“Oh, my daughter isn’t very interested in coding. She’s not that type”. 

I have heard this so many times from parents that it makes me curious. When there is an opportunity, I pause and ask, “What do you mean?” Usually, they respond by saying something like, “Well, she is more the liberal arts type or life sciences type”.

I realized there’s a misconception that learning to code is only important for kids interested in STEM careers, but the world has quickly moved past that. Computer science has evolved way beyond the idea of a singular field. A foundational understanding of computer programming is useful to your child, regardless of the career path they end up taking, even liberal arts or life sciences. Stephen Wolfram, CEO of Wolfram Alpha, said it best,

“Pick any field X, from archeology to zoology. There either is now a ‘computational X’ or there soon will be. And it’s widely viewed as the future of the field.”

I want to show you how computational thinking is being applied in non-STEM fields today so you can understand how computer programming can help your child, even if she isn’t interested in STEM related careers. Coding will expand the possibilities of how kids work with their passions, helping them capitalize on emerging areas of any industry. 

If you have a high schooler who isn’t quite sure what to major in during college, this article can help expose them to many emerging fields in the hopes that at least one of them will be exciting enough to catch their imagination. 

Computer science brings pre-existing fields of study to the next level, helping experts broaden and deepen their work. Below are a few examples of emerging fields based upon combining established fields with computational processing. These are only a few examples. In reality, the possibility for new discoveries is limitless.

Computational Criminology

Criminology is the study of crime. While this might call to mind forensic science and medical analysis, computer science is helping professionals in the field fight crime.

So how does it work? 

According to the Technical Committee on Computational Forensics, computational forensics uses computational methods to model, simulate, analyze, and solve forensic problems. For example, professionals might use digital recreations of a crime scene based on available data to help judges picture a scenario more clearly, or even modeling how the characteristics of a city affect urban crime rates. 

Simulating these scenarios requires more than just a passion for forensics or the law. You need knowledge on how to craft computational models of real life crime, which calls for data experts and coders. 

Cyber-forensics is a growing field where people with these skills assist criminal investigations to help close cases better and faster. In the future, a degree in criminology or a willingness to fight crime alone might not cut it. Instead, you’ll need a better, computer science-based understanding of how to bring down crime rates.

Computational models are revolutionizing the criminology field by preventing crimes before they even happen, or showing compelling evidence in a more understandable format.

Computational Health Science

Health science has been around for as long as humans have studied their own health and how to improve it. Tools like MRI scanners and ultrasounds brought the patient experience to the next level. Now, it’s looking like computers might be the next big step in transforming what healthcare looks like.

Computational health science is an interdisciplinary field where people with medical expertise and coding skills conduct research through data mining, social network analysis, and more to improve healthcare. 

Computational modeling can play a major role in helping researchers understand health and health behavior. Mining data from online social communities to outline their structure helps practitioners better understand the internal logic behind public health issues.

In the age of COVID-19, tracking the spread of diseases is more important than ever. Researchers have found Twitter to be a valuable tool in determining how the virus spreads through social groups, which is not only helpful in stopping the spread of coronavirus, but also useful for intercepting contaminations in the future.

Is your child interested in the medical field? Learning coding can help them work at the intersection of computational science and health science, tracking outbreaks, implementing better healthcare, and saving lives along the way.

Computational Journalism

In the age of “fake news”, reliable journalism matters more than ever. But these days, journalists aren’t just braving investigations with pen and notepad in hand. Computer science has given them a whole new set of tools to find the truth. 

Computer-assisted reporting is becoming more common, as reporters rely on computers to unearth and analyze data for breaking stories. On sites like FiveThirtyEight, journalists document news through their connection to data. Sources like these are only becoming more and more common, pointing to a larger push within journalism toward data-driven news.

More data means more information to put an individual story into context, making for better storytelling. Outlining patterns through data is more accurate than guesswork, hunches or inconclusive evidence that journalists might have been forced to use otherwise. 

Computational technology is also useful for visualizing trends for an outsider audience, helping journalists introduce their subject in a more clear, efficient manner.

At the end of the day, computational journalism could be about more than just better reporting. 

“If you look across the country, there are…[organizations] making decisions and nobody is watching,” said Jay Hamilton, Hearst Professor of Communication and director of the Journalism Program in a moderated discussion at Stanford, “So I think that’s something where computational journalism can make a real impact. If you have a strong interest in engineering and data, try to help us figure out the stories that go untold, especially at the local level.”

Computational Linguistics

At first glance, linguistics seems like the furthest topic from computers. Language is complex, rich, human. So, how can computers help us break that information down?

Surprisingly, computational approaches are helping linguists decode questions at a brand new scale. Applying artificial intelligence to language has been the key to developing increasingly accurate machine translations, summarizing or analyzing text via emotion or keywords.

While some computational linguists are more concerned with theoretical linguistics, playing with the rules of syntax at a distance, others might develop algorithms from their understanding of linguistics to break down text. With the help of a computer, you can go big or small in scale: scanning thousands of texts to instantly find patterns or uncover the hidden emotional intent behind certain linguistic choices.

Language is ultimately both an art and a science, and the better we can understand it as a science the more appreciation we’ll gain for it as an art. 

Computational Agriculture

Agriculture has already come a long way from farmers simply plowing the field to make a living. Nowadays it’s also a science dedicated to studying how to best cultivate crops, making food better and faster than ever possible.

While tools like location or optical sensors are popping up to track the properties of soil, positioning, plants, and more, this information wouldn’t be useful without a way to analyze it. 

