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Cover of Beyond Coding

Beyond Coding

by Marina Umaschi Bers

Book Details

Publisher:MIT Press
Published:2022-03-22
Pages:230
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

About This Book

Why children should be taught coding not as a technical skill but as a new literacyβ€”a way to express themselves and engage with the world. Today, schools are introducing STEM education and robotics to children in ever-lower grades. In Beyond Coding, Marina Umaschi Bers lays out a pedagogical roadmap for teaching code that encompasses the cultivation of character along with technical knowledge and skills. Presenting code as a universal language, she shows how children discover new ways of thinkin

Our Review

This book redefines what it means to teach programming to young learners, arguing that coding should be treated as a fundamental literacy for self-expression rather than just a technical vocation. The author presents a comprehensive pedagogical framework where learning to code is intrinsically linked to developing character, ethical reasoning, and social-emotional skills. She compellingly frames code as a universal language through which children can discover new ways of thinking and engage more deeply with the world around them.

What sets this approach apart is its holistic integration of technical skills with the cultivation of a child's overall development, making it a vital read for educators and parents navigating the early introduction of STEM and robotics. The roadmap provided moves beyond syntax to focus on how programming can foster creativity, collaboration, and personal identity. This perspective is essential for anyone looking to prepare children not just for future jobs, but for a future where they can thoughtfully shape the technology that will define their lives.

Themes

Education

Subjects

Education