surge in coding popularity, that’s usually not all that difficult. Students routinely lead the way simply through word of mouth and even in online discussions that illustrate their passion for making and tinkering, which, in turn, draws in steadily growing crowds. Once there, they keep each other hooked by challenging their peers to build something more and more creative each time. Since computer science classes are often few and far between at many schools, these student-led initiatives are a great alternative for them to master the conceptual aspects of computer science in a fun, collaborative space.
EdTech in Preschool?
Many people incorrectly assume that students in preschool are unable to learn math, science and other STEM subjects. While this may, in part, be true, they can surely benefit from exposure to technology, which will start the process of creating their STEM foundations. You might say ‘it’s too early’ or ‘they’re not ready,’ but neither could be further from the truth. The truth is that even the youngest students are capable of learning these skills so long as the way they are taught innovatively blends purposeful lessons and child-like play.
If approached properly, preschool teachers should be able to find an opportunity—however elusive—to teach engaging STEM lessons at some point during the school day. Despite the lack of opportunity and the probable lack of student focus, it’s important to expose these kids to some form of technology during these crucial years of development. Numbers indicate that students of lower socioeconomic statuses enter kindergarten with 60 percent lower scores on cognitive tests than more affluent students. Is this because these more affluent students have more access to developmental technology? Perhaps—perhaps not, but in order to ensure these students don’t lag behind, early childhood educators need to take advantage of every resource they can find.
Preschool can and should be taught in a way that allows every student to receive a developmentally appropriate beginning to their education. It’s the time to provide kids with a starting point—usually thought to be in reading or spelling—but, now, it’s important teachers capitalize on every opportunity possible to introduce them to technology. Some of the most effective lessons are the ones that provide kids with the chance to creatively explore playing with technology but also incorporate assessments so that they begin to retain the skills and concepts they are exploring. When executed properly, these kids—despite their age—will become inspired with all the potential that lies in their learning and, ultimately, learn the content more effectively with the help of technology.
Coping with Keeping Up
Educational technology, like regular technology, is constantly improving and, with those improvements, come new products that make the previous tools obsolete more and more quickly. Unfortunately, this leads to schools having to decide what’s more important to them: keeping up with the progress technology is making or saving money in order to invest in other areas of education. This sometimes leads to inconsistent offerings to students, problems with use and hiccups in teacher training and support. Usually, these shortfalls come back to a lack of money, but luckily there are Educator Discount programs available so that districts, schools, teachers and students stand a better chance of keeping up with the advances in technology.
One way to alleviate the constant cycle of training and retraining is to procure products, like laptops, that run on similar systems so that the time needed to train teachers is reduced. It’s also important, especially at the beginning of a tech rollout, for districts to grow their technology numbers slowly. If they purchase a whole slew of products that wind up becoming obsolete by the time they learn how to use them, they’ve wasted everybody’s time and money. The benefits, however, include a gradual improvement in classroom connectivity that should progress all the way up to students relying on their computers to complete assignments and benefitting from using them to collaborate outside of school.
Deciding on the technology to use is difficult in itself, but planning for an uncertain future may be just as challenging. Schools should consider the cost of software upgrades and factor that into their decisions. Considering that there will, in all likelihood, be updated software available within a year, is it worth spending their money on that particular product? There’s much more to learning with technology than supplying each student with a headache of a laptop. Educators use hundreds of different STEM technologies every day to engage their students and get them ready for the real world. Software is great and all, but having to restart every few months is not. Make sure you’re careful in deciding which technologies to dive into for your classroom.
Why Teach Robotics?
Technology is crucial for advancing the education of today’s students, but many schools and teachers struggle to find ways to integrate meaningful tech-filled lessons into their classrooms. For years, many educators have held firm on the belief that technology is both a waste of time and a waste of money, but could that sentiment finally be starting to change? Teaching and learning with robotics in the classroom is beginning to become wildly popular in both the curricula of STEM-minded schools and in the form of afterschool clubs. Robotics classes fit in with new digital technologies standards and are a super engaging way to teach kids modern skills like programming and coding.
So, we’re here today to convince you that robotics should be more widely taught in schools and hopefully program you to get started. Robots are the epitome of DIY academics as they can be built using a 3D printer and controlled with a smartphone among many other inspiring capabilities. Besides the skills robotics can teach, children quite simply find the change of pace (and change of learning tools) to actually be quite fun. When they’re having fun, they’re more engaged and the increased levels of engagement will—you guessed it—lead to in-depth absorption of modern-day skills. It’s also one of the most age-appropriate and effective ways of introducing programming to students. By controlling a physical object and seeing firsthand what goes wrong, students learn what robots can and cannot do, the need to follow precise instructions and hopefully realize the importance of STEM subjects in their education.
More so than the engagement factor kids get from robotics, they will actually learn and develop skills that they’ll need for future employment. As mentioned earlier, robotics provides a perfect way to get kids comfortable with the onset of programming and coding, which they will likely need to assure they are qualified for one of these “jobs of the future.” Robotics are also appealing because children with a wide range of abilities can use them and still learn with them effectively. Kids, especially those with learning disabilities, have been known to respond to the stimuli emitted from robots as well as the calm, clear and consistent interactions that robots can be programmed to provide. Finally, when learning with robotics, kids learn more than how to make them work. They’re shown that the field of robotics isn’t some out-of-this-world complicated area. When broken down, they’re easily understood. Understanding what these machines can and cannot do is such a valuable skill for elementary students to have as it is the best way to address fears of the future and build a foundation of tech expertise.
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