There’s no doubt that humans made computers. But as it evolved over the past few decades, don’t you think that we have got a lot from computers? For kids entering schools for the first time, computational thinking is a crucial skill that will advance them in the long run.

Before we jump deeper into this subject, let’s understand what it actually is.

Computational Thinking definition in layman terms: It is the ability of an individual to think and solve problems like that of a computer.

The process includes various steps like analyzing the problem, creating possible solutions, and bringing out the result.

In this article, we will learn the techniques that go behind this system. Furthermore, we will also know the various benefits of computational thinking, and how it can prepare your kids for their future endeavors.

Keep reading to understand some of its examples.

Let’s jump in…

Aspects of Computational Thinking Skills

Starting with the various aspects through which one can achieve this skill. 4 aspects are involved in this process. They are:

1. Decomposition

Computational thinking starts with decomposition. It is the process of breaking down complex statements into smaller parts. By doing this, it becomes easy and manageable to achieve the desired solution.

It is important to know the decomposition technique because it lets you understand the smaller aspects of a bigger picture. A kid becomes able to solve big problems through it by thinking like a computer.

For example, a medical student understands the working of different human body organs to understand the human body as a whole.

On the other hand, a mathematics student breaks down an equation into simpler parts and solves it in parts to get the result.

In computer science, it works in the same way while programming a game. Thus, the creator has to come up with the character, plot, actions, etc, to make the game work.

2. Pattern Recognition

Pattern recognition is another aspect of this skill. Recognizing a pattern entirely depends on a kid’s ability to analyze objects and images.

A kid can see what is the same and what is different. And through this ability, any kid can ideate the next move. It greatly impacts a kid’s ability to combine different patterns and exhibit the next result.

Pattern recognition helps a lot in making certain decisions. It becomes easy to handle different situations.

In computers, pattern recognition plays a huge role. Artificial Intelligence has seen some great advancements recently. And one such discipline where we can see patterns in work is Neural Networks.

Learn more about the role of AI in Education.

According to Investopedia, a neural network is a series of algorithms that endeavors to recognize underlying relationships in a set of data through a process as the human brain operates.

Here, we can surely see how a computer recognizes and uses patterns to operate.

In the same way, kids can also make decisions and bring results by analyzing patterns.

3. Abstraction

Abstraction is one of the cornerstones of computer science or computational thinking. It is the process of filtering out unnecessary elements out of something. It just keeps in place what is required.

It’s about keeping relevant data and about an object to reduce complexity and increase efficiency

This helps us in prioritizing tasks and doing things methodically. Abstraction allows us to simplify a problem. It keeps what’s important, and removes what’s not.

This way, we can solve problems easily without giving much importance to things that are not important. It gives us the relevance and clarity of an object.

For example, if you want to learn a topic that is in a book, will you read the whole book? No, right? You will just read that particular topic. That is how abstraction works in real life.

4. Algorithms

Algorithms are one of the most important pillars of this skill. Algorithmic thinking helps in developing a solution to a problem. It is done with the help of some definite steps.

In general, algorithmic thinking involves solving a problem by devising some definite steps that are required to solve it. Algorithms are a set of rules created by an individual to solve similar problems.

For example, in schools, students are taught the process to perform division or multiplication. What they learn are the algorithms.

If a student knows the algorithms to perform multiplication, he/she will be able to do multiplication for any given number. Algorithms allow systems to automate themselves without creating new patterns.

Read more about Algorithms here.

 

Benefits of Computational Thinking for Kids

1. Computational Thinking in Problem-solving

Being able to understand problems itself completes half of the task for a kid. The other half includes solving the problem.

Kids can become great problem solvers if they start thinking like computers. And the above methods can set them ahead in this game.

Having proper problem-solving skills can help the kid in various areas in life. Kids with good problem-solving abilities are good in Mathematics, Logical Reasoning and help with better decision-making.

2. Creativity

We know that using computers can make kids more creative. But ever thought about thinking like computers? Yes, computational thinking skills makes a kid much more creative.

The above-stated methods open up different doors for kids to find a solution. For any given problem, they will have four different approaches. Rather than being lost, they now have much more fields to explore and solve a problem.

Also Read: Important Life Skills for Kids – Top 10

3. Computational Thinking and Innovation

It’s obvious! When you think of newer ways to solve a problem, you innovate new possibilities. With this skill, you can bring up new ideas or enhance existing ones to create magical things.

Abstraction can help a lot in innovation. A kid not only removes the irrelevant things but also brings in relevance and efficiency out of scratch.

Kids can focus more on tools and resources to create things of their own.

FUN FACT: Can Computers Think? YES! Machines and computers can think, as shown by the fact that modern digital computers are able to perform the highest mental operations, which are the mathematical ones.

Importance of Computational Thinking for Kids

As per the National Education Policy, computer coding has become mandatory in India. We can observe that the government is giving a lot of importance to introducing digital literacy to our younger generation.

In such an ecosystem, thinking like computers has become inevitable. Everyone must have this skill. It gives them the idea of how machines and computers complete a task.

Giving importance to this will give the future generation a boost in their skillsets, which will make them ready for the future workforce.

Schools and Edtech companies are doing their part to promote computer education amongst the mass. And Codevidhya is proud to be a part of this movement.

We believe that this coming generation will be equipped with adequate skills and contribute a lot to the world in the following decade or two.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is Computational thinking necessary in the present time? 

Answer. It is a necessary skill in the present time just because of its benefits. For example, kids who develop computational skills can analyze a problem and think rationally. It enables them to deconstruct the problems at hand and estimate what may occur in the future.

It helps kids in investigating cause and effect and analyzing how their activities, as well as the actions of others, affect the situation.

 

2. What does it mean by having good Computational thinking? 

Answer. It is the act of creating and resolving problems by breaking them down into easy steps. It’s a great problem-solving strategy that can help us solve complicated difficulties in today’s environment. So, if a kid has this skill, he or she will be able to analyze problems quickly and simply solve them.

