ISSN 2348-1196 (print) International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology Research ISSN 2348-120X (online) Vol. 9, Issue 4, pp: (46-50), Month: October - December 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
A Literature Review on Coding skills for Children in a Disruptive Technology Era Wongpakorn Chokthitirath Thai-Chinese International School
Abstract: Background: It is a given that programs are going to become more and more prevalent in today’s society. However, there are still doubts among people regarding what programming is, how hard it is to get into, as well as the benefits. Purpose: To study and analyze how to guide children(10-12) to develop coding skills. This research paper aims to study and analyze the short and long-term benefits of introducing young children to coding from a young age. This includes skills learned, opportunities to continue into the field of computer science, as well as statistics for the increase in demand of IT personnel in all industries. Method: Finding secondary data available from news articles, research papers, blogs, and videos. Result: Coding is shown to be more and more essential in today’s growing society. It is also proven to introduce essential life skills to young children, as well as give them opportunities for high-paying jobs in the future. Keywords: Programming, coding, children, benefits, computer science.
1. INTRODUCTION In modern times, only about 0.26% (2014) [1] of the population are software developers [2]. As our society is moving towards an increasingly computerized and technological era, skills such as programming are becoming much more necessary [3]. In 2021, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, programming is like reading and writing in the 16th century [4]. Because of this, there has been an influx of interest in the field, leading more people to pick up coding, with one in 20 adults taking up software development training in the last year.[5] Parents are also starting to want to introduce their children to programming classes and courses starting from a young age. This is backed by the increase in demand for programmers in virtually every field. Most monotonous desk jobs could be automated or sped up using basic programming knowledge. More advanced skills are required for higher-paying jobs and faster optimization. With the increase in popularity of video games, children are exposed to computers and programs from a young age. In turn, they might also spark an interest in programming, wanting to create games of their own. The paper will explore ways that they can continue pursuing this path on their own.
2. WHAT ARE CODING AND PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES? Coding and programming is the act of inputting commands into a computer. Code tells a computer what to do, and can be used to create apps, websites. Programming can also be used to speed up monotonous practices or automate tasks. People often confuse coding and programming. Coding is the act of writing code, using a language computers can understand, while programming is the organization and planning of commands. [6] Right now, programs are prevalent in every field. Aside from the obvious uses like website or application development, there are nearly endless uses for programs today. For example, hospitals use algorithms to scan patients for lifethreatening diseases. “The program works by looking for specific molecular patterns in cancer DNA” and matching it to the patient’s DNA [7]. Drones, which need programs to run, are used in different fields, such as agriculture, firefighting,
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