5 Key Benefits of Learning to Code at an Early Age

In today's technology-driven world, coding is becoming an essential skill that empowers children to not only consume technology but to create it. Whether they’re building their own game or solving real-world problems through programming, kids who learn to code early are setting themselves up for a lifetime of success. Here are five key benefits of introducing coding to your child at an early age:

1. Boosts Problem-Solving Skills

Coding challenges kids to break down complex problems into manageable parts. When a piece of code doesn’t work, they must analyse it, troubleshoot errors, and find a solution. This process teaches logical thinking and helps children approach challenges methodically, skills that will benefit them in all areas of life—from schoolwork to everyday decision-making.

2. Fosters Creativity

Contrary to the common belief that coding is all about numbers and logic, it’s a highly creative activity. Whether designing an app, creating animations, or developing a website, coding allows children to bring their ideas to life. They learn how to build something from scratch, inspiring their imagination and encouraging innovative thinking.

3. Encourages Perseverance and Resilience

Programming often involves trial and error. Kids who learn to code quickly realise that it’s okay to fail, and that mistakes are simply part of the learning process. This fosters perseverance and teaches them to stay resilient in the face of challenges—valuable life skills that extend beyond coding and into their everyday activities.

4. Enhances Collaboration and Communication

Coding isn't always a solo activity. In online coding classes or group projects, children often collaborate with others to solve problems or complete tasks. This collaborative environment teaches them how to communicate ideas effectively and work as part of a team, an essential skill in both their academic and future professional lives.

5. Prepares for Future Career Opportunities

As the world becomes increasingly digital, coding is a skill that opens doors to a wide range of future career opportunities. Whether your child wants to become a software engineer, game designer, or data scientist, learning to code gives them a head start in industries that are growing rapidly. Even outside of tech, many professions value coding skills, as they demonstrate critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Final Thoughts

The benefits of learning to code at an early age go far beyond the computer screen. Coding equips kids with critical skills—problem-solving, creativity, resilience, collaboration, and a future-ready mindset—that will serve them in all aspects of life. By enrolling your child in an online coding class, you’re giving them the tools they need to succeed in a world where technology is ever-evolving.

Ready to get your child started on their coding journey? Sign them up for our fun, interactive online coding classes today, https://www.theacademyofcode.com/autumn-spring-term-2024-25!

Unlocking the Future: Why Coding Classes are a Must for Your Child's Digital Literacy

Unlocking the Future: Why Coding Classes are a Must for Your Child's Digital Literacy

Did you know that 65% of kids starting primary school today will end up working in jobs that haven't been invented yet? In our rapidly evolving digital world, equipping children with strong digital skills is no longer optional—it’s essential. If you're considering coding classes for your child, understanding the broader impact of digital literacy could be the game-changer you need. This post dives into the state of digital literacy among young people in Ireland, compares the skills of Gen Z and Millennials, and highlights ongoing efforts to bridge the gaps in digital education.

The Current State of Digital Literacy in Ireland

Ireland has made significant strides in integrating digital skills into education. Recent reports show that 59% of secondary schools now include STEM and digital skills in their curriculum, with 34% blending these skills into both regular and extracurricular activities. However, despite this progress, challenges remain—only 18% of schools feel they have adequate resources to support these programs.

Student engagement in digital literacy is notably strong. Around 46% of teachers rate student engagement as high, and 29% say it's very high. The Irish government’s "Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033" aims to bolster digital literacy from early childhood through young adulthood, emphasising the need for broad support across different groups.

For example, at St. Brigid’s National School in Dublin, teachers are incorporating coding and robotics into lessons, providing students with hands-on experience in digital problem-solving. Such initiatives not only enhance digital skills but also foster critical thinking and creativity.

Comparing Digital Skills: Generation Z vs. Millennials

Generation Z, born between 1995 and 2012, are true digital natives. They’ve grown up with advanced technology at their fingertips, excelling in using various digital tools and platforms. However, their proficiency often leans more towards usage rather than critical analysis, source evaluation, or understanding the broader implications of digital content. (The Future of Commerce)​​ (Phys.org)​

In contrast, Millennials, born between 1981 and 1995, witnessed the internet and digital technologies' evolution. This generation typically has a more balanced approach to digital literacy, possessing both technical skills and the critical thinking needed to navigate digital content effectively. As an expert from Deloitte noted, “Millennials tend to value a healthy work-life balance and are more likely to seek feedback and recognition in the workplace. Gen Z, on the other hand, is more comfortable with digital communication platforms but may struggle with face-to-face interactions.” (The Future of Commerce)​.

The differences between these generations highlight the evolving nature of digital literacy and the need for tailored educational approaches to meet each group's unique needs. (The Future of Commerce)​.

