Why coding is important for students in AI era

 Dr. Neelima Kamrah

From morning to night we are surrounded by computers and it is difficult to imagine life without it. Online games and puzzles have replaced traditional board games and OTTs have changed our entertainment consuming habits.

Pandemic has changed a lot of existing jobs and creates a lot of new jobs that we have never thought will ever exist. The coming age is going to be completely dynamic and our current curriculum was not enough to prepare our students for the coming market.

The National Education Policy (NEP), has introduced Coding at a young age to enhance the exposure to technology and create a path to a new world of innovation and creativity. Tech thinkers and educators believe that coding is a game-changer and a new generation will use analytical thinking to solve the problem. It will help in developing skills to deal with problems whether it is maths, science, or humanities, and will be ready for the future job.

By 2018, 2.4 million STEM jobs were unfilled and 71% of all new jobs in STEM are in computing that requires algorithmic thinking and programming skills, but only 8% of STEM graduates are in Computer Science. Students who learn Coding as a skill get a higher score in mathematics, abstract thinking, and confidence.

Coding is important because:

Enhances entrepreneurial skills: Coding help in developing the idea, which leads to the creative and analytical thinking process. It helps in preparing the kids to become future entrepreneurs.

Makes a sound foundation: At an early age kid's minds can adapt to anything, and can learn anything, it is the best time to introduce coding to them, because of their grabbing and learning power. Introducing coding at an early age, they can focus and learn it same as they learn other foundational subjects and make future-ready.

Offers the ability to create and innovate: It allows creating a mind full of ideas and uses their imagination to create any programming and software through imagination and creativity. It brings innovations to personal and professional life and the ability to give jobs.

Enhances problem-solving skills: Detecting problems and issues and breaking these into different aspects for the best solution is one of the elements of coding. Children and students will find out how to systematically solve problems. In case of a problem, computer programmers have to test various codes before finding the solution. Not only does coding teach students how to approach a problem with logic but it also teaches them patience and persistence.

Promotes logical and analytical abilities: Coding demands that students use strategy to decide which formulas they need to apply to get to the solution. That is, it motivates algorithmic thinking. Not only will their coding skills improve with time, but their math skills also will be enhanced. Consequently, students can show better results in other tests as well. According to College Board data, students who take the AP computing exam earn higher AP Calculus and Statistics scores relative to students who previously performed at an identical level in math.

Those who are looking to take up coding as a career should concentrate on gaining knowledge in SQL databases and programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, XML, Python, and C++, along with becoming well-informed about operating systems and platforms like Windows and .NET, iOS, and Linux.

 — The writer is Principal, KIIT World School 

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