That’s where an agritech professional steps in. Farmers need better data on how to feed more people. With the computing capabilities of a machine on their side, a computational specialist can analyze the data on a field and look for ways to reduce pesticide usage, improve crop quality, and simplify the harvesting process.

Agriculture is another example of a very old industry embracing transformation through technology. Learning coding is a great way to pave the path for anyone who’s interested in combining an interest in data with sustainability or better foods.

Computational Art

When we think of art, we think hands-on. Ancient sculptors carved their work by hand. Painters spent years in studios layering brushstroke after brushstroke on a canvas. So how are virtual spaces relevant for artists?

At its roots, art is about creativity. A computer is just another tool to express creative visions. 

While most of us have probably only doodled in M.S. Paint, computational artists rely on far more sophisticated tools. Coding is how they can generate original patterns or illustrations in a completely virtual environment, creating something impossible to craft by hand. Even if they’re more inclined to having a physical practice, tools like 3D printers, robotics, computer-generated textiles, laser cutters, and more are revolutionizing how precisely an artist can bring their work to life. 

Is your child an aspiring artist? They’ll be interested to learn how modern technology can bring their ideas to the forefront. Understanding computer logic is the first step toward a much more expansive canvas.

Computational Biology

Collecting large quantities of data in a short amount of time is now easier than ever. Bioinformatics, the study of creating tools to break down large quantities of complex biological data with the assistance of computers, has been around since the 1950s.

Computational biology parallels bioinformatics but refers more specifically to the process of analyzing and reviewing biological data. Simulating biological relationships, structures, and genomes has helped researchers accomplish feats like sequence the human genome. 

Instead of spending years collecting more data through lab work, biologists can select data sets related to their topics of research to analyze. Biology has always been about the interconnectedness between systems and species. Computational biology is just a better tool for future biologists to understand how everything fits together.

Computational Architecture/Design

Architecture is already an interdisciplinary field. You need knowledge of design, psychology, art, and mathematics to construct a building that’s not just aesthetically pleasing, but also solid.

A tech-savvy architect can make use of programming to pull together their best design work. Computational design depends more on visual programming rather than text-based coding, letting architects explore more design options, combine data with visualizations, and simulate building performance by running environmental tests.

Computational Psychology

What can we know about the human psyche? If your child wants to work in psychology, this is the question they’ll confront every day at work. How can computers help us understand our own minds?

Surprisingly enough, technology like artificial intelligence and neural network modeling is adept at modeling the mathematical system of human minds. 

People are not machines, but our world is constructed on the basis of symbols almost similar to how a computer works. Computers don’t seek to replicate the complexity of the human mind. What they do is represent our mental processes through modeling. 

Through computational psychology, even emotions or perception can be simulated with computers, providing psychologists a better understanding of what might motivate certain human behaviors. Having a grasp on coding will help any aspiring psychologist become proficient with computer-based tools for understanding cognitive behavior.

Computational Physics

Physicists have been using computers in research since the 1940s, simulating the performance of ballistics and nuclear weapons as well as fluid dynamics. Nowadays computation has application in both theoretical and experimental physics, used not only to model systems but also for complex calculations within the framework of those systems. 

In physics, mathematical models are essential to predicting how systems behave. At the same time, solving the math doesn’t mean that you’ve cracked the case on useful predictions. 

Sheer complexity means that the mathematical model doesn’t always accurately represent reality. In these cases, a computer can perform approximate calculations far more accurately than a person.

Physical experimentation is rarely the most useful way to examine system behavior. Understanding how to use computational tools like MATLAB is essential for almost every major branch of physics, from fluid dynamics to astrophysics.

Computational Chemistry

While a good deal of chemistry work happens in the lab, computational programs are assisting chemists in uncovering new chemical phenomena, especially in fields with well-established mathematical methods. 

You can run calculations on molecule structure, size, energies, reactivity, and more. Computers can optimize how you synthesize compounds based on possible relationships. They’re also used to calculate or predict chemical properties and interactions, which is especially useful in developing life-saving drugs.

A computational chemist bridges the gap between theoretical and experimental chemistry, whether it’s simulating experiments to justify a new study or breaking down previously synthesized data. They collaborate with lab researchers in identifying reaction pathways, simulating chemical processes, estimating likely products, designing experiments, and whatever else their work responsibilities call for. With the wider availability of data in the world of chemistry, computational chemistry will only grow in the future.

Computational Mathematics

Math is an ancient field that’s developed since the early days of human history. In its fundamental form it’s about finding patterns, designing conjectures, coming up with proof. 

These days, everyone knows that computers are the best calculators. But the integration of computers into math is about more than just the pocket calculator on your smartphone. Computers are useful for discovering new algorithms when you have an exponential amount of variables to take into account, accounting for massive quantities of data in the study of statistics, and automatically proving theorems with computer programs. 

Since mathematics itself forms the basis of several other sciences, it should come as no surprise that learning computational mathematics has broad applications across fields like logistics, business analytics, computer engineering, banking, medical research, and more. 

Computational Finance

Computational finance is a great example of a field marrying computer science, math, and financial studies for practical applications. 

When you think of Wall Street, what comes to mind is probably the image of people monitoring stock prices throughout the day. Thanks to computational finance, this is far outdated. Nowadays your average trader relies on algorithmic trading, wherein computer programs follow predefined instructions based on timing, price, quantity, or anything else you can express through mathematical models. It’s instantaneous, responding far faster to market changes than any individual can. 

