Childrenentering the school system today will enter a very different world of work thantheir parents and grandparents, thanks to digitalisation and technologies suchas robotic automation and AI. While the past few years have seen increasedimportance placed on teaching coding skills at school, JSE-listed independenteducation provider, Curro Holdings,believes that focusing on the foundations of coding can start even earlier,from Grade R, and doesn't require access to digital devices.
What is unplugged coding?
Ilmarievon Wielligh, Foundation Phase Curriculum Lead for Coding & Robotics at Curro Holdings,explains that unplugged coding is a method of teaching the fundamentals ofcomputer science and programming without using electronic devices likecomputers or tablets. Instead, it uses physical activities, games, and hands-onexercises to help children understand coding concepts such as algorithms,sequences, loops, and conditionals.
"Unpluggedcoding is a versatile and inclusive approach to teaching foundational codingconcepts to young children," she says. "It emphasises the development ofcritical thinking and problem-solving skills through engaging, hands-onactivities. By introducing these concepts early, we can foster a lifelonginterest in technology and computational thinking, setting children up forfuture success in an increasingly digital world."
Examplesof unplugged coding activities include:
- Sequencing with cards: Children use picture cards to create a sequence of steps to complete a task, like brushing teeth or getting ready for school. This activity helps develop logical thinking and understanding of sequences.
- Human robot game: One child acts as a robot, and another child gives simple step-by-step instructions (e.g. move forward, turn left) to guide the robot to a specific location. This teaches basic programming concepts and following instructions.
- Storytelling with code: Using storyboards, children can arrange pictures in a specific order to tell a story. This enhances their ability to think logically and understand the concept of sequences.
- Debugging activities: Children colour in or cross out the picture that doesn't fit into the sequence.
When to start with unplugged coding?
"Childrencan be introduced to unplugged coding as early as Grade R typically around theage of 5 to 6 years," Ilmarie says. "At this age, children can grasp basicconcepts of sequencing, patterns, and following instructions through play-basedactivities."
Parentscan also introduce unplugged coding principles at home through activities thatpromote following steps (like cooking from a recipe or setting up a treasurehunt with a map and instructions), or pattern recognition and replication.
Infact, many activities that parents might already be doing with their childrencan teach unplugged coding skills. "Puzzle building helps children to gainabstraction skills by looking at a big picture and breaking it into smallerpieces by solving the problem and eventually creating the big picture once thepuzzle has been completed," says von Ilmarie.
Evenbefore the Grade R, Curro preschools also include intelligent toys, designed toassist with learning coding principles, such as unifix cubes and patternblocks, which promote pattern skill development. By embracing intelligent toysas the building blocks of basic coding in preschool and Grade R, Curro aims tobetter equip even the littlest of learners to grapple with some of the mostimportant skills and technologies they will need in their lives.
Computer-free coding for inclusivity
Ilmarie says unplugged coding is particularly valuable in schools withoutaccess to technology because it ensures that all children can learnfoundational coding concepts without needing computers or tablets.
"Thisapproach promotes inclusivity and equal learning opportunities, regardless of aschool's resources. It also emphasises that computational thinking andproblem-solving skills are essential and can be developed without relying ontechnology, which are all vital skills in today's world," she says. "Theseskills are life skills - all children need to be able to solve problems, thinkin a logical way, be able to follow a sequence and to analyse informationcarefully."
