How algorithms can help your kid do more than coding
Our kids are lucky to be born in an era where access to the world is easier through digital technology. To utilise this to their advantage, our kids need to transition from passive to active users of technology. One way of doing it is to understand hardware and software well. One of the first steps is to understand how algorithms work.
What is an algorithm?
We know that an algorithm is a step-by-step process that we implement to accomplish a particular calculation-based task or solve a particular mathematical problem. Algorithms are our instructions to the computer about how to perform a particular task. We write it in the form of code, flow charts or programming languages.
How do we explain this to kids?
Try explaining algorithms to pre-teen kids through simple and familiar real-life activities. Ask them to write down each step involved in brushing their teeth, cooking something simple or starting up the computer. For teens, it’s much easier. Ask them to look carefully at an app menu and functions to realise how most of these progress step by step. You can enrol them into a coding course, and if they show interest, you can encourage them to take up learning a machine language such as Scratch or Python.
How do algorithms help kids?
Apart from the obvious benefit of learning how machine language programming works and opening up better career prospects, algorithms have some indirect benefits too.
Clear, logical thinking: algorithms are grounded in logic. When kids understand why one step leads to another, and then the whole works to perform a task, their thinking process becomes clearer and more logical.
Understanding patterns and co-relation: sometimes a kid who is good at design might be better with algorithms than one who is good at Math. Recognising and implementing the correct logic set and using patterns help kids to apply the same troubleshooting approach to a number of other subjects and activities.
Developing decision making skills: algorithms require thinking out what is the best solution and applying it. A programmer takes responsibility for a process and owns the results. This is a life skill for all learners.