You still need a great understanding of market trends and the computer know-how to put together an algorithm that operates your trading for you. People with knowledge in computational finance can find great success in financial research or strategizing, risk management, sales, and more.

Recommended: Python Classes for Kids and Teens

Computational Musicology

“Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.”― Alphonse de Lamartine

Do you like music? Chances are, you’ve enjoyed computer-generated sound. Even setting aside algorithmic composition, human musicians are using artificial intelligence in their art. After “listening” to enough source material, computers analyze the common patterns in music (e.g. chords, length, tempo, melody) and generate their own output. While computers are still not ready to generate outright hits, they’re advanced enough to create music indistinguishable from human creations.

The actual study of musicology is also delving more into computer science. Computers can analyze music far more efficiently than the human ear, picking up on the evolution of musical style throughout a given time period. 

Whether you’re interested in music as a general course of study or from a musical standpoint, computers are a great tool in expanding your understanding of music and will only become more relevant to the art and science of the field.

Computational Philosophy

Philosophy is another ancient study that’s been around for millennia. Ever since humans have been able to think, we’ve wanted to understand why we are here, what we can do, how to define the parameters of morality. 

Math and logic are the underpinnings of philosophy, so it should come as no surprise that computers aid philosophers in proof-checking the same way they do with mathematicians. The basis of philosophical theory can be stripped down to functions and logics, and computer programs can examine the internal soundness of any proof if it’s converted into a mathematical formula. 

Cognitive science, which has a good deal of overlap with philosophy, draws heavily on computational programs to predict human behavior. Using this information to infer on topics such as free will is yet another form of proof for a philosopher’s argument. Computational philosophy is a driving force advancing this classical field in more complex ways than it has ever progressed before.

Computational Epidemiology/Public Health

Epidemiology is a cornerstone of public health, and the main focus of computational aspects of the public health field. It involves studying determinants and patterns of public health such as disease.

Just like the aforementioned computational health science, where scientists can mine information from social media to track the spread of disease, public health professionals are able to do similar tasks to better stop infections from spreading quickly. Using large sets of data usually collected via computer, they generate mathematical models concerning a disease/infection. Running simulations can help predict the multiple possible outcomes within a given environment. This information can be crucial not just for public health policy, but also for politicians looking to implement relevant policies. 

At the moment, researchers are using simulations to study the spread of COVID-19 so countries can combat the virus more effectively with preventative measures. Knowing what to focus on is the first step in a good intervention strategy, and without the programming knowledge public health officials might have difficulty formulating a strategy.

So What is Coding Good For?

Coding skills aren’t just useful for helping your kid land a job as a software engineer. No matter what they’re interested in, coding literacy is a relevant skill.

At CodeWizardsHQ, we believe coding prepares kids for success in a digital future. They’re able to learn programming, problem solving, and logistical thinking in an exciting hands-on environment that does more than teach them the basic principles. It teaches them how to apply them. And unlike so many video based programs, our coding classes, for elementary, middle, and high school, are live and provide extensive out of the classroom support.

Knowing how to code will help them tap into emerging areas of fields that already exist and thrive in ways none of you might have thought possible. Put simply, it’s a way to discover new possibilities while still sticking close to their passions. It’s another tool in their toolkit that will help them succeed in the world of the future. 

The post Why Your Kids Should Learn Coding (Even If They Aren’t Interested in STEM) appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

New technologies and jobs are being created at a blistering pace all around us. Many of these cutting-edge technologies and jobs are related to a group of studies known as STEM. So, what does STEM stand for, and what’s its importance for your child?

STEM education is all about preparing kids for a digital future and understanding the new world around them. Therefore, STEM fields are imperative for 21st-century career readiness and global competitiveness.

What does STEM stand for?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

S – Science
T – Technology
E – Engineering
M – Math

It is an acronym coined in 2001 by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

What is STEM? STEM Meaning and Definition

STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics) is an approach to education that focuses on the hard sciences, develops critical thinking skills, and improves problem-solving abilities.

Education in STEM aims to give students the tools they’ll need to succeed in school, work, and hobbies. It’s like a toolbox full of smaller toolsets for designing and making things. Inside a carpenter’s toolbox, you might find sets of drill bits, ratchets and wrenches, chisels, and other useful gadgets. Similarly, STEM disciplines are like those little toolsets. Each is useful in its own right, but most activities require more than one.

Coding can apply across all STEM disciplines. It is part of the technology category, but science, engineering, and math also utilize code and programming.

Recommended: STEM Classes for Kids

What are the benefits of STEM education?

STEM education equips kids with competencies that will enable them to overcome personal challenges, pursue a college education or career in technical fields such as software engineering or artificial intelligence, find creative solutions to difficult problems, and understand how the world works. For example, perseverance is important to success in almost any endeavor. 

STEM helps kids learn to stick with difficult tasks and abstract ideas. Math is hard. Coding is too. In fact, professionals in STEM fields often enjoy complex problems. Likewise, kids who push through the frustrations learn that great rewards lie on the other side of big challenges. John F. Kennedy articulated the attitude of STEM professionals in 1962 when he said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” 

Kids who believe in themselves tend to do better in school. Writing code and seeing it work is satisfying. Building a robot, programming it to execute a task, and watching it happen is thrilling. But while kids are having fun, they’re also building confidence. That confidence is important in test-taking and academic achievement.

Throughout the STEM curriculum, students have opportunities to use and get comfortable with technology. Computers, peripherals, sensors, and other instruments are important tools in many STEM classrooms and education programs.

There are many benefits to empowering kids with STEM, yet it appears the US is falling behind in STEM education. 

