How do you SPELL CODE?

Years later, I decided to return to teaching. The landscape of education has transformed drastically; now, you can teach and learn virtually anything online. I remember a time when using projectors and PowerPoint presentations was considered the pinnacle of innovative teaching methods, back in the days of chalks and boards. The transition to digital classrooms was quite overwhelming. Now, instead of a physical classroom, all I see are pairs of eyes staring at my screen and tiny fingers trying to navigate the mouse and keyboard. If you’re fortunate, you catch glimpses of the perfect blend of innocence and curiosity.

This blog serves as a gentle reminder that age should never be seen as a barrier to learning and exploring the fascinating aspects of life.

We began with the basics—’dragging and dropping’ colorful blocks in Scratch, guiding the little Elly (the elephant sprite) on the screen. Neither of us knew exactly where to start. She nodded earnestly as I tried to explain the ‘Science’ behind coordinates, math, sensors, LEDs, and even digitization. She hesitated but diligently moved the blocks I asked her to drag.

Things didn’t go as planned. I waited for her to start questioning things—anything that would show she was beginning to understand real programming. Together, we built small, precise steps, like assembling tiny pieces of a Lego set. I guided her closely, almost like an instruction manual. The science was a bit above her level, and her brow furrowed in concentration, but we persevered.

Fifteen sessions in, she could follow instructions with clarity. She understood the ‘why’ behind our actions; she recognized the relationship between inputs and outputs.

My heart soared when she finally asked the most crucial question in any learning process:

“WHY??”

She inquired, “Why do we place this block here and not there? Why did you choose a loop over a condition?”

This question was monumental. It showed that she had developed a clear approach to problem-solving. Everything her young mind had absorbed only needed a bit more practice. She now had ‘LOGIC’ and had become a budding programmer!

Together, we approached the end of the Cruiser course. She could create a game on her own; she could program the robot to move with lights, sounds, and even remote control. Every time the robot responded to her C-O-D-E, she giggled with delight! Each session, she greeted me with that same smile and gentle nod, but now she concluded with, “I want another program!” The journey of learning to program was a tough start for her and a challenging experience for me as a teacher. She succeeded because she had wonderful parents who believed in her. As a parent myself, who sometimes questions my choices, we all need this reminder of how capable our children are—sometimes we fail to see it.

This blog is dedicated to Ivana Mariam, my little programmer, and to all the parents striving to choose the best for their kids.

Let’s continue learning together!