Teaching Kids To Code
377Google Tech Talks
March, 7 2008
ABSTRACT
Learning to code has become both more important and more complicated
in the last decade. We need to make it attractive and easy again.
Most western countries currently experience a shortage of skilled
computing professionals in the employment market. We have seen a
similar problem in the 1990s, but this time the situation is
different: While the problem in the 90s was university capacity (we
just couldn't educate enough people quickly enough), this time around
it is enrolment: Universities have the capacity, but not enough
students sign up to study technical, computing related subjects, such
as computer science or software engineering.
The real problem lies before university: at school age, students
decide against computing as a subject, because it is perceived as
geeky, tedious, intellectually not challenging, and most of all
boring. At the same time, programming in schools is on a sharp decline.
We need to counter this trend by bringing programming back into
schools, and make it an engaging, challenging, relevant and enjoyable
activity. To be successful, the public sector, academia and business
should work together to make this happen.
At the University of Kent, we have developed two successful
development environments, named BlueJ and Greenfoot, and educational
material to address these challenges. In this presentation, we will
discuss both, with the main focus on Greenfoot, a system for beginners
to learn Java programming through development of interactive graphical
applications.
Greenfoot and its associated materials can be used to teach
programming in schools, computer clubs, or to your own children. Kids
develop computer games, and -- almost as an aside -- learn object-
oriented programming in Java.
In this talk, I will present the software, strategies for learning of
programming, and the benefits and drawback of Java as a first language.
Speaker: Michael Kölling, Computing Laboratory, University
Michael Kölling is the lead designer of the BlueJ and Greenfoot programming environments. Both environments are designed for beginners to learn the basics of Java, and are widely used by schools and universities all over the world. Michael is also the founder of the Sun Center of Excellence in Object-Oriented Education at the University of Kent. He works as a Senior Lecturer in the Computing Laboratory at the University of Kent, where he teaches Java to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is co-author of a successful Java textbook, "Objects First With Java."