Recommended: Why Your Kids Should Learn Coding

What are STEM skills?

Skills gained from STEM education include:

• Complex Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Reasoning
• Creativity
• Teamwork
• Self-confidence

Science is a body of knowledge and a method of inquiry. It’s about asking the right questions and finding accurate answers. The basic sciences taught in class prepare STEM students to explore biology, chemistry, and physics. Often, collaborative projects are involved, so kids need to be able to work together. Science classes introduce the thrill of experimentation and discovery to individual students as well as teams. And because modern-day scientists use computers and technology in much of their work, science classes frequently incorporate these tools. 

Technology is used in various forms to turn ideas into real things. 3D printers, CNC machines, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are just a few of the tools that enable creators to transform imagination into reality. Coding is also an important technology discipline. For that reason, kids in STEM learn about these tools and how to use them. 

Engineering is about designing, testing, and building. These skills are part of the STEM curriculum and sometimes require software or other tools. Kids may learn to use CAD/CAM software to design a part, analyze its physical properties, and generate the code required to actually make it on a 3D printer or CNC machine.

Math skills for STEM include everything from basic arithmetic to calculus. Students may need to do some manual calculations, but they should also know how to use powerful tools like Python’s built-in math libraries. Probability, graphing, linear algebra, and other tasks are fast and accurate with the right tools. Students in STEM may learn about these tools much earlier than their peers.

Recommended: Free Coding for Kids Resources

How can I improve my STEM skills?

There are many educational and fun ways to improve problem-solving, math, and coding skills. 

• STEM kits
• Online STEM classes
• STEM clubs and competitions

STEM kits let kids explore electronics, robotics, and programming. Arduino, SparkFun, and other companies make small, programmable computers that can hook up to sensors, motors, lights, speakers, and other gadgets. Online STEM classes are also a convenient and affordable way to explore a variety of STEM subjects. Clubs and competitions can build teamwork and STEM skills. In addition, books are a great resource for kids who like to read. 

Some online and in-person classes combine multiple STEM fields, such as computer science, programming, and math. Multi-disciplinary, project-based courses can make learning fun. Live, instructor-led coding courses like those from CodeWizardsHQ give kids personal attention that can keep them in sync with their peers. 

Popular STEM careers

Top STEM jobs in 2024

Lucrative and popular STEM careers exist in many seemingly disparate fields, such as computer programming, medicine, and statistics. Additionally, jobs in these areas tend to pay quite well. According to U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the 30 best STEM careers in 2024, eight of the top 10 STEM jobs come with annual salaries above $100,000. The number two position on the list is Software Developer, with an average yearly income of $127,260. The list ranks jobs based on salary, unemployment rate, growth, and other factors. Here are the 10 best STEM jobs:

Types of STEM Careers

Careers in the hard sciences, like biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and physics, are ideal for many STEM students. Mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture, and industrial design are excellent for people who enjoy designing and building things. Computer science and programming are also popular fields for those who appreciate logic and creative problem-solving. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021, majoring in STEM may pay off even for those who end up working in non-STEM fields. Among the 50 million employed college graduates ages 25 to 64 in 2019, 37% reported a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering but only 14% worked in a STEM occupation. STEM workers who majored in a STEM field in college typically made higher salaries than those who did not: on average, $101,100 vs. $87,600.

STEM skills can be useful in other careers too, like technical writing.

A technical writer plans and writes instruction manuals for scientific instruments, lab equipment, machinery, software, and just about any kind of product. In order to produce helpful instructions, the writer needs to understand how the product works and has to be able to communicate that information in simple terms. Manufacturers, government agencies, software publishers, and social media companies employ technical writers to communicate with their users.

Many trade jobs require a high degree of computer literacy and some familiarity with programming. For example, in the woodworking industry, CNC machines cut, route, and drill the parts that become cabinets and furniture. A skilled woodworker programs and troubleshoots those machines. Success in the woodworking trade now depends, in part, on computer skills. A basic knowledge of programming concepts is also beneficial, and will probably be even more so as automation increases.

STEM is even helpful for some sales professionals.

Imagine being a sales representative for a company that manufactures environmental monitoring instruments. Your prospective clients might be scientists or engineers. As a result, they’ll expect you to understand enough about what they do to provide them with equipment that meets their needs. That could mean having a solid grasp of basic chemistry, data science, or some other technical subject. 

Recommended: STEM Education Statistics

Is coding a part of STEM?

Coding for kids is one of those skills that can be applied broadly across many different disciplines. While coding is often compared to learning a language, the skills learned in coding are actually more closely related to the STEM subjects.

For instance, the process of debugging code aligns nicely with the scientific method. Coders and scientists both test their hypotheses through experimentation. They observe the results and adjust based on what they see. Math concepts can easily be seen in coding. Things like measuring distances and working with variables are foundational. And many of our technologies and engineering jobs are dependent upon a firm foundation of code. When we look at the concepts that make up STEM, coding is linked with each of them.

Taking a coding class is a great way to get introduced to STEM education. 

Recommended: 25 Fun STEM Activities for Kids

Is STEM good for kids?

Some of the most prominent figures in business and technology started tinkering with STEM subjects as kids. When he was just 12 years old, Elon Musk was already so adept at coding that he was able to build and sell his first computer game. At the same age, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg created messaging software that enabled the staff in his dad’s dental office to communicate from different parts of the building. Zuckerberg had a private tutor. Musk loved to read. But both were interested in STEM when they were quite young. 

