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Text-based Coding Builds Adaptability and ResilienceĪ key aspect of learning something new is making mistakes, identifying what went wrong, and then fixing those mistakes. Whether it’s basic concepts or moving into advanced stages of coding learning, BSD is by your side to help students along.Ģ. At BSD, we’ve developed more than 600 hours of certified curriculum that uses a scaffolded approach so students are constantly building on their knowledge. Since learning coding or any new language can be difficult, it’s critical you have a partner and a platform that can guide students through this experience. Since a child’s brain is more pliable, a real coding experience can help them integrate this important skill and provide them with a massive advantage the younger they begin. At BSD Education, we feel learning coding is very similar to learning a new spoken language and that it’s important to take advantage of this window of opportunity by introducing students to actual coding concepts through text-based coding at an earlier age so they are more likely to comprehend and build on their skills in the future.

#Coding like scratch full

With text-based coding, students receive a full learning experience that instills important coding concepts that they will remember and can build off of.Īn MIT study revealed that while students are in the best stage of their lives to learn a new language until they are 17 or 18 years old, the optimal age for learning a new language is before the age of 10. While block-based coding can be an avenue to introduce coding to students, it’s much more difficult for students to grasp real coding concepts and syntax when they’re essentially dragging and dropping boxes.

#Coding like scratch how to

Here are three specific reasons why text-based coding is our preferred method of learning how to code: 1.

While many teachers begin with block-based coding to help ease their students into learning this new language, introducing students to text-based coding is inevitable and will be necessary when expanding students’ knowledge.

Learning any new language is difficult, but at BSD we believe it is important to introduce text-based coding to students from third to eighth grade so they move past the blocks, become familiar with a real coding environment, and build a foundation that has no limitations. For a breakdown of coding languages, please see this previous BSD blog post. Text-based coding is what professionals use and is done by typing keyboard characters following a certain syntax (rules and regulations) of a particular programming language. Other examples include Snap, Scratch Jr., and Microsoft MakeCode. The most popular example of this is Scratch, the first block-based language created by MIT. Instead of traditional text-based coding, block-based coding involves dragging “blocks” of instructions to manipulate the code. In this article we’ll explain why BSD feels traditional text-based coding is key for teachers and students that want to move beyond the blocks and are ready to take their digital skills to the next level with text-based programming like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.įirst, let’s make it clear what block-based and text-based coding are: What is Block-based Coding? While educators can instantly begin introducing digital skills into their classroom with this type of instruction, teachers should also understand the limitations of this tool. At BSD Education, we are fans of how block-based learning like Scratch has helped to reach millions of students globally.

#Coding like scratch code

However, with a wide range of options available for educators to begin teaching their students how to code, it’s important to make an informed decision that will set students up for success.īlock-based coding has emerged as a tool to offer students an introduction into the world of coding that allows them to explore code in a friendly environment. Teachers have identified this important skill and children are now learning how to code at an early age. Knowing how to code-or at least the basics of coding-is now an important skill for students moving into higher education and when they begin looking for a job. Given how widespread technology is, teaching coding is becoming more and more necessary.