“It was an absolutely inexplicable experience to see a programme that I had made myself, start working,” said an excited 16-year-old Devyanshi. The Class XI student had been asked by her computer teacher to make a programme for the class elections that were to be held soon. “I was thrilled to see that something that I had started right from scratch, first took shape and then turned into something that could be used,” she said. But it was not an easy task, as she was introduced to proper coding in Class XI as part of her school syllabus.
Devyanshi’s 14-year-old neighbour Anay, a Class IX student, has no clue what coding is all about. “What we have been taught in school is very primitive. I cannot do much with it,” he said. Devyanshi wishes she had been taught coding earlier to understand its nuances. “My thinking ability has improved now that I know it. Of course, a lot of practice is required to attain perfection but it’s great fun once you learn it,” she said.
Starting early
Coding is important for young minds to sharpen their logical thinking. It helps them visualise abstract concepts and allows them to apply mathematics in real-world situations, making it fun and creative. As they learn problem-solving, they discover that there is no one way to reach a solution. Coders have a saying that there are two solutions to every problem, and it’s the third that actually works!
Learning a new language
Children should be taught different languages as it helps them understand the world around them better. It develops their written as well as verbal skills. Coding is the language for computers, as these do not understand words or numbers the way we do. Each alphabet has a special formula of zeros and ones. These zeros and ones give the technology around us direction on how to perform. Young minds are able to grasp the intricacies of these numbers better, so it’s best to introduce the language to children early.
Making future secure
With our world becoming increasingly digital, knowing how to code is highly valuable, and will be more so in future. And with this high-demand skill, one can make a substantial career. The more you improve your existing capabilities, the better. You never know who may come knocking at your door. And rest assured, the way computers has taken over the word, coding jobs are here to stay. This apart, coding is going to be useful, whatever be your background. Knowledge of computer programming will add value whether you work in education, publishing, finance or are in the civil services. You can create something that makes a difference to the world.
HT Codeathon
Understanding the future demand for this skill, HT’s Codeathon, one of the biggest coding Olympiads in the country, aims to help children become coding experts by teaching them leading programmes like HTML 5, CSS, JS and Python. Mentorship sessions with technology experts, videos and quizzes help them ultimately become champion coders.