STEM education has myriad benefits for young people. For instance, it introduces them to exciting subjects that can lead to lucrative and fulfilling career opportunities. For girls especially, early exposure to computer science appears to make them more likely to major and work in the field. With companies like Google making efforts to achieve gender parity, opportunities for girls in tech are expanding. 

Kids who study STEM can build the foundation required to pursue degrees in high-paying fields like computer science. Graduates with degrees in this field earn more over their lifetimes than graduates with other degrees.

Why is STEM so important in early childhood education?

Getting into STEM early can be the key to a lifelong interest and a productive career in related disciplines, especially for girls. Women currently represent a smaller percentage of people with a STEM career than men. Women remain underrepresented in engineering (15%), computer (25%) and physical science (45%) occupations (U.S. Census Bureau). But some organizations are trying to change that, and they need qualified candidates with STEM backgrounds to do it. 

STEM teaches kids the skills they need to do well in school, and not just in their STEM classes. For example, critical thinking is valuable in reading, writing, and other subjects too. STEM also gets students interested in constructive hobbies. Many people working in computer science and engineering started out by experimenting with computer programming, ham radio, or electronics as kids. 

How do I get my child into STEM?

The earlier your child can get into STEM education, the better. There are afterschool coding programs for in elementary school, middle school, and high school. Online education is an easy and convenient way to get started. Good programs make learning fun and help kids build skills that apply broadly. For example, CodeWizardsHQ coding classes for elementary students start with the fundamentals of the Scratch programming language. Scratch is a visual language that involves dragging little blocks of code around the screen and connecting them, but the concepts it uses apply to all languages.

Resources for getting kids into STEM

Opportunities for kids to get into STEM are numerous and span the technological spectrum. The following list includes digital and non-digital ways to get started.

Kids Ages 5 and Under

• • Let’s Go Code is an activity set that teaches programming fundamentals with fun games. Everything in this set happens away from the computer, so it’s fun for younger kids.

• • DragonBox Algebra is a mobile game designed to teach algebra to kids as young as five. It may seem impossible for kids that young to learn something so complex as algebra, but Dragonbox makes it fun and easy.

• • Baby Loves Science is a collection of four books about STEM written specifically for young children.

Kids Ages 6-10

• • STEM Machines makes kits that let kids explore physics, engineering, and other topics by assembling little machines. There are several different kits and each covers a different topic. 

• • Lego Chain Reactions is a small set of Lego building blocks and a book with instructions for several cool Lego machines. Kids will need to have some Legos already, but the kit includes all of the special blocks necessary.

• • For some students, the language of math can be confusing. This is certainly true once kids get into algebra. For example terms like such that, simplify, and evaluate aren’t always intuitive to children. My First 100 Mathematics Words introduces math vocabulary in just 24 pages of colorful drawings.

Kids Ages 11-13

• • Dragonbox Algebra 12+ is the sequel to the Dragonbox 5+ mobile game mentioned above. It teaches more complex algebra using the same techniques and play style as the first game. 

• • CarnegieSTEMGirls.org is a website about STEM that’s tailored to girls. There are links to classes, books, and activities. The site also has information for parents. 

• • Adafruit sells a wide variety of electronics like motors, sensors, single board computers, and more. They also have lots of tutorials and helpful resources for anyone wanting to explore electronics. 

Kids Ages 14-18

• • Single-board computers from Arduino are excellent for teenagers who want to explore coding and robotics. The project opportunities are limitless, but the first step is to check out Arduino’s website and learning resources.

• • YouTube is full of videos about STEM topics, but not all of the content is worth watching. However, I Like to Make Stuff is one channel every aspiring maker should see. Bob, the channel’s creator, films himself building various projects and always narrates the whole process of creating something. 

• • Krista King is another YouTuber, and her channel is one of the best resources for math students on the internet. Her videos range from middle school math topics to calculus, and she does a great job explaining complex topics in easy to understand terms. 

Recommended: Coding Classes for Teens

CodeWizardsHQ classes can get kids started in STEM from home.

Online computer science classes provide easy access to STEM education and fun projects that keep kids excited about learning. CodeWizardsHQ students develop coding skills quickly with interesting challenges like building animations and games. Coding classes are 12 sessions long and delivered live by expert instructors. During class, students learn core programming concepts by building increasingly complex projects and progressing through the curriculum. 

Elementary students master programming basic starting with simple games, moving through web development, and taking off into more difficult challenges. Middle school coding starts with classes in Python, a powerful language used for everything from web development to data science. Then, in high school coding classes, students dive into deep topics like algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Kids who get into STEM will be prepared for the challenges they’ll face throughout their schooling and later in life. Opportunities to get into science, technology, engineering, and math are abundant. There have never been so many interesting ways to get started. The key is to take that first step. Now is a great time to do it. 

The post What Does STEM Stand For? appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Yesterday, Zoom, the company that enables online collaboration had its IPO which valued the company at $9.2B! The company is so valuable because they have built the technology platform that enables how work gets done in the future – distributed teams, collaborating seamlessly through virtual meetings.

Carl Eschenbach, a partner at Sequoia was asked why did he decide to invest in zoom. He explained, “When we spoke to the CFO of one of the largest and fastest growing tech companies in the world, he told us he spends 80% of his day using Zoom talking to his people around the world. That is transforming the way people communicate and collaborate globally and in the enterprise.”

Why is work transforming this way? Why are we moving from co-located teams to distributed teams? It is because companies want to work with the best talent they can hire, regardless of where they live. It is true even for CodeWizardsHQ. We are a distributed team and it enables us to hire the very best from around the world. And we use zoom every day for internal collaboration. Being global is part of our culture.

