Today we’re going to touch on a topic that’s always making headlines in the tech world, but not many people are aware of what it’s about – Coding.
It is said that soon, coding will be the key differentiating ability in the professional world. And that, kids who learn coding at an early age would turn out to be better problem solvers.
In layman's terms, coding means logically finding solutions to problems. It is the language through which computers take instructions. It’s a programming language that computers understand. It is used to develop applications, websites, and software. Without coding, we would not have our favorite applications like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and so on.
In this post, we’ll cover the basics of coding, what are some of the common prejudices which are found related to this matter, and what you can do if you wish to excel in this field.
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Why Should You Consider Coding?
Since many people do not understand this concept, this is why they think coding is hard, whereas if you learn something, you eventually understand how it works and get better at it.
Coding has become such an essential part of technology nowadays that it is impossible to think of life without it. Many prominent names worldwide are working towards further advancement in technology by making children learn coding at a very young age by inculcating this concept in their coursework. Everything that we use runs on code.
How Does It Work?
The coding language gives instructions to a computer and tells it what to do. Computers do not understand the normal language that we do, instead, they understand a language of zeros and ones, known as ‘binary’ language, which has a series of ON and OFF switches.
The binary code represents these ON and OFF switches by digits 1 and 0. Computer programmers turn the commands into these binary codes, which the computer understands and can then take the required action.
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Some Of The Popular Coding Languages
There are numerous programming languages with a unique purpose that helps computers process different types of information. As there are many different computer languages, a new programmer should not be confused. Some of the most common languages are; Ruby, JavaScript, Cobol, Visual Basic, and Perl. If you’re a beginner at coding, the following are the languages that you must know.
Java is a favorite for programming video games and mobile apps, mainly for Android Operating Systems.
HTML – it stands for a hypertext markup language. It’s used for telling internet browsers how to display websites to the viewers.]
CSS – it stands for cascading style sheets. It’s mainly used for website stylizing. It’s concerned with layouts, backgrounds, colors, fonts, and so on.
Python – It is used to script backend actions for applications and operating systems. Google and NASA use Python.
C Language – It is a low-level coding language that has 32 basic keywords. It is important to get computer hardware communicating.
SQL – stands for a structured query language, it is used by most businesses to load, retrieve, and analyze text or numbers.
Where Can Coding Get You?
Some of the highest-paying jobs require some sort of coding skills. It’s a very powerful asset one can build on in order to go into different professions. Some of those professions are database administrator, web developer, information security analyst, applications developer, health information specialist, instructional designer, and digital marketing manager.
Coding & Children
Since coding uses creative thinking, logical reasoning, collaboration, and structuring, it refines children’s problem-solving ability, eventually shaping them into better problem solvers as compared to those who do not code. It is also considered therapeutic for children as it’s a safe environment for them to express themselves in a format that is not verbal. As solving a problem in coding gives immediate results, it plays as a positive reinforcement for children and boosts up their confidence levels.
What Are Some Of The Most Common Preconceived Notions With Coding?
Difficult To Learn?
Coding may seem challenging to learn for someone who does not have a background in computer sciences. However, it is not impossible to learn to code. With time, dedication, and being persistent, you can quickly get the hang of it. The earlier you start, the better.
Why Do People Hesitate To Learn Coding?
If coding is not ‘impossible,’ why do people take a step back when learning it?
Since not many people know to code, that makes it difficult for people to find it easy. They probably associate it with being difficult as fewer people opt to learn how to code, that’s why many people resist coding. However, had there been more people coding, others would have found it relatable, and it would have made them think that it’s easy.
Coding Still Being A Novelty In The 21st Century
One of the reasons why people find coding challenging to learn is that it's ‘new’. Well, whatever we are exposed to which we have never studied or experienced before is ‘new’ but eventually, the more we expose ourselves to it, we start to get the hang of it with time, with trial and error, with making mistakes but most of all, with dedication and persistence.
If coding were a new field, then there would certainly be no training programs for it, and it wouldn't be taught in institutions. However, there are still very few schools that offer coding classes, but that does not discourage you from learning how to code.
Another factor that discourages people from coding is the fact that it's different. It's not like something else that they already know. People usually know what to expect when they enter something, for instance, learning how to play piano, you know that you’ll learn how to play different keys on a piano, but with coding, people do not know what they’re in it for. However, that should not discourage you from learning it. It may seem difficult at first when you start, but once you get to learn the basics, you will surely get by. The more you expose yourself to the learning, the easier it gets with time.
T For Time And A For Effort
Another factor because of which people resist coding is that it takes up too much time and effort. In order to master a skill, it requires time, patience, and practice. Practice indeed polishes your skills to the greatest degree. Investing time and dedication towards a task allows you to master it and not only understand it. Experts say, in order to excel at a skill, you need to spend 10,000 hours working on it. They may seem a lot at first, but once you immerse yourself in the task and start enjoying what you do, you’re already on the path towards mastering your craft.
Inadequacy Of Proper Platforms For Coding
Lastly, the lack of appropriate resources plays a major role as a hindrance towards learning how to code. Since there are very few schools and camps offering coding courses, people end up considering it insignificant.
However, just because there's a lack of adequate courses on coding doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be given a chance. There might be a lack of formal training, but there are still short summer courses, online classes, crash courses, and 1-on-1 training available.
Why Should You Give Coding A Shot?
As much as coding may seem difficult to learn, there are many ways through which you can optimize your learning experience. By giving time, exposure to oneself, showing dedication, taking classes, and finding a community that is working towards learning, you can certainly make yourself better and ultimately an expert in the field.
The world is advancing day and night, and technology is playing the most crucial part in this advancement. In order to keep up with the pace of the world, you have to keep updating yourself with the advancement in different fields. Many people may show resistance towards coding at first, but those who understand its importance and role in the world of technology know how crucial it is to learn such a skill.
To help get your child pointed in the right direction, here are a few additional posts:
Coding for kids: Technology is all around us. Every day it is becoming a more integral part of our lives. Kids today have never known a world without smartphones and the internet. It's important for children to be fluent in computer languages and to begin to learn to code. If you re a parent who isn't sure where to start, don't worry. There has never been a better time for your kids to learn to code and it s also never been easier. Here you'll find the 50 best free apps and websites to start your child s education in computer programming.
What Is The Best Coding Language for Kids? : Here is all you need to know about the best coding language for kids in 2021, Python. Read about its basics, benefits of learning it and how to get started!
How to Improve Your Coding Skills?: Coding can seem challenging and confusing, especially when starting at a young age. Here are the top 5 tips to improve kids' coding skills.
What Are Algorithms?: Discover the importance of learning algorithms for kids. knowing the procedure of constructing an algorithm helps build a solid basis for problem solving and logical thinking.
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