“The last decade has been the decade of software eating the world.” - Marc Andreessen, co-founder of famed Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and inventor of the web browser.
Uber now does more taxi rides than all the global taxi companies combined. Airbnb has more rooms on its platform than the biggest hotel chains combined. Zoom hosts more conversations than the biggest global telecom companies like Vodafone and T-Mobile. And surprisingly, Uber, Airbnb and Zoom did not exist even a decade ago! How did these companies disrupt decades-old industries and monopolies in such a short time?
The answer is by leveraging technology.
What will the digital future look like?
Will space travel be a reality? Probably. Will robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) replace a lot more human jobs? Definitely. Will we see dramatic advances in medicine and self-healing technologies? Hopefully.
Empowering our children to create the future
And who will build these technologies of the future? The school-going children of today! So, how do we empower our children to be creators of the future (vs. just being consumers of technology)? How do we ensure the foundation of an ethical and equitable future? By helping our children develop 21st-century skills and leverage technology as a new super-power.
Computational thinking and coding as the 21st-century skill for children
We hear the term “21st century skills” thrown around a lot, and computational thinking is often part of that conversation (with good reason). Computational thinking relates to the ability to understand and leverage technology for all kinds of purposes. It includes pattern recognition, decomposition, abstraction, and algorithm design. These skills are useful for kids at school, but also for future careers and life in general.
Exploring programming is a sure-fire way to start building computational thinking skills. Even universities like Harvard are researching and developing frameworks on how programming can help develop computational thinking skills in early childhood.
How can you get your child started with learning to code and developing a computational thinking mindset
Some commonly available resources are:
- Code.org (free) is a great resource for younger learners (<8 years)
- Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) is an amazing platform (free), developed by MIT to introduce learners (particularly 8-12 years) to coding in a fun and engaging way
- Lego Kits (like EV3 or WeDo) are expensive but effective with young learners who have a kinaesthetic way of learning
The future of your children depends on the decisions you make today. It is important to start early and then let the magic of compounding do its job. Take the first step now to empower your children to create a brighter tomorrow!
As Albert Einstein said: “Compounding is the most powerful force in the universe.”