 

3. Who gets benefited by computational thinking? 

Answer. Computational thinking isn’t just for developers and computer engineers. People in many occupations, such as doctors, carpenters, teachers, and painters, use it. Not only that but every person implements computational thinking daily unconsciously.

 

4. Is computational thinking necessary for coders? 

Answer. Yes. Since a computer only reacts and processes what it is configured to do, computational thinking helps the user to figure out exactly what to tell the machine to do. With their quick processing capability, computers can solve issues more effectively than people once they comprehend the problem.

 

5. How can parents build computational thinking in kids? 

Answer. If you want your child to develop it, then follow these four steps:

• Decomposition
• Pattern recognition
• Abstraction
• Algorithm design

Do you know your kids can compete with coders from all over the world by participating in certain coding contests for kids? Have you ever seen folks post about internships, goodies from coding contests, or competitions that they won?

Do you want to give them a try but aren’t sure where to begin?  

If that’s the case, you’ve come to the correct place!

Consider all of your coding contest questions, and this article will address them all by the end.

But first, let’s look at an example of why we need to put our best foot forward. Is it possible to become the top cricket player only by practicing? No, you must prove yourself, defeat the opposition, and win the battle.

As a result, your kids must participate in competitions and enhance their skills. 

Similarly, if your kid wants to be the best programmer, they must take on challenges and demonstrate their programming abilities. Coding competitions are the greatest method to do this.

These competitions allow young, gifted programmers to assess their skills and compare themselves to other coders around the world, inspiring them to practice more.

You can win prizes, employment, internships, scholarships, mentorships, and more by participating in these competitions.

Coding Contests for Kids: What are they?

“Learning to code is useful no matter what your career ambitions are”

—Arianna Huffington

Coding contests are typically held in virtual environments, allowing participants from all around the world to compete. They instill in them the ability to think from a variety of angles.

In most coding events, kids will be given some problem statements to solve while taking into account time and space complexity. They should be able to optimize the code; doing so demonstrates that they are good programmers.

Hackathons are also included in coding competitions. In hackathons, you must create a project based on the issue statements or themes of an organization.

Kids must strengthen their presentation abilities, teamwork, and network by designing the entire proposal with a prototype and presenting it to the judges. Hackathons are the most effective approach to increase productivity. 

In this article, we have listed some of the best coding contests for kids and mentioned the eligibility criteria for the contests.

Let’s discuss the best programming competitions in the world.

Top Coding Contests for Kids

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most renowned coding websites that host coding competitions where you can improve your skills in a variety of fields, ranging from popular data science to software development. 

The majority of these are annual tournaments, but a couple is ongoing and open to everyone at any time.

These competitions are open to the public, so contestants can use any programming language they like, including C, C++, Java, Python, and others.

For example, most companies hire through these competitions. These platforms allow you to meet new people, share your expertise, and learn new skills.

THE ACM-ICPC INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE PROGRAMMING CONTEST

The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest is the most prestigious and well-known programming competition for post-secondary students.

In 1977, during the ACM Annual Computer Science Conference, the inaugural competition was held. It has been held annually since then under the supervision of the Association for Computing Machinery.

In this competition, teams must solve as many tasks as possible in a limited amount of time. There are numerous rounds of regionals before the finals, and institutions representing a particular region are allowed to send as many teams as they desire.

However, each institution can only send one team to the World Finals. The finals are held in a different country each year.

Eligibility

The ACM/ICPC is a team-based competition with the following requirements for competitors:

• Only post-secondary students and first-year post-graduate students under the age of 24 are permitted, and each team is made up of three people. No one can compete in the finals more than twice, and no one can compete in the regionals more than five times.

TOPCODER

Topcoder is a crowdsourcing platform that connects designers, developers, data scientists, and competitive coders from across the world. They hold competitions twice a year, both virtual and on-location, and take on tasks from global brands like IMB, Google, and eBay.

Every week, they also hold individual matches in an online and automated version known as “Single Round Match.” In this age of cutthroat competition, it aids in enhancing and recreating our learning.

They lead you through SRMs, which make the experience both entertaining and interesting.

Eligibility

• All participants of the Topcoder Website who have consented to these Terms of Use and who are at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment.
• And have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of primary residence and citizenship are eligible to participate in the TCO and each Competition that is part of the TCO.

GOOGLE’S CODING COMPETITIONS

The goal of Google’s Coding Competitions is to entertain, challenge, and test coders all across the world. Every year, Google hosts three coding competitions, and anyone from anywhere in the globe can enter.

Google Code Jam is a yearly programming competition in which professional and student programmers compete to solve challenging algorithmic challenges in a set period.

This program will run from April to August and will consist of five rounds. To advance to the following round, you must score at least 30 points.

Eligibility

• To compete in a contest, you must be at least 16 years old at the time of registration. 
• To compete in the last round of Code Jam or Hash Code, you must be at least 18 (18) years old or the legal age in your country of residence (whichever is higher) at the time of your initial registration. 
• Additional limits could be put in a contest’s rules.

The Google Code to Learn Contest is one of the many coding contests for kids that can help kids ace and flaunt their coding skills with kids from all over the world. It is held every year, and kids of different age groups can participate in this contest.

THE ICFP PROGRAMMING CONTEST

Since 1998, the ICFP Programming Contest has been held every year around June or July, with the results announced at the International Conference on Functional Programming.

The ICFP is a three-day open programming competition that is both enjoyable and demanding. There is no entry fee or need to pre-register. Participants can take part from anywhere in the world.

They can establish teams, and there is no limit to how big they can be. Participants will have 72 hours to complete and submit their online entry. The lighting division is a 24-hour challenge that is frequently held.

One of the competition’s goals is to highlight the candidates’ favorite programming languages and tools.

Eligibility

• The ICFP programming contest has a wide range of eligibility requirements.
• Anyone who can program, whether an undergraduate student, a graduate student, a Ph.D. scholar, or even a teaching member, is eligible to compete.

