Introduction:
Computer programming has become one of the essential skills for students to learn in the digital age. Learning programming at early age for kids gives opportunity to learn computer fundamentals by experimenting. Coding also helps in developing logical thinking, analytical skills and problem solving. These days kids can learn coding using different methods like graphical interface called as Visual programming techniques. They can use different types of devices like personal computer, Smartphones and platforms designed based on Microcontrollers like Arduino, Microbit etc… By working on coding for these platforms kids enjoy coding/programming as they can interact with physical world using sensors, LEDs, motors etc.
Visual programming tools:
To learn the coding, understanding the syntax of a particular programming language, and typing in editor and doing compilation steps becomes more error prone and tedious task for kids. To create interest on coding and to make the kids more interested in programming there are different visual programming tools available. These visual programming tools allow to create a computer program using different user interface (UI) blocks. Generally kids enjoy building things. They enjoy playing with building blocks, kids enjoy building different toys, similarly by using visual programming techniques kids can develop computer program using different blocks.
Different tools:
Scratch:
Scratch is Visual programming language primarily targeted for primary school students. This is a web based visual programming tool and can be found at https://scratch.mit.edu/.
With Scratch kids can create their own games, animations and interactive stories. Scratch helps kids learn to apply logical thinking and systematically problem solving.
AppInventor:
MIT App Inventor is another Visual programming environment that allows creating Android apps using blocks without the need to JAVA. Apps created using AppInvetor can be run on Android emulator or phone.
Stencyl:
By using Stencyl kids can create games for different platforms like iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android smart phones and desktop computers running windows and Linux operating systems.
Blockly:
Blockly is another visual programming tools which can be used to generate code for python, javascript by using blocks.
Blockly also coming with an option to generate code Arduino to interact with physical world.
With different programming tools available, kids can learn coding skill. Learning coding will make them ready for future.