Making Learning Fun

How to get my kids interested in computer programming is a question that often crosses my mind. Not because I want them to grow up to be professional computer programmers, but because computers are such an integral part of our lives that at some point we will all need to have a basic understanding of how computers are programmed to do what they do. My fear is that if kids do not start developing those skills now, they may end up being left behind in the technology-driven world of the future.

So here are a couple of resources to get children interested in programming:

•  Scratch is a language developed for teaching at M.I.T.’s Media Lab.  It is simple and it encourages collaboration. Kids can use it to build games and tell stories without the cryptic commands that were once the only way to tell computers what to do.
•  Alice is a similar tool from Carnegie Mellon.  It gives children command over three-dimensional characters like the ones found in video games. Alice focuses children’s attention by giving them tiles with instructions that advance the plot of a story. With tiles like “jump” or “turn,” a kid can tell a skater what to do.

So give them a try. I know I will.

If you are looking for a basic app for young children to learn basic math, checkout Monkey Math School Sunshine ($0.99) by THUP Games.  Set by the beach, a monkey asks different questions about numbers, shapes, and patterns for children to answer. The app has different games to be played which can earn prizes to be put into the player’s aquarium.

ID Tech Camps offer award-winning summer technology programs at top universities in the U.S, where kids can gain skills that last long after summer camp ends.

In response to the concern of low numbers of girls involved in STEM,  ID Tech Camps is introducing a brand new course that combines hot industry software with digital media design concepts: Graphic Design for Advertising.  This course targets students ages 10 to 17.

A 2010 study by the American Association of University Women researched the factors that contribute to this imbalance, and chief among them are (1) girls’ low self-assessment of their STEM aptitude, and (2) a lack of engaging STEM coursework at a young age.  The new ID Tech Camps course addresses both issues, encouraging students to branch out and develop core technology skills while showing them the hands-on, real-life applications of their skills.   Designed to appeal to all creative types, the Graphic Design for Advertising curriculum explores the inventive side of technology and reveals the artistic applications of STEM skills.

To find locations in your area check http://www.internaldrive.com/locations/

Get Logic Smart with these Resources

Lissa explains. Lissa started this site when she was 11 years old to show kids how easy it is to build their own web pages and web sites.