What does this mean for our students?

CodeWizardsHQ has been utilizing the Zoom platform to teach coding to students through live, instructor-led, virtual classrooms. We have always believed that utilizing an online medium for teaching coding is not only effective and convenient but also prepares our students for the work environment of the future. Our students will be confident, communicative, and capable to lead virtual meetings.

In eight years, 50.9% of the U.S. workforce will be remote. The community at CodeWizardsHQ is far-reaching. We have students all over the globe! Our students will be increasingly prepared for the work environment of the next decades where distributed teams collaborate via virtual mediums.

If you are a parent and interested in exploring coding classes for your child, find out more about our coding programs for kids.

The post Zoom, CodeWizardsHQ, and the future of work! appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

The benefits of coding can have a great impact on our kids’ everyday lives.

Augmented reality, robots, and artificial intelligence are just a few of the new technologies that have emerged over the last few years and operate on code. Kids in particular are immersed in technology and the code that powers it on a daily basis whether it’s reading their favorite book on Kindle or talking to friends on Whatsapp. 

Prepare your child for success: If you are looking for your child to learn to code, explore our live, teacher-led coding classes. View Programs.

These apps enable us to do everything in a more fun-filled way and all require code. In the future, even more products and services will be software-enabled which is increasing the demand for technical skills in almost every professional field.

Well-Known Benefits of Coding for Kids

• Problem-Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Computational Thinking
• Career Opportunities
• Communication

Problem-Solving – at the core of programming is solving problems. These problems will become more difficult as kids advance, but being able to solve code problems will help them in many areas of life.

“It opens other doors for students who know how to code and helps them so they become more comfortable with problem-solving and finding new ways to approach and tackle complex problems,” Dr. Shawnterra Moore, Superintendent at South San Francisco Unified School District

Critical Thinking – being able to produce a program with very little input takes a fair amount of critical thinking skills. In their code, children will have to examine the information presented and make judgments that can affect the output.

Computational Thinking – Coding has a distinct advantage over other methods, because computational thinking is such a major component of every stage of coding, from beginning to end. The biggest benefit of computational thinking is how it enables real-world problem-solving. For kids, knowing how to take large problems and break them into simpler steps can help with everything from solving math problems to writing a book report.

“Coding activities train the child’s brain to break big tasks into smaller manageable jobs and linearize the actionable steps one after the other. This is essentially the same training for executive functions,” Beth, Founder at iGameMom.

Career Opportunities – STEM sector jobs make up a large part of the overall U.S. market and their importance continues to grow. Between 2020 and 2030, U.S. STEM jobs are estimated to grow by 10.5% compared to 7.5% for non-STEM occupations. Web development in particular is a career field that is growing quickly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is expected to grow 23% by 2031. 

Communication – Programmers need to have clear communication to give computers directions. Understanding how to communicate in programming languages can give kids clarity in their speech and writing as well.

When your child is learning to code, you expect them to be able to write programs and build websites. What you probably don’t expect is how much longer they can focus, that they’ve become more organized, the way they communicate their thoughts better, and much more! 

These are some of the wonderful, but surprising, benefits of learning to code. 

We asked the experts, teachers, parents, and tech influencers, for their input on the most surprising benefits their students have experienced in learning to code. 

8 Surprising Benefits of Coding for Kids You Didn’t Expect

1. Creativity
2. Teamwork
3. Concentration
4. Patience
5. Confidence
6. Empathy
7. Resilience And Perseverance
8. Academics

1. Coding Lets Kids Flex Their Creativity

Coding is very technical and may not seem creative, but there are a lot of opportunities to think outside of the box. Kids who learn to code have to think creatively about design, logic, and solving problems. Their abstract thinking develops and they’re able to understand higher-level concepts in all areas.

“Coding is uniquely beneficial for students because it combines two kinds of learning experiences that are often separate in traditional schooling. Systematic problem-solving, logical thinking, and iterative design principles can be paired with creativity and a student ownership when kids use coding to create projects that have meaning to them personally,” Carol L. Fletcher, Ph.D., Deputy Director at Center for STEM Education (University of Texas, Austin).

“Students learning to code will come across multiple correct paths to a solution, and this realization often surprises them. I love watching each student decide how they want to handle solving the problem. When it clicks for them that there is more than one right answer there is always a puzzled yet delighted look on their faces,” Brittany Washburn, Founder & Tech Teacher at BrittanyWashburn.com.

“The most interesting change in coding-interested kids is an attitude change from “consumer” to “creator”. When children see that they can develop their own game (no matter how simple it is) they suddenly realize that they have gained a new super-power – to set their own rules, to decide how this small new world created by them looks like. When kids see that they can not only use and consume the content created by others, but also create their own things and let other people use it (even if it’s only mum or a school friend – it’s still a huge source of pride) – they also become more interested in creating real things in the real world such as making things out of wood, cooking (which is a very algorithmic thing!) and many other activities seemingly unrelated to programming,” Krzysztof Szatynski at Move The Turtle.

2. Coding Requires Teamwork

Coding may appear to be one person behind a keyboard, but it’s usually not a solo activity. Most companies have a team of programmers that work together. It requires collaboration and teamwork, in addition to seeing your programs through a user’s eyes. The experience of working with other people on a shared goal, plus creating something that can be used by many people, uses skills that are important at any age.