FACEBOOK HACKER CUP

Facebook’s annual open programming competition, Hacker Cup, is available to participants from all over the world.

The goal of the program is to use problem-solving and algorithmic coding skills to progress through each year’s online rounds, receive prizes, and have a chance to compete in the worldwide finals for the grand prize.

This program will run from August to October and will consist of four rounds. To advance to the next round, you must qualify in each round.

Eligibility

• Anyone who qualifies for the qualification round is eligible to compete in the contest.
• Although, to receive interview calls from Facebook, you must be at least 18 years old.

Gennady Korotkevich: Best Programmer

Gennady Korotkevich is a world-class programmer. Since the age of 11, Gennady Korotkevich, a Belarusian competitive programmer, has won significant international contests.

He even took first place in several national events. Six straight gold medals in the International Olympiad in Informatics, as well as world championships in the 2013 and 2015 International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals, are among his most notable achievements. 

He entered each of the above-mentioned competitions. Not only that, but he also won the majority of them. He is genuine proof of how coding competitions may help a person become a better coder.

Benefits Of Participating In Coding Contest

Participating in a coding competition can increase your motivation to create new ideas and encourage you to think outside the box. Hackathons improve your collaborative skills and make it easier to transition into the corporate sector.

The real-world impact of coding competitions demonstrates to children and teenagers what computing can accomplish outside of the classroom and the value of open collaboration.

That is only one of the many advantages of Competitive Coding. There are plenty others, for example:

• Improves problem-solving abilities.
• Brain Exercise is guaranteed.
• Major Corporations find it more appealing.
• Swags from the most prestigious companies.
• It’s a way to get some fast coding practice.
• During job interviews, it gives you a significant technical advantage.
• Coding exercises can help to engage the learning centers of the brain.
• It can also help us strengthen our memory, problem-solving abilities, and cognitive abilities.
• Encourages programmers to produce cleaner, more efficient code.
• There is a vibrant community of competitive programmers.
• Encourages participants to work as a team.
• Increase your concentration.
• Excellent at debugging.

Conclusion

The advancement of technology has taken over everything nowadays and has done so for quite some time. Coding has become highly popular in this age.

It has improved their technological capabilities. Technology is built on the foundation of coding. You can’t create if you don’t know how to code, and both of these things begin with the letter ‘c.’ These coding competitions assist to improve these abilities even more.

Kids who are still unfamiliar with coding might use online platforms to learn the basics. Numerous online platforms work in this direction. Codevidhya contributes to this by offering quality coding education to children.

Once your child has mastered coding, he or she can enter these coding competitions to further develop their skills. So, if you want to sign up for online coding programs, go here.

Is coding an important subject in school? Well, parents often ask us why their kids should learn coding at this age. If you are one of those parents,  then all your questions will be answered today.

The basic purpose of the educational system is to teach children how to be ethical, productive members of society. Schools provide a variety of disciplines to prepare children for adulthood.

Beginning with kindergarten, when children learn the fundamentals of writing, reading, and elementary math and logical issues. These classes are intended to serve as ‘knowledge building bricks.’ With each passing year, new educational blocks emerge.

Typing class is one of the most significant classes in schools when it comes to computer skills. Children become accustomed to the visual environment and enhance their typing speed by learning to touch-type. 

Even though the typewriter is no longer in use, keyboards and typing are still useful today, especially when entering data or programming devices.

One may argue that children learn about information technology and how to use it intuitively. They begin using keyboards and displays at an early age and learn to browse the Internet rapidly. What about coding, though? 

Should Kids Learn to Code as well? Well, understanding these new technologies on a basic level – how they work and how to adapt them for improved functionality—would improve children’s experiences with today’s digital devices for sure!!!! 

Why Should Coding Be A Compulsory Subject In Schools? 

There are numerous reasons why coding should be taught in schools as a mandatory subject:

• School-based introductory programming seminars can assist students to grasp the basics of programming structure, logic, and design. 
• Of course, not every child will grow up to be a software engineer, but learning programming can help them improve their practical and logical thinking skills. 
• Furthermore, several people discovered that learning to code enabled them to get more out of their computers, tablets, cellphones, and other common digital gadgets.
• A child who learns how to code have a lot of options, and the most essential skill they will learn along the road is how to come up with their answers.
• Many people believe that teaching children to code is difficult, yet there are a variety of apps and games available to help them learn. 
• Furthermore, learning to code is similar to learning a new language skill, particularly for children.

Coding Becomes Essential In This Digital Age

Technology plays a big role in our daily lives now that we live in the digital age. We have smart devices in our homes, schools, offices, and other places.

Learn more about Digital Literacy.

Even though we use these gadgets daily, we only use them for basic activities like text messaging, phone calls, entertainment, music, and so on. 

When creating gadgets or apps, software and hardware designers frequently incorporate multiple capabilities and features that the majority of consumers will never use.

Our cell phones today act as little personal computers capable of doing a wide range of tasks, thanks to continual advancements in mobile technology. TVs and other household appliances have also become multipurpose.

Many of these devices have a coding history, did you know? Most of us are ignorant of the significance of coding:

• If kids are educated on how to create the codes that run gadgets, they will gain a greater grasp of how they work.
• Aside from that, coding lessons can assist students to understand how programs are created and how software controls device capabilities.
• As a result, coding should become an obligatory subject for students in the future.
• The bulk of experts emphasize the importance of coding in education systems.
• Schools must incorporate coding into their curriculum, according to Douglas Rushkoff of Codecademy, who is considered one of the world’s best digital gurus.
• We can develop more future software and hardware engineers and meet the rising need for competent tech professionals if we teach students to code.

Schools must recognize that both technology-related gadgets and coding are essential aspects of our daily life.

Is Coding an Important subject in school?

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 65% of students entering primary school now will eventually work in wholly new job kinds that do not currently exist.

Learn more about how the jobs are going to change in the future here.

