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Published: Jun 01, 2024
This study explores the aspects of the teaching programming language in early education (K-12). The teaching of programming languages is becoming mandatory as a result of technological advancement in recent years. Most employment sectors shift their recruitment policies as they focus on recruiting individuals with computational skills who can break down complex algorithms into a logical sequence. The skills help the employees to have a high reasoning ability and able to solve the organizational issues.
This study also examines various elements that support the teaching of programing language in early education. The mentioned elements include the comparison between the human language and the programming language. The research has outlined similarities of these languages based on the structure, and the difference comes as a result of syntax and semantics aspects. Equally, the paper addresses the benefits of teaching programming and the criteria used in understanding concepts as well as the ability of the children to grasp the language faster than adult learners.
Children have an intrinsic value that acts as a motivational factor to learn new things.
These factors have considerably eased the teaching programming language in early education as most people perceive the discipline as more complex. Therefore, the schools need to integrate the aspect of teaching programming language at an elementary level to help the student grow with confidence in computing.
Programming is defined as the progression of the coding algorithm into representations that can be inferred by the virtual machines. On the other hand, the programming language is a terminology used as a set of grammatical commands that instructs a computing device to perform a specific operation. In most cases, the term programming language refers to computing languages such as Basic Java, C, C++, FORTRAN, and pythons. This type of programming language is designed to offer solutions to existing problems. (Brown & Wilson, 2018). This process of designing and presenting various computer languages is a significant part of understanding computer programming. Thus the objective of this study is to analyze and evaluate the concept of programming language and the effectiveness of teaching programming languages in early education.
Defining language
Many pages have been written to explain the meaning of language. Various authors have different from approaching the description of language because of its complex nature. Harris (2018) defines language as the organization of articulated, manual, or written symbols that human beings use to communicate. For many years languages have advanced, and individuals have found a way to describe and structure those advances. Nevertheless, the primary purpose of expressing emotions, identity, and feelings did not change.
Just like ordinary language, programming language also operates around the same principle of communication. For example, the representations and textual messages used in programming were developed by the human system of symbols, and commands utilized to communicate the needed set of instructions to machines. Besides, the language being simple, programming language have also developed their organization and antiquity (Harris, 2018).
Similarities of programming language and human language.
When teaching children programming language, they need to understand how the language shares some features with other languages to diversify their minds. Therefore based on the literature, it is evident that programming is similar to human language in terms of structure. Two of the primary concepts of languages are semantics and syntax. Semantics denotes to the connotation of a definite word or the information linked to a particular idea. On the hand, the syntax is a set of rules that shows how to organize and combine words and phrase (Harris, 2018). The two aspects can be joined to create a complete function of communication.
Thus children need to understand these concepts of language to help them distinguish functions. For instance, the term eat relates to a particular action that living organisms do. And let’s take the word bed on the syntax view and combine the two aspect bed eat. This may confuse the audience because the sentence Bed eats its accurate from the point of view of syntax but wrong semantically since the bed is a non-living thing and cannot eat. Correspondingly, human language and programming language differentiate between syntax and semantics. Both languages are developed with a particular intension while following specific guidelines around the use of variables and functions (Harris, 2018).
Differences
When addressing the structure of linguistic, it is vital to acknowledge morphology.
Morphology entails learning of words, their development, how these words relate with other terms in a similar language, and the word setting such as meaning and pronunciation. The aspect of morphology plays a significant role in the analysis of human language, but this is not the case in the analysis of programming language. It does not have anything similar to morphology. For example, programming languages such as java and pythons are artificial developed, and it means that their rules and definitions were created earlier. Their grammar is self-defining, and it does not change depending on the context as opposed to human language, which is sensitive to changes in morphology. This aspect is illustrated in the line of codes with either one meaning or zero i.e., it either contains an error, or it’s a valid program you can run.
Another difference arises because these languages follow a strict set of rules in use. For example, a programming language cannot progress and develop in a similar way the human language does. The language evolves via multiple libraries; thus, there is no space for errors and customization. On the contrary, human languages are full of imperfections though the mistakes can be improvised. One needs to think of terminologies used by a specific group that is incomprehensible to the outsiders, assents, typo errors, and other features of human languages that do not dislocate the message that is to be conveyed (Harris, 2018). Comprehending the difference between these languages is of considerable significance. It helps learners develop speech recognition, machine translations, and information extraction, which are essential aspects to learners.
It is evident that children differ from adult learners in many ways. Mainly the difference is exhibited in learning habits. Study habit is a terminology that implies a sort of more or less the learning methodology. According to M., P., & Dkhar,(2015), “Study habit is the tendency of pupil to study when the opportunities Attitude towards teacher are given, the pupil's way of studying whether systematic or It is common knowledge that a good teacher can turn a student's life unsystematic, efficient or inefficient”p33. The study shows the correlation between study habits and academic achievement. This means that the methodology used in learning determined the capabilities to understand concepts.
Various theories and studies have been developed to justify the study habit; how young learners can understand new languages compared to adults. According to the author, one can argue that the attitude towards education is one reason children can comprehend a new language faster than adults. For example, children aged 2 to 3 years are always curious to learn and will need to inquire more. Thus, the curiosity to explore new things is the main distinction between a faster understanding of new things than adult learners who are usually engulfed with various things (M., P., & Dkhar, 2015).
Whitebread & Bingham, (2013) suggest that children are skilful at imitation, a skill that most of the adult learners lack. According to the author, humans can imitate the recently perceived behaviors and comply replicating the behavior because they are mentally able to retain the occurrences in our memory. This ability seems to be present from an early age and tends to develop swiftly in young children. The children also have a character of persistence compared to adults; thus, this learning habit makes them understand a new language faster as the learning process is associated with the extent of the practice.
