5-year-olds loving technology-based learning

Regional:(frim Lft) Gabriel Henare. Tuhirangi Bryers, Kauri-kanuru Huges, Katrina Fraser. Photo / Lin Ferguson

Patea Area School teacher Katrina Fraser says she teaches the first infant class in the country computer coding.

Her young students are loving their new lessons in computational thinking, she says.

"It's teaching them to think like computers and to be creators of technology."

Last month after attending a conference in Christchurch Katrina decided her class, though young, would be perfect and would just "soak" it up.

"And they are - they're loving it."

They are the first new entrants class nationally to learn QR coding and are practising it initially through their art work, Katrina said.

They paint or draw their picture ensuring they have a QR code in the corner which can be accessed by a cellphone application.

"It means that when their parents come to see their art exhibition in two weeks they can bring up a video of their child giving a presentation on what their painting means and why they did it."

Gabriel Henare (pictured) was thrilled to give a demonstration with Katrina's phone.
"Look it's me and you hear me, see me and everything's so cool, I love coding. I am so pleased Miss Fraser is teaching it to us."

CS Unplugged is a collection of free online learning activities that teach computer science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.

The collection was originally intended as a resource for outreach and extension, but with the adoption of computing and computational thinking into many classrooms around the world, it is now widely used for teaching.

The activities introduce students to computational thinking through concepts such as binary numbers, algorithms and data compression, separated from the distractions and technical details of having to use computers. Importantly, no programming is required to engage with these ideas.

Principal Nicola Ngarewa is excited about the new programme for her 5-year-olds.
"It's innovative and we are the first infant class in the country to be practising coding - how amazing is that?"