The world is evolving at such a rapid rate that today’s high-paying jobs didn’t exist five years ago – and it’s difficult to forecast what jobs we’ll be performing in another five years. What is the justification for such a radical shift?  Software!!! 

The challenge now is how can we prepare our children for the future, and there is only one response: Coding. 

Both parents and educators feel that coding is a well-structured way to expose children to rational reasoning and problem-solving in a country like India, where the school system struggles with a lack of creativity, infrastructure, and outmoded curriculum:

This also prepares them for a data science and computer science-dominated work market.

Before the Industrial Revolution, only about 10% of schools taught arithmetic. After the critical juncture, mathematics was taught in every school because it was at the heart of the revolution. 

Coding abilities are to us what mathematics was to the Industrial Revolution: undervalued at the time, but priceless decades afterward. Now that we’re in the midst of the computer revolution, we’re seeing the same thing: schools must recognize the value of coding as a skill.

If we do not teach our children to code in schools, they will be at a disadvantage, and their future will be hazardous. Coding is about a lot more than just learning how to code:

•  It engages children of all ages by using logic, problem-solving, and creativity in a fun way. 
• The non-cognitive abilities that children gain through coding sessions are even more valuable to young learners than the technical skills they gain. 
• Coding helps pupils to be inventive without risking making a mistake.
• Students must figure out why something isn’t working and then figure out how to fix it.
• Coding is the act of becoming resilient.

Tips And Tricks Of Teaching Coding In Schools

Coding is necessary and valuable, but it presents teachers with new obstacles. Here are some basic recommendations for making your coding classes more effective:

• Use live Examples

One of the most appealing aspects of teaching coding is that it can be done live in front of your students.

Teachers can generate code and piece together programs in front of students, much like a live science experiment, offering an interesting teaching experience.

This strategy also provides for a much more engaging lesson than one that is solely centered on slides or a video. Teachers can adapt their code to fill knowledge gaps and respond to inquiries on the fly.

Additionally, students can see what common faults teachers make and how to swiftly correct them.

• Make Friends As Mentors

The cost of integrating coding in classrooms is a consideration. The required technology does necessitate some investment, which may be a concern for schools with limited funds. A compromise of two students to one computer, on the other hand, might be good.

Peer-to-peer learning allows students to work in small groups. If one of the children has a somewhat greater level of understanding than the other, they might assist in the development of the other’s knowledge by discussing responses and demonstrating solutions.

It can save time for professors with large classes by allowing them to fill up the knowledge gaps of each student.

• Deal With One Language At One Time

Coding is done in a variety of languages. Before teaching other coding languages, teachers should focus on learning the core components of one. Learners will be able to recognize essential structures in new languages over time, allowing them to transfer their skills and knowledge.

• Solve Problems Other Than Just Coding

One final piece of advice emphasizes the importance of coding as a problem-solving activity. Break the process down into numerous smaller pieces rather than concentrate on constructing full programs.

Know the Benefits of Coding for Kids here.

Develop your understanding and expertise with each line of code that makes up a more complicated program. Create intentionally poor code and challenge pupils to fix it.

Students will be tested on their ability to reorder syntaxes and semantics that have been jumbled up. All of these methods are useful for teaching young people how to code. 

Conclusion

So how is coding an important subject in school? Well, now you have the answer! And if you are still not convinced to consider coding for your kid, then you really need to book a free 1:1 session with our experts. They know it, the world knows it…

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A FREE CODING CLASS FOR YOUR CHILD

In the digital age, coding is basic literacy, and children must understand and be able to develop with the technology around them. In this tech world, employees with coding abilities are in high demand; learning to code at an early age allows children to flourish in any field they choose.

If you want to know more about whether coding is an important subject in school or not, then check out our blogs. We come up with fresh resources every day.

“Technology advances at a breakneck pace”. This remark is much more accurate in today’s world as we are always trying to find out about the scopes of coding in the future. Technology develops at a fast pace every day.

It’s not difficult to claim that technology and the people who deal with it are at the cutting edge of our evolving civilization if you follow this line of reasoning. 

It’s interesting to think that 100 years ago, people had careers that seemed so futuristic that they were mistaken for science fiction characters. Some of these positions now appear to be obsolete. 

This raises the question of whether coding will ever lose its current usefulness. Will it lose its luster as our society’s new revolutionary sector in a few years?

However, not everyone is aware that coding and creating algorithms have existed for a long time. Even if it isn’t in its current form.

Ada Lovelace is said to have written the first computer program in 1843. Things have advanced a lot since then. We all know that coding is the language of the future. What coding in the future would look like?

But with coding’s exponential development over the last two decades, will the industry’s growth be continued for years to come?

Are you also interested in learning about the potential of coding in 2030? So, if you’re interested in learning more, stay reading!!!!!

What Is Coding? 

Coding, often known as computer programming, is the method through which we connect with computers.

Writing code is analogous to writing a set of rules because it directs a computer on what to do…

 If you understand how to program code, you can instruct computers on what to do or how to act much more quickly.

You can use this expertise to create websites and apps, as well as process data and perform a variety of other tasks.

Is “Coding in the Future” in Danger? 

Artificial intelligence is becoming much smarter, according to one of the primary claims. Artificial intelligence was one of the driving aspects of technology exponentially developing over the last few years. 

Until now, coding has served as a bridge between humans and machines. We have our languages as humans, but computers never comprehend them.

Binary, or 1s and 0s, is how computers work. Coding languages can translate human language into a format that computers can understand and convert into binary commands.

Some claim that artificial intelligence will progress to the point where this bridging gap will be obsolete.

Without any intermediate, the computer will be able to interpret human language and transform it to the binary it requires.

Relevance Of Coding In the Future

Coding and languages as we know them may change since new advancements occur every week. And some of them have the potential to radically transform the industry. 

However, even if artificial intelligence becomes exceedingly intelligent by 2030, people would still be required to program it unless it is allowed complete autonomy.

