China News Service, Beijing, March 17 (Zhang Yuhui) "The illiterate people of the future are people who don't know how to program." In recent years, parents have entered the children's programming track.

What are children learning about programming?

What are parents’ perceptions and expectations of children’s programming?

  Data map: A student is observing a robot he designed and programmed.

Photo by China News Service reporter Hou Yu

What are children learning about programming?

　　With the in-depth development of quality education, scientific and innovative education concepts such as programming, AI, and robotics have emerged, and children's programming training classes have emerged.

What exactly are children learning about programming?

　　In this regard, Teacher Nan from Walnut Programming, a well-known children's programming organization, told China News that programming languages ​​are divided into three types: scratch, Python, and C++. Scratch is graphical programming, and Python and C++ are code programming. "If children have not been exposed to programming, , it is recommended to start learning scratch language."

　　She introduced that code programming requires children to have higher basics in mathematics and English, especially a certain vocabulary, and at the same time, they need to have very good logical thinking and a certain degree of project thinking.

　　Graphical programming converts English code programming language into graphic modules and instructions, and codes them in the form of spliced ​​building blocks. Compared with adult code programming, it can avoid complex syntax while retaining programming thinking. It is characterized by intuitive and intuitive images. It is highly interesting and suitable for children with no basic knowledge as an introductory programming language learning.

　　“By learning the graphical programming language, after laying a solid foundation, you can take the Python code programming test and start the next stage of code programming learning,” she said.

The supplement is "thinking and habits"

　　Teacher Nan said that in the daily teaching process, she met many parents who were anxious about their children's math scores. Many parents were so sick that they sought medical treatment and enrolled their children in many cram schools. However, some parents believed that they should try not to give their children cram schools. In cultural classes, what needs to be supplemented is "thinking and habits."

　　"Graphic programming can improve children's logical thinking, concentration, organization and other abilities, and is also helpful for improving the performance of mathematics, Chinese, English and other subjects." She said that programming learning will incorporate many mathematical knowledge points and in-depth After learning programming, your thinking skills will improve, and your math scores will improve.

　　However, some parents have reported that basic programming languages ​​​​such as graphics are of little significance and have limited effect on improving thinking.

　　As a parent of a second-grade student, Ms. Wang told China News that because of the recommendation of the school teacher, she enrolled her child in a one-year graphical programming course. The course uses animation teaching and is easy to learn, and the child is more interested in it.

