Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Coding in Early Childhood


Coding is the process of creating step-by-step instructions for a computer. These carefully written instructions are necessary for the computer to successfully run its programs. The instructions for the computer are not the same as human verbal or written instructions. A computer uses the language of number. However, a computer counts differently than a human counts. The instructions use a number system that is not in base ten, but instead, a binary number system. 


Chepina Rumsey, Associate Professor in mathematics at UNI has been working with us as we explore experiences that support the kind of thinking that is required for coding, but experiences that are not necessarily electronic and don't have screens. In other words, what early experiences help build the architecture of the brain to more easily develop concepts in computer science and in coding. We happened upon research done by MIT computer scientists who are exploring this idea as well, and worked to design "materials for young children to learn the basics behind how computers work - without using computers" (Learningbeautiful.com). We purchased a set of their materials and examined them from the perspective of the young learner, and from the perspective of early childhood educators. 

One of the Learning Beautiful experiences is the Binary Towers. Although the experience is written for young children, we struggled with how young children would respond to learning a binary number system at the same time they were learning a base ten system. We questioned whether the benefits of dual number system learning would be the same as dual language learning. We have not yet arrived at an answer to this question. What we did settle on is that the Binary Tower experience would be a good introduction to the binary system for early childhood educators unfamiliar with coding. 

We invite early childhood educators and preservice teachers to explore the Binary Towers in our Integrative Classroom Studio (Schindler Education Center 116) at UNI where we are exhibiting explorations in coding in early childhood. Read the book The Binary Towers Playbook and engage with the Binary Towers materials to become familiar with the basics of how computers work. While the Binary Towers Playbook reads like a child's picture book, we feel the contents and concepts are suited for adults who want to know more about computer coding. Come play with us in our Integrative Classroom Studio and think with us on how to engage young learners in concepts of computational thinking in developmentally appropriate ways.