Absolutely. Coding will not only be vital in ten years, but it will be even more so than it is now. The grammar of coding languages, on the other hand, will continue to improve. 

When coding first began, it was all about punching holes in pieces of cardboard. Then it appeared as follows: 00101010101. It now appears to be written in English. 

Coding languages will become easier to learn, less obscure, and hence more popular as they become more English-like.

Computing systems have become more pervasive in our lives. And, directing these gadgets what to do and developing new uses for them will become increasingly popular.

However, we still have a long way to go before we can speak the simple natural language of computers.

And to have them understand and accomplish complex jobs they’ve never been trained to do. 

Basic, pre-programmed tasks, such as “give me directions to the next gas station,” are already accessible.

However, instructing a computer to perform something it has never done before will still necessitate a specialized grasp of how to communicate with a computer programmer’s specificity.

Other than this, computational thinking is required to explain an algorithm. 

The syntax for creating a loop or a conditional for a computer to do something or make a judgment may change. But the underlying notions beneath it are unlikely to change for decades. 

4 Predictions: How Coding Will Change In Next 10 Years

Developers who have been in the profession for even a few years have seen several coding languages and tools grow and fall.

Software development is a dynamic sector with continually evolving job requirements. So, it’s critical to keep an eye on future trends and technologies that could help with the process.

Here are four predictions regarding how programming will evolve in the next ten years.

Coding Will Be More Complex

Cloud-based technologies, containers, and low-code platforms suggest that many developers will work at higher levels of abstraction in the future.

That is also away from the low-level aspects of coding.

On the front end, we’ll see more augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). That means developers will need to learn how to design those apps, as well as include voice and natural language processing capabilities.

AI Will Play A Significant Role

Today, AI is beginning to make its way into development tools. For example, Microsoft included an AI platform in its Windows 10 update, allowing developers to use pre-trained machine learning models in their apps.

Rice University researchers developed BAYOU, a search engine for coding that employs deep knowledge to allow developers to enter a few keywords and see code in Java that will assist them with their tasks.

More examples will emerge in which development tools attempt to predict developers’ meaning.

By doing this, it makes it easier for them to communicate that goal, resulting in yet another kind of abstraction.

Origination Of A Universal Coding Language

Programming must be simple to learn and build upon to enjoy the benefits of developing technologies like AI.

Python may be recognized as the great-great-great-grandmother of future languages. It may appear to be similar to English on the surface but is significantly easier to use.

Coding bricks, similar to the wooden alphabet blocks we used as kids, will be utilized to create programs.

Developers will be able to link the blocks together to create any functionality they desire, and the blocks may not even need to be expressed in text.

Future languages may contain visual representations of data changes, such as an image of a calendar, for example.

The user can choose and set dates using this block. They could also incorporate blocks that allow tactile sensory devices to be included. This will allow even people with vision difficulties to create programs.

A Strong Part Of Education System

Programming will accompany reading, writing, and arithmetic as a core educational component for kids.

Data analysis for big data sets, machine learning, and simulation to lower the cost of testing and manufacturing will be required in every technical career in the future.

Conclusion

One of the most crucial skills for current and future generations to learn is coding and coding literacy. It is undeniably significant in the current era, but coding in the future is even brighter. 

We are surrounded by electronic devices that are all running untold amounts of software that are based on some form of code. Our modern world is also strongly dependent on the internet, with workers becoming more and more computer literate as time goes on. 

As a result, it’s impossible to dismiss the significance of coding. So, if you want to secure your future, learning to code is an excellent choice.

There are multiple digital platforms available that provide Coding Courses. One such platform is Codevidhya which offers excellent coding courses for kids.

So if you are looking forward to booking a free coding class, click here.

Hey, do you know the best extracurricular activities for college applications? Don’t worry, I’m here to tell you everything about these activities.

As kids, all of us had extracurricular activities in school. Having these activities could increase the chances of putting a better first impression in college applications as well.

Applying to college these days requires a lot of hustle. Getting admission to our desired college is a gift. And once that you are in, you know how it feels.

Having extracurricular activities shows your commitment to your interests and skill enhancement.

Yes, colleges do want great academic excellence, good marks, letter of recommendation from teachers. But the fact is, colleges also want you to be a part of other circles of life.

Many colleges in the United States want new students to have an interest in a certain sport or hobby. And this culture is gradually increasing to more and more countries in the world.

That’s why, in this article, I am going to make a list of some important extracurricular activities for college applications. If you build interest in these activities in your kid, then they will have so much to do rather than just getting good marks.

Here is the list of the activities your kids should try… Keep reading till the end and share this article with your fellow parents. It’ll help us a lot!

1. Athletics

Sports and physical activities are a great way to improve a college application. Having an interest in sport shows that the applicant is interested in extracurriculars other than studying.

It shows that the applicant is mindful and is physically active.

Having played a particular game at the state or national level gives your kid a college advantage. Even if they play some game casually, it is also beneficial. Mentioning them in their application helps them to better understand your personality.

Playing team sports such as football, basketball, hockey, or cricket makes your kid a better team player. This is a skill that college or job applications give so much importance to.

If at all your child becomes a team captain, don’t forget to mention that in the application as this will also showcase their leadership skills.

And lastly, don’t forget to mention the championships, games, or other awards that your kid has won.

2. Leadership Activities

Most of the times college applications ask for leadership skills. Having activities that show your kid’s leadership skills will make them stand out among other applications.

Leadership activities can be small or big. It shows a student’s attitude on taking up responsibilities. It’s all about taking charge.

Even if you’ve managed a small team or large one, it doesn’t make any difference. Kids can build leadership skills by leading a school group project or making a plan for a night stay with their fellow friends.

Leadership activities are very important in the extracurricular section of your college application. This skill will serve kids throughout their life. And most importantly, kids will be able to influence others with this skill.

Parent your kids the right way and make them great leaders of tomorrow. And yes, always remember, if your kid is mentioning this in their college applications, then make sure that they include valid proof for the same.