Bridging the Digital Literacy Gap

Ireland and the European Union are working diligently to close the digital literacy gap between generations. The EU’s "Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027)" aims to create a top-tier digital education system and enhance digital skills for the future. Similarly, Ireland's updated "Digital Strategy for Schools" focuses on integrating digital technologies into teaching, upgrading infrastructure, and supporting teachers with professional development.

One initiative making a significant impact is the “Digital School of Distinction” award, which recognizes schools excelling in the integration of digital technologies into their curricula. This sets a benchmark for others to follow, inspiring widespread adoption of digital literacy practices.

Why Enrol in Coding Classes?

Develop Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Coding teaches kids to think logically and tackle complex problems—skills that are invaluable across all areas of life.

Enhance Digital Literacy: Beyond basic skills, coding helps kids understand technology on a deeper level, making them savvy consumers and creators of digital content.

Prepare for Future Job Markets: As the demand for digital skills grows, learning to code gives kids a competitive edge, opening up career opportunities in various fields.

Encourage Creativity and Innovation: Coding is a creative process that encourages kids to innovate and experiment, nurturing their ability to think outside the box.

Support Educational Goals: Coding complements other subjects, reinforcing classroom concepts and offering practical applications for theoretical knowledge.

Here's what one parent had to say: “Enrolling my daughter in coding classes has been one of the best decisions. Not only has she developed impressive technical skills, but she’s also more confident in solving problems creatively.”

Conclusion

Investing in your child's digital education today is a critical step towards securing their future success. Coding classes do more than teach technical skills—they equip children with the tools to think critically, solve problems, and innovate in a rapidly changing world. Don’t wait—take the first step by enrolling your child in a coding class today, setting them on a path to digital literacy that will serve them well for years to come.

Change to the Fresher Curriculum: A New Focus on Scratch

Change to the Fresher Curriculum: A New Focus on Scratch

At the Academy of Code, we are dedicated to providing the best learning experience for our students, recognizing the importance of coding education in today’s world. Over the summer, we carefully reviewed valuable feedback from students and parents, leading to significant improvements in our curriculum. The most notable change is the revamp of our Core Fresher curriculum, now focused entirely on Scratch, a programming platform that has consistently proven to be a favourite among our students.

Why Scratch?

Scratch is a highly engaging and user-friendly platform that allows young learners to dive into the world of programming with ease. Its block-based interface is designed to be intuitive, making it accessible to beginners while also offering depth for more advanced exploration. Scratch not only introduces the fundamental concepts of coding but also fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. These qualities make it an ideal starting point for our Fresher students, who are often taking their first steps into the realm of programming.

Image from our Scratch lessons

The Curriculum Overhaul

With our new focus on Scratch, the lessons in the Core Fresher curriculum have been revisited to maximise the platform’s potential. The course will guide students through a series of projects that gradually increase in complexity, ensuring they build a strong foundation in coding principles while also enjoying the learning process. From creating simple animations to developing interactive games, students will experience the joy of bringing their ideas to life through code.

This shift to Scratch as the central element of our Fresher curriculum was driven by the overwhelming positive response we’ve received from students and parents. Many appreciated Scratch’s ability to engage young learners quickly, sparking a passion for coding that motivates them to explore more and take on new challenges. By making Scratch the focal point of our introductory course, we are confident that we will inspire even more students to embrace coding.

Continuous Improvement

At the Academy of Code, we believe that education is a dynamic process that should continuously evolve to meet the needs of our students. We remain committed to listening to feedback and making improvements to our courses. The changes to our Fresher curriculum reflect our dedication to providing a learning environment that is both fun and educational, where students can thrive and develop a lifelong interest in coding.

This new curriculum will begin with the upcoming term, and we look forward to seeing our students excel with Scratch as the foundation of their coding journey. Join us in this exciting new chapter and sign up today at https://www.theacademyofcode.com/autumn-spring-term-2024-25.

Introducing our New Senior Pathway Extension Class!

New Senior Pathway Extension Class

At the Academy of Code, we are always looking to improve our offerings and our latest new offering is our Senior Pathway Extension class. We often encounter students who want to do more than one coding class a week and explore more of what computer science has to offer. The Pathway Extension classes are our solution for these students.

For the past few years, these classes have been a huge success among our Fresher and Junior age groups and we want to extend this great opportunity to our Senior students as well.

What will our Senior Pathway Extension class cover?

The Senior Pathway Extension class focuses on game development using the Godot game engine. Game engines are used by developers to build their games. Godot provides students with a powerful and versatile tool, fostering creativity and technical skills simultaneously. As an open-source game engine, Godot is known for its ease of use, making it an ideal choice for beginners while offering advanced features for experienced developers.

One of the standout features of Godot is its scripting language, GDScript, which is similar to Python. This similarity makes GDScript easy to learn for those already familiar with Python, such as students who have completed our Fresher and Junior Extension classes, while also being accessible to beginners.

Python is also the primary coding language of the Leaving Certificate Computer Science course and learning GDScript will be of benefit to any students considering completing this course in the years ahead.