Additionally, motivation is another factor that contributes to faster learning in children.
Children have high confidence and motivation, which underpin the employment of both cognitive and metacognitive procedures within any learning setting. Children have the intrinsic value of any learning activities they do. Their emotional response to these learning habits, such as the feeling of competency when they approach the learning, increases their learning interest in activities that they perceive relevant to them on a personal level. The curiosity to learn the activities they perceive relevant to them, such as a new language, will be the factors inspiring them.
As a result of technological advancement in the 21st century, it is becoming extremely vital to advance the knowledge and skills in programming and coding. Coding language is the new literacy, and young people need to learn to design crate and express themselves in digital technology to thrive in tomorrow's society. In the past years, the learning programming language was deemed a luxury, but it is currently a necessity to stay informed during the digital technology phase. Teaching programming language to middle-aged kid s seems taxing but helps the learner to stay ahead of the curve and build a solid foundation (Cooper, 2017).
Just like learning a new language, it is crucial to learn how to program at a tender age. For instance, toddlers can also grasp the concept of coding and start structuring the imperative foundation of coding. The concept helps in molding the children's minds and their reasoning when faced with a situation involving solving a problem. Understanding the basics of the programming language is becoming a requirement in various places of work. Thus, exposing children to this basics creates countless opportunities in the future.
The basic of programming technology allows the kindergartens to study new methods of communication and expression. It is not far from the truth that programming language seems like a direct skill without a space for growth or creativity. Coding language equips the learner with problem-solving and analytical skills vital in enabling them to think critically and grow as intellectuals. Equally, the concept of programming teaches the kids logical reasoning and thinking (Chemnitz University of Technology, 2020). And they can advance their skills in different commutation methods such as writing, designing presentations and speech. For example, during the ages of five and six, kids learn to make logical decisions and exercise such skills during this stage should be a priority.
Learning programming entails a unique set of encounters and approaches than studying algorithms and presentations. Coding is a technical discipline compared to mathematics, biology, and physics, and there are specific skills and techniques needed in teaching. There are universal tips that are useful to teachers teaching programming language to any level and audience.
However, the vast list of techniques focuses on how to pass the knowledge to K-12 audiences. Sample of the tips that are useful include but are not limited to the following:
Use of peer instructions.
This technique is individual tutoring and is possibly an ultimate method of teaching programming. In this case, the teacher mainly focuses on one student, and they modify their teaching plan in that the lecture tailors the learner's response and corrections depending on two- way communication (Mayer, 2014). However, in reality, the teacher is tasked to teach more students a time. Thus, the teacher must have a plan to clear up many of the learner's unique beliefs in a larger setting. This method is useful in providing one-to-one tutoring. The instructor deals with one individual at a time as they try to suggest the answer, and finally, they are subjected to these what they think is the right answer. This approach boosts the learner's understanding because the technique offers space for clarification, thus enabling learners to be specific in reasoning.
Stick to one language
Sticking to one language is one of the principles across all fields of education. Instructors need to maintain one language when teaching until they master the concept and progress far enough to distinguish simple concepts. The experienced programmer can have a quick understanding to distinguish their knowledge on loops and functions call in a single language and reclaim the knowledge with a different semantic. However, this is different from those young age learning programming language as they cannot distinguish which elements of their knowledge are central and the accidental ones. Thus trying them to learn multiple programming languages such as alternating Java to python confuses the learner and erodes their confidence in the web programming language (Brown & Wilson, 2018).
Design based learning
Designed based learning is another significant approach that aids in understanding the concept of programming. The teaching approach helps the learners be equipped with practical concepts that enhance their thinking and reasoning to solve future scenarios. The integration of designed based learning also allows learners to apply the concept to develop a product. For example, they can apply higher thinking order skills to develop computer programs in these learning environments (Tsai, 2019).
The use of visual programming language facilitates this type of programming learning. Refillable blocks develop the learning program. The blocks contain shapes and colors that allow the beginners to recognize functions and whether they can fit their function with easy. Related reports indicate that this technique increases young learners' investment in programming studies and helps them show their analytical and problem-solving skills in addressing programming issues (Tsai, 2019). Another benefit of this approach is that it utilizes the Visual Programming language, making it easier for learners to visualize texts and blocks, thus increasing their ability to differentiate dissimilar elements.
Importance of helping children in understanding concepts.
Besides the learning tips used to help elementary learners to grasp the understanding of programming language, it is vital to help the students in understanding concept. Concepts assist young learners to understand directions, similarities and differences such as distinguishing forest from tress (Kid Sense Child Development Corporation, n.d). For instance, the concepts help a child to have a greater understanding of numerical data, sequence, locations, positions and dimensions thus giving them an opportunity to grow as a critical thinkers. Equally by having a greater understanding of this concepts they are able to follow instructions used in teaching programming in the schools. As discussed earlier use of peer instructions is vital tip in teaching programming language and it require learners to have an ability to follow instructions.
Necessary building blocks in understanding concepts.
Teaching programming language needs a mastery of problem-solving skills as it is most indispensable as it entails instructing the machine to perform a specific task. Equally, children need to be equipped with computing skills at a tender age to boost their confidence in comprehending concepts, and it also paves the way to job opportunities. This is because most of the employment sectors have advanced technology and need individuals who have computational skills and critical thinkers. Equally, the concept of programming allows the learners to explore new communication methods, hence able to express them efficiently the skill needed to thrive in a competitive business environment.
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