15+ Ways of Teaching Every Student to Code (Even Without a Computer)

According to Code.org, 90 percent of parents in the U.S. want their children to learn computer science—it will be crucial for many jobs in the near future—but only 40 percent of schools teach it. Critics claim that it is mainly the more affluent schools that offer computer science courses, thus denying those who attend poorer schools the chance to learn necessary skills. A focus on STEM is not enough: Code.org also reports that while 70 percent of new STEM jobs are in computing, only 7 percent of STEM graduates are in computer science. It is imperative that savvy schools begin to focus some STEM resources on computer science and programming.

In my opinion, parents of every student in every school at every level should demand that all students be taught how to code. They need this skill not because they’ll all go into it as a career—that isn’t realistic—but because it impacts every career in the 21st-century world. Any country recognizing that will benefit in the long term.

With the following resources, you can teach programming to every student and every age.

Teaching Coding to the Youngest Students

Teaching Coding to Kids 8 and Up

Additional Resources

Use Hardware to Make Something Cool

Programming, making, and creating have never been easier. If you’re getting into the maker movement or Genius Hour, these should be staples in your classroom. While they may take longer than an hour to code, they’re definitely something 21st-century schools can use, because students are programming and building with their hands.

How Do You Teach Coding in Your Classroom?