Who are these classes suitable for?

These extension classes are suitable for brand new beginners and experienced coders alike. Beginners will get the opportunity to learn Godot alongside their core coding classes, while more advanced students will get the opportunity to really use their knowledge from the core coding classes to create exciting and creative games in Godot.

What material will you cover in our classes?

Students will begin these classes learning about the fundamentals of programming in Godot. This includes learning about Godot specific features like nodes and scenes and learning the fundamental concepts of programming such as variables and functions.

At the end of Unit 1 of the course students will work on creating their first simple game in Godot. This will bring together all of the concepts learned throughout the unit to create an interesting side scrolling game including choosing their own parallax backgrounds.

Side scrolling game

Then in Unit 2 students will learn about more game development techniques such as adding user interfaces, timers, and keyboard controls. This will allow students to create their own target shooter game at the end of the unit.

Target shooter game

Particle special effects

As students continue to advance through the units they will learn even more about how to create their own games in Godot and will cover topics such as player animations, lighting effects and particle special effects.

Platformer game

How will this class be tailored to each student?

As with all of our classes we tailor our courses to each student’s level. Students will mostly follow the structured lessons, but we also encourage students to take ownership of their learning. This allows students to explore the aspects of coding that they find most interesting. As always our friends and experienced tutors will be on hand to ensure that learning is both fun and effective.

When are our Pathway Extension classes?

The classes are 1 hour a week throughout the school term and there are three time slots available. You can see our full class calendar here.

• Monday, 18:15-19:15

• Thursday, 18:15-19:15

• Saturday, 10:00-11:00

How to book our Pathway Extension classes?

You can learn more about all of our Pathway Extension classes and book your class here.

As always if you have any questions or queries please get in touch at info@olusedu.com

We look forward to you seeing you all in classes in September.

Christmas Gift Guide

If you have a teen who’s taken with tech, or a kid who’s crazy about computers, we have some ideas for great presents that will make them happy this Christmas!

Irish Electronics have a great set of electronics kits available at this link. We particularly like the Start to Solder Educational Kit, although this is recommended for ages 13+ only. Watch out for the hot soldering iron!

Along the same lines why not check out the microbit, available from Irish Electronics and also from RS (various versions from about €15-20). We love the microbit for its low price and versatility, and there are so many accessories that you can really tailor this to the lucky recipient. The core microbit also suitable for younger students from age about 7 or 8 up (just watch out for some accessories which might be particularly fiddly, or anything that requires a soldering iron to assemble). We particularly like the Inventors kit, which costs under €30 and comes with a booklet containing 10 projects to try. Be aware that like a lot of the kits the Inventors Kit don’t come with with the actual microbit, so make sure to read the fine print and buy the microbit as well if necessary.

Fun electronics projects are great, but sometimes it’s nice to read about the history of technology too. Almost everything Stripe Press publishes is great, although some of it is probably a bit deep in the weeds for even a more advanced student. The Big Score is a fascinating history of early Silicon Valley, and likely to be of interest for older teens looking to learn more about the history and context of modern technology.

For a more purely fun focused present, any PC gamer will love to receive a gift card for the Steam online game store - these gift cards are available from Game Stop, Harvey Norman and Smyths Toys nationwide.

For kids of all ages, the Hexa Light Panels (€130) are a really cool techie way of decorating a bedroom or den. Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, they are fully customisable and can be synced with music or adjusted based on the season, time of day, or anything else you can think of!

Most kids and teens would love to wake up to a new tablet computer on the 25th, and there are tons of great options available now. The Amazon Fire HD 8 starts at just €120, making it a much cheaper and still full functioned alternative to the iPad. If you do want to stretch your budget the iPad is still the king of tablet computers, and the the previous (9th) generation model is still available from €449.

Those tablets can be noisy, but many parents worry about kids cranking the volume on headsets too high and potentially damaging their hearing. These headphones from gorsun guarantee that volume won’t exceed 85dB, giving peace of mind to parents, and also come in a range of colours and fold up for easy storage.

Code the Classics is a great stocking filler for just €14. This book shows how classic games like Pong and Frogger were created, and gives pointers on how they could be recreated in Python today. A great inspiration for anyone looking to write more of their own games, albeit probably a little technical for younger students. It’s also a great resource for anyone in our Pathway to Computer Science program. While the programming language isn’t the same as the one we use in our classes, many of the lessons on game design are applicable across all languages, and it provides a fascinating insight into how great game designers think about building their games.

Finally for book lovers who love a bit of technology an e-reader is a fun bit of tech - and for more reluctant readers it might just get them reading a bit more too! The Amazon Kindle is often regarded as the default choice, and it is a great bit of technology (€110 for ad free version - kids version not available in Ireland), but consider also the Kobo Readers from €110. You can use the Kobos with Borrowbox, a free service which allows you to borrow eBooks for free from your local library!