Read more about Top 10 Life Skills for Kids

3. Part-time Jobs

The harsh fact about school is that it only teaches only particular subjects. Students don’t learn personal finance, work environments, and things that will buy them bread.

Having part-time jobs is a great thing to show while filling out extracurricular activities for college applications.

Part-time jobs are a great way to show colleges that your kid is interested in making money with one of your skills. It can be a side hustle for students.

And if the kids are good enough in their jobs, they can become financially independent even before getting admission into colleges. Isn’t that a great sign for parents?

Read about Career in Coding.

4. Learning a Tech-skill

This is one of the best skills to learn in today’s world. I believe that everyone should know a tech skill. It gives them an understanding of how computers work.

Coding is a great example of tech-skill. Coding has become a hot skill amongst university students these days. It not only teaches kids to create an application or a game but also enhances their thinking and creativity skills among many others.

Coding will help a lot in college applications. Currently, every industry uses coding in some way or the other. Be it education, healthcare, or manufacturing.

Kids can start learning to code right from the age they start their schooling. It helps them with their brain development. Coding changes their way of thinking. It strengthens several areas of the brain and makes them better learners altogether.

Kids can start to learn programming with languages such as Scratch, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others while starting their journey.

We at Codevidhya provide great courses for kids to help them start their coding journey. Explore our courses that best fit your child by booking a Free Coding Class with us.

5. Internships

Another way to add extracurricular activities for your college applications is through high-school internships.

Internships are a pretty big deal for colleges nowadays. They are mostly for college students who are looking forward to working with a company in a particular skill.

Sadly, most companies do not allow interns from schools. But happily, small startups do offer internships to students. They always look for new talents. And these young minds with adequate skills have a lot to offer to these startups.

Students with internships get a huge advantage in college applications as they already have some knowledge of a particular domain. And with this advantage, colleges won’t even hesitate to put these applications on priority.

Keep an eye on internship openings for your kids. They are really good for kids to learn some great skills before starting college.

6. Social Work

Participating in social working activities with NGOs and Self-Help groups is very beneficial for college applications. It can be the cornerstone of your college application.

This activity can create a huge difference. It shows that your kid can come up with a plan and work for the betterment of society.

Colleges also expect some volunteer works for the community. For example, if they love animals, they can try building a shelter system for the stray dogs around your locality. This will give them a safe place to stay during abnormal weather.

Apart from this, you can encourage your kids to enroll in several organizations. They conduct volunteer services all over the world by creating student groups to conduct community activities.

7. Creative Pursuits

Being creative is a high-demand skill. Creative extracurricular activities like art, theatre, music, or dance can be very handy in college applications.

If someone wants to take artistic majors in college, then these extracurricular activities would become very important to get through the merit list.

Someone with the knowledge of art and culture has one thing in common, they know the value of art in our society. They are well-rounded with different kinds of traditional and cultural practices.

Having this much amount of expertise in a subject helps them to preselect their future careers way before others. Also, investing your time in such activities can be very rewarding and stress-reducing.

8. Personal Business

At what age did you start earning? What was the first thing you sold? Do you remember? Let us know in the comments section.

Doing business is an evergreen skill. Everyone should be able to sell something. And if your kids are interested in business, then you should encourage them to start their businesses. No matter how small it is.

I know a friend who started his own business at the age of 15 and made a profit of $1000 in a month.

Business teaches a kid communication skills, negotiation skills, and much more. It’s a risky game so kids starting a business early will also become risk-takers, and achievers.

Having a small business before college will help your kid to get to the admission desk before anyone else.

9. Debate

Participating in debates is a great way to improve your communication and speaking skills.

Kids can join debate clubs in their schools. It will give them a platform to express their views about a specific topic. And also give them a chance to hear others’ opinions about a specific topic.

If your kid is interested in debate and symposiums, then you can encourage them to join youth parliament competitions. This is a great platform for kids to learn about debating and diplomacy.

Putting debate in extracurricular activities for college applications will give your kid a forward place during admissions.

10. Travelling

Travelling can be a good option to include in your kid’s college applications. But it highly depends on the kind of traveling your kid has done.

Including a family vacation in the college application will not give your kid much advantage. But if they went abroad to volunteer or study, then it can be a great thing to add to the application.

Also, if your child has traveled solo to some countries, they can share their experiences and what they have learned from the country’s tradition and culture in the application.f

Also, traveling can help your kid learn different languages, this will improve their communication skills.

 

That’s all for this time. Let us know which of these extracurricular activities for college applications fit your kid’s interests. I will see you very soon!

Stay tuned to our articles.

 

To know more about us, you can visit codevidhya.com

Our generation is full of computers and smartphones. Consumers need to think wisely before they do anything in such environments. We discussed how cyber safety is important for school-going kids. Also, how computational thinking can improve a kid’s thinking skills. In this edition, let’s discuss critical thinking! Let’s see how to develop critical thinking skills in students.

Do you know in which situation is the person applying critical thinking skills? The answer is quite obvious, EVERYWHERE!

Keep reading till the end…

In this blog, we’re going to discuss how to develop critical thinking skills, their importance, and how we can help kids develop this skill, and critical thinking skills examples.

What is Critical Thinking?

Here’s what criticalthinking.org has stated:

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

In short, critical thinking is the way of thinking actively and skillfully, and processing or applying the information gathered by observation, communication, or experience. It asks for a reason for what we believe.

But why should your kid have critical thinking skills?

Let’s look into the benefits of having this thinking skill…

Benefits of Critical Thinking Skills

1. Boosts Social Image and Decision Making

The importance of critical thinking in its truest form is to develop a person’s mind and become a better version of themself. When someone thinks more analytically, decisions become more sound. Thus, it puts the person in a respected place in society. This skill applies to all areas of our society.

For example, if you are an administrator of a city, you will have to come up with many ideas. Ideas on how to improve law and order, boost people’s participation, etc. And these decisions cannot be made based on trial and error.