“Learning to code goes beyond the classroom! Once kids learn to code, many are so excited about their newfound skills that they are eager to inspire and teach other students. Peer-to-peer mentorship is a powerful way to expose more students to coding before college. I’ve heard from teens who tutor students, run hackathons, start computer clubs, and work at STEM summer camps and centers. Peer mentorship is an excellent way to reach more students and introduce them to the important field of computer science,” Cyndi Reitmeyer, Founder and Editor at BostonTechMom.

3. Coding Trains Kids to Concentrate

Improving attention and focus is important for many activities and required to start and finish tasks. The average attention span of kids has decreased over the years. Kids are often distracted with their digital devices and social media. To really understand concepts and to solve problems, kids need to concentrate and sustain their focus. Practicing this on a regular basis improves the capacity for learning.

“For me one of the most surprising benefits is the process of perfecting one’s immersion through coding. In short, immersion into an activity is something that happens to us when we’re doing something that is just too good to let go. Simply ask yourself – when was the last time your child was able to focus on one single activity for hours without being distracted? Writing code is one of those things that demand the full attention span of our kids, from trying to write code, to figuring out how things work, to looking up information on how to solve a problem. It is a great way to get our kids to learn this important self-process of focus and determination and allow their brains to burst with new knowledge and enjoy in the process,” Boaz Zaionce, COO & VP Marketing at CodeMonkey.

4. Coding Takes Patience

Kids often receive instant gratification through games, apps, and the internet. As a result, they’re impatient and many expect results right away. But, good things take time. When they start coding, they need to be patient to achieve results. Writing an application can take weeks, months, or even years, but the outcome is worth it.

“My favourite side effect is the patience you develop – your code will often break and you would need to figure out how to troubleshoot it, pick yourself up and try again with another approach. In the process of building an app or even a small code snippet, it helps to think of the full picture to avoid bugs and this can teach you to be thorough and have your bases covered! When you work on group projects, you learn a lot about teamwork such as writing code that is clear to your teammates and learning to work with different opinions when deciding what approach and which tools to use. Moreover, you become a better learner as you keep coding since you are often adapting to new concepts, and updates to the programming language and tech itself,” Navati Jain, Leadership Fellow at Women Who Code Mobile.

5. Coding Instills Confidence

One way to build self-confidence is to become more competent at something. Another really good way to build self-confidence is to set a goal and achieve it. Learning to code gives kids the opportunity to do both of these things and, as a result, gives them the confidence to achieve anything they set their mind to.

“Learning to code builds confidence! It is empowering to be able to create anything you can imagine and express your creativity through new mediums. Conquering coding challenges ultimately proves to yourself that you can overcome anything! That kind of confidence can be applied everywhere else in your life,” Holly Boothroyd, Founder at Her Hello World.

6. Coding Fosters Empathy

Being able to understand others’ points of view is often harder for kids. The experience of working with other people on a shared goal, plus creating something from the user’s point of view, uses skills that are important at any age. This builds empathy, compassion, and interpersonal skills.

“In one word, kids can learn empathy. It might seem counter-intuitive, but coding is very much about cause and effect. It requires an understanding of how others will act, interact, and react to the program that is created. There can be a strong connection to human values,” Kevin Schwartz , Technology Officer for Learning and Systems at Austin ISD.

7. Coding Builds Resilience and Perseverance

Programmers are often met with difficult challenges when coding a program, especially when it comes to debugging code errors. Having perseverance means being able to keep moving towards the end goal, even when the path is difficult. 

“One unexpected benefit of kids learning to code is that it can help them develop resilience. Programmers have an amazing capacity to withstand every day challenges because programming is not always a smooth and straightforward process! In fact, programmers will commonly make mistakes and uncover problems in their code. Understanding that this is a normal part of programming helps young coders to develop resilience and teaches them to get back up and keep trying even when they don’t succeed at first,” Kate, Founder at Teach Your Kids Code.

“Coding is not easy! When learning to code, kids will fail – and fail often. Writing code and testing it, only to find that it doesn’t work and you’re back to the drawing board can be frustrating – but a great life lesson. Kids learning to code learn to try again when they don’t succeed the first time.  They learn to pay attention to detail and try different pathways to find solutions, which in turn develops perseverance and confidence along the way,” Sara, Founder at Techie Homeschool Mom.

Most programmers will tell you that in coding there are a lot of frustrating problems, but solving these problems is part of the joy of coding and provides a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Never giving up is the key to success in coding. This is a life lesson and skill that will benefit your child far beyond the classroom.

“I have found that coding empowers kids to think about failure as a learning opportunity rather than something bad. Failing and trying again builds perseverance and character!” Julie Smith, Founder at The Techie Teacher.

“We’ve found that coding has helped kids embrace and learn from their mistakes. When you code, you are bound to make a mistake, especially as your programs become more and more complex. A key skill for programmers involves debugging your code. That means you need to find and fix the mistakes in your program,” Charlotte Cheng, Lead Curriculum Developer at CodeCombat

“One of the most valuable benefits of kids learning to code is that it naturally builds tenacity by teaching kids that failure is part of the process. I love teaching kids to code because I regularly make mistakes in front of the class when coding too! Whenever this happens, I point out that even though I’ve been programming for over 15 years, making mistakes, having code that doesn’t work, and debugging is just part of the process. Through programming, kids are able to build resilience by working through the frustration when their code doesn’t work… and experiencing success when they’re able to finally debug!” Jen Manly, Membership Experience Lead at Computer Science Teachers Association

8. Coding Boosts Students’ Performance in Other Academic Areas

Coding is effective brain training for kids and this helps them improve in other academic areas too. The same cognitive benefits of learning a second language, solving puzzles, and doing math come with learning to code. The soft skills learned in coding translate to other subjects in the classroom.