To make better decisions, you will have to think critically, analyze data, and create a goal-driven action plan. And using the right skillset in such situations will make you create better decisions and ultimately, boost your social image.

“Critical thinking is a type of thinking pattern that requires people to be reflective, and pay attention to decision-making which guides their beliefs and actions.”

Source – Thinking and Reasoning in Human Decision Making, Facione and Facione

2. Critical Thinking is used Universally

Thinking skills are very crucial to living in a world full of technology. Nowadays, everything is available on the internet. If you want something, you just need to search. You need to think more than computers.

You think of any field. Thinking skills are crucial for you to excel in that particular field. For a student, this will help in their studies.

Suppose you are solving a maths problem, and you are stuck in between. What others will do is show the problem to their teachers. But a critical thinker will stick to that problem and come up with his approach, and solve it.

A coder will find many bugs in a program, but what keeps the coder going is his/her thinking skills. Solving bugs by analyzing the root of the problem is what keeps them ahead of the game.

Likewise, this skill will always give a person an advantage in any field they are working on. Thinking outside the box is what makes them different.

3. Centered around Conscience

“Never memorize something that you can look up.”

– Albert Einstein

Here’s the thing…

A person with a good mind does not mean that he can memorize things quickly. What Einstein means by the above quote is that you should use your brain to do more complex tasks rather than memorize. That is, emphasize more on ideating, innovating, and creating.

This takes us to the concept that critical thinking deeply involves conscience. It is like training your mind so that it becomes able to do how things should be done.

Critical thinkers’ brains are more active which is why they can make decisions, solve problems easily more efficiently.

Here’s our podcast about Critical Thinking for Kids. You can also listen to it.

4. Boosts Academic Succes

As parents, you might be stressed about your kid’s studies. And this is the case with most of the parents. But if your kid is a critical thinker, you won’t have to worry much.

Kids will always have an out-of-the-box approach to every problem they face. And their approach will be more efficient than any other traditional approach. Also, you will see the effect on their academics. They will excel in any field with this skill.

How to improve critical thinking skills? Here’s what you can do…

• Critical thinking skills can be applied to reading. Ask your kids to do a book review.
• Tell them a statement and ask their opinions about right and wrong.
• Tell them a fact and ask them to verify whether it’s true or not.
• Ask them to solve a Rubik’s cube
• Teach them Coding.

5. Enhances Problem Solving and Creativity

Someone who can think more rationally will solve problems easily. Critical thinking makes a person rational. It makes them able to understand and analyze problem statements deeply.

It improves reasoning skills and makes a person more creative while they think. They use knowledge, facts, and data to solve problems. Thus, once a person identifies a problem, they can use thinking skills to assess it and come to a solution.

Also, it makes an individual more open-minded. Which in turn, fosters creativity. Thus, students get exposed to new ideas and create better things than others.

6. Asks for Self-awareness

Becoming self-aware in this distracted world can take you places. When you give more importance to what you think, it improves your mental health. You take less stress, anxiety levels go down, help you focus on your tasks, and much more.

In this world full of technology, one can easily get distracted. But if you know how to react to the situations you come across, you will be able to focus more.

But this can only be done when you have a proper direction. And it can only be achieved when you have a directed approach to what you do. Becoming self-aware is one of the important goals of critical thinking.

7. Critical Thinking fosters Reasoning

This is a skill that will help you reason your beliefs. A person will start thinking logically about how and why things work. Critical thinkers know that it is every individual’s need to think with logic.

With the help of data and evidence along with reasoning, these people think and speak logically to support an argument.

Logic is the art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of human misunderstanding.

– Ambrose Bierce

To conclude, critical thinking is a mixture of skills like problem-solving, decision making, rational thinking, reasoning, knowledge, intelligence, etc.

8. Helps in Finding a Job

Nowadays, most of the job descriptions ask for critical thinking skills in the candidates. They emphasize more on this skill because it combines so many together.

Critical thinkers are more competent, focused, logical. They can easily identify mistakes, evaluate, and improve them. Solving complex problems are easier for them.

For a fresher, these skills give them an advantage in the placements for the jobs they desire. Companies will like them because of their curiosity to know more, ask questions, and scrutinize problem statements.

9. Important Life Skill

Critical thinking is indeed a skill for life. All the points that we discussed above improve your overall mental growth. It helps in academics, jobs, and businesses. A person becomes well-aware of their surrounding, become better decision-makers, problem solvers, and whatnot.

So, it helps an individual in every sphere of life. And they can always use this skill to upscale their inherent skills and abilities. Thus, improving your thinking skills will help you progress in any direction you go in your life.

Developing this skill is a journey that will never end, and there is always more and more to learn.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

It is crucial to instill critical thinking abilities in children. Every day, we put our critical thinking skills to use. They aid us in making wise decisions, understanding the consequences of our actions, and resolving problems. These critical abilities are required for everything from putting together puzzles to determining the best route to work.

2. How can parents help in honing the critical thinking abilities of their kids?

You can assist your child to develop critical thinking abilities in a variety of ways. Here are five of the simplest ways to do so:

• Develop reading habits.
• Encourage people to ask inquiries.
• Problem-solving
• Assign responsibilities.
• Playing is the most effective way to learn.

3. In which fields can critical thinking skills be off work? 

Critical thinking abilities are necessary for success in law, education, research, medicine, finance, and a variety of other disciplines.

4. What job opportunities are a great choice for a critical thinker?

Critical thinking skills are required in all vocations, no matter how big or little. However, some vocations require a high level of these abilities in order to be effective and successful:

• • Accountant
  • Analyst
  • Educator
  • Criminologist, etc

We all know what is literacy. It is the ability to read and write for an individual. But what is digital literacy? In this blog, let’s understand what is digital literacy and why it is important for kids.

Digital literacy is the ability to learn and work with the help of technology. It’s like having the skills and knowledge to access information digitally. It can be done with the help of the internet, smartphones, or social media.

For example, you are digitally literate if you can use the internet as a resource. Using a web browser, sending an email, editing a video, or coding. All these come under the same roof.

Most of the students today have access to technology. And using it effectively with the help of teachers and parents is very important.

To become digitally literate, knowledge of some basic skills is a must. Like computational thinking skills which give you the ability to think like computers. Or critical thinking skills that give you a direction to what you should think.

Digital literacy is important for students from any grade. Whether he/she is a primary student, high school, college, or university student. Knowing how to properly use digital technologies helps them a lot in their academics and in building other soft skills.

In this blog, we are going to decode what digital literacy is, and why is it important for kids. Read on…

Importance of Digital Literacy

1. Communication

Communication is now more advanced than ever. There are newer ways to communicate with people. We have technologies like emails, text messages, video conferencing, and whatnot. All these are adding up to provide a better communication experience.

Kids must know the ways to communicate positively with the help of technology. It makes them much more aware of the world they reside in.

Communication plays a key role in every student’s life. And it is as important when they are interacting with computers or smartphones. It means when a kid is involved in digital activity, the student should be able to properly communicate with the technology.

When you teach them coding or any other digital skill, their communication skill enhance.

As teachers and parents, we can guide them on how to communicate properly, so that they have a positive and safe social presence.

Here are some ways to enhance digital communication skills for your kids:

• Using Social Media to communicate with friends and family. (Facebook. Instagram, Twitter)
• Instant messaging (Messenger, Whatsapp)
• Video Conferencing (Skype, Duo, Zoom)
• Video-Sharing (Youtube)
• Reading (Blogs)

And the list goes on and on…

2. Practical Skills

With digital literacy, you learn practical skills. But how? With the help of a computer, you learn by doing.

For example, when you find a problem on your smartphone or PC, you search for solutions online. This helps in troubleshooting. And in the future, whenever a kid gets into any problem, he/she will always look for solutions himself.

Doing things practically also keeps you in the hold of a skill. Like if you learn a new skill, say playing the guitar, if you learn it by practicing instead of just watching videos then you are going to learn better.

3. Internet Safety

Like we discussed in our previous blog, ‘Cyber Safety for Kids‘, it is very crucial to keep kids safe online. Using digital gadgets and knowing it’s limitations makes you well aware of their adverse effects.

As we know, literacy means the ability to read and write for a better tomorrow. Digital literacy ensures that what we consume aims to bring change in a good and safe way.

Ensuring online safety and becoming digitally literate at the same time is easy. You need not spend a lot of time thinking about how. These measures can keep you safe online:

• Determine the validity of the contents you consume.
• Follow internet ethics.
• Use strong passwords.
• Identify malicious emails.
• Run virus scans.

4. Lifelong Learning with Digital Literacy

The technology we are using today is not as same after 10 years or so. And what we are using is getting updates every few days. If a student continues using technology, then he/she will tend to learn and stay updated with it.

With every update, kids will learn something new. And with every advancement, they will also learn new ideas and innovate.

Thus, staying up to date with technology promotes active learning that will last for a lifetime. Students of any age can benefit from what they learn. And acquiring knowledge from these devices will make them technically sound and digitally literate.

5. Convenient

It is always a convenient option to use technology. The whole aim of technology is to solve real-world problems and make life easier.

Suppose you lost your way while commuting, and you don’t know how to use Maps. You will have to find another way out to get back to your way. But in the same case, if you know how to use Maps, you’ll be just fine and reach your destination on time.

There are so many other examples of how technology can reduce a lot of problems. But you must know how and where to use it for your benefit.

A digitally literate person will know these things and use them to make their lives easier.

6. Employment

For kids, being digitally literate will make them great in their academics. But in the future, it will help them become better employees and entrepreneurs too.

A digitally sound employee will make the most out of the technology they are provided with. Someone with proper knowledge of tools and skills that the industry seeks will get jobs easily. And they will perform better than others in the company.

Today, most of the company require candidates who have at least some basic knowledge of technology. And nowadays, some skills are very easy to learn and can be greatly beneficial. For example, coding is a skill that helps kids, adults, and employees a lot.

Learning to code is also easy. And it pen-up mind of those who learn it. It imbibes many other soft skills which are important for every individual.

7. Digital Literacy is Efficient

Due to rapid technological advancements, digital literacy is given great importance everywhere. Suppose if an employee working in an IT company does not have proficient digital skills, then the company will lose a lot.

For a student, it can cost in terms of knowledge. Those days are gone when students used to learn just from books. Today, there are more than millions of resources available for a single topic on the internet.

If a student does not use the internet to learn, then the student will suffer losses due to the lack of knowledge. It is time to learn more and more using smart devices. Classrooms are becoming smart. Technology has its use in every sphere of our lives.

And in such times, if you do not have basic digital skills, you will in terms of money, or opportunities.

8. Helps in Making Better Decisions

We have access to information more than ever. We can access anything with just a click. Whether it is about getting some information or making a decision.

Just like we discussed Maps, let’s assume two paths lead to the same destination. And we are confused about which path to take. In this case, we can just use Maps to see which path has lesser traffic and can be reached in lesser time.

Likewise, digital devices ease most of our confusion. We can just search for solutions and they’ll be there on your screen. From choosing music to buying clothes. Being digitally literate can help you a lot in making better decisions.

9. Influence Others

The internet has a great power to influence people. And then there are social media influencers. They have a huge power to influence people. Brands directly collaborate with influencers to promote their products. This way, all of their followers get influenced by what they try to sell.

Social media influencing is a great marketing strategy. And those who are digitally literate will use this power to influence people and earn money. Also, they get a lot of fan support and open up more and more opportunities in their career.

Thus, being a digitally literate citizen will help you a lot in your daily life as well as in your career. Keep learning new skills that are being used in this tech-driven world. And finally, become someone from whom this world can benefit a lot.

Check Out How we are Promoting Digital Literacy.

 

Also Read: Critical Thinking Skills for Kids in 2021

Stay tuned to codevidhya.com for latest updates on coding for kids.