“Students of all ages benefit from learning the foundations of code because the logic, reasoning, and computational thinking required translates into better performance in other academic areas. Just like algebraic thinking improves one’s capacity to process and learn new information, the process of assembling code logically to achieve a result requires higher cognitive skills which must be developed with practice. And since most children enjoy apps and games, motivating them to practice these skills is much easier,” Lannon Heflin, Director of Instructional Technology at Round Rock ISD.

The experts agree, all of the benefits we’ve discussed make coding a great choice for kids. Not only are they gaining technical skills, but they’re also learning important skills that aren’t taught in the classroom. These lessons will benefit them now and into the future. 

If you need more convincing, consider these 26 Reasons Learning to Code Benefits Your Child.

The Benefits of Coding Are Limitless

Kids can keep coding for a lifetime and the positive benefits are limitless.

One way kids can start learning to code is through online coding classes with CodeWizardsHQ. Classes are convenient and proven to help your child learn to code in a fun, interactive way. The structured curriculum means kids build on their skills until they reach our high school internship. See our elementary, middle, and high school coding programs for details and class schedules.

All these essential skills, which are instilled through learning programming at an early age, will ultimately open up more opportunities for our children. They will definitely have the edge to thrive in the future.

Ready to level up your child’s learning experience? Take a coding class with CodeWizardsHQ:

• Elementary School Coding Classes
• Middle School Coding Classes
• High School Coding Classes

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Last month, I took over 50 Ubers in India.

During these trips, I talked to the cab drivers about their thoughts on Uber.

In these conversations, some interesting insights emerged.

The common theme is this – They can’t believe that Uber, with a simple software product, is getting the lion’s share of profits.

Their contention was that the traditional sources of investment in a business was all made by them.

• They invest the capital needed to buy the car.
• They invest the manual labor needed to drive.
• They cover all the gas and maintenance expenses.

However, Uber walks away with all the profit.  

How could this be?

Therein lies the power of software.

All that physical infrastructure is needed and will be there, but software is what makes it productive and efficient. As a result, it is the most profitable part in the value chain. That is also why Uber is valued at $70 billion.

We see the same story with Airbnb. All those beautiful exotic houses are needed, but Airbnb is what puts them to productive use. As a result, they make all the profit. Today, Airbnb is valued at $30 Billion.

Even in FedEx, much of the value of FedEx as a company is in the software that runs the firm, not in the planes, trucks, sorting centers, and drivers.

This trend is what prompted the legendary Netscape inventor and venerated venture capitalist Marc Andreessen to say, “Software is eating the world”. You can read that article here.

What does this mean for your children?

If software is the most profitable part of a firm, working with software skills will give your child a great chance to make a lucrative career.

Even if they don’t end up becoming software engineers, knowing how the most profitable parts of a business work will keep them ahead of the competition.

Through our comprehensive coding curriculum, we prepare your child for college and career success.

Enroll in our 12-week “Introduction to Programming with JavaScript” class to see if coding captures your child’s interest.

The post What Uber Teaches You About Your Child’s Future appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Preparing our children for the future is to prepare them for jobs that don’t exist yet.

One area that will open up some very interesting jobs and careers over the next 10-15 years is driverless cars.

And, driverless cars are mostly made of software.

Last week, I met this interesting team that demonstrated the core construct of driverless cars. Even though they are doing it for educational purposes, it explained the core idea pretty well.

The car is basically taking pictures and sending sensory information to a computer. After computation, the computer sends information back to the car on how it should move.

It is a Python program that does all of the computations on the information received and converts it back to usable commands to be sent back to the car.

If you think about it, the bulk of the challenge to making this work reliably is in the software.

If your son or daughter would like to work on driverless cars, it is more likely they would be working on software. Even if they work on the hardware parts of the project, it is impossible to be effective without understanding software.

Therein lies the need of why kids really need to learn code and the promise of getting our children future ready.

The post Is Your Child Prepared to Work on Driverless Cars? appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Last weekend, CodeWizardsHQ sponsored a Hackathon in Austin. Austin Mayor Steve Adler was at the event to give a keynote and announce the winners.

He shared an interesting personal story. A story that shows the promise learning to code has for our children.

His said that his third daughter had a business idea while in high school. Without knowing how to code, she didn’t have the skills to bring her idea to life.

She enrolled in a course and learned to code. Step-by-step she brought that idea to life. Her company is called spoonuniversity.com. It now employs 20 people. She is the co-founder and CTO.

He said, “Her company is getting buyout offers putting her in a very good place at the age of 24”.

No one can guarantee our children a specific outcome as a result of learning something.

However, we want to avoid this for our children: They had a brilliant idea and it never came to life just because they didn’t know how to code.

The post The Promise of Learning to Code – Spoon University Story appeared first on CodeWizardsHQ.

Watch this awesome video where Dell employees are encouraging people to join their team. There are and will be a lot of technology jobs out there.

A couple of awesome quotes by Michael Dell explains the role of technology in human progress. The big picture view that we need to keep in mind so we can think ahead to the world our children will be graduating into.

“Whether its in healthcare, or any field of science or all the unsolved problems out there in the world. How do schools become more productive, how do business become more productive, how does our society advance, the answer is technology.”

“We are very fortunate to be in the industry that is really the fulcrum of all progress in the world.”

Software is at the heart of all that technology. Is your child ready to learn to code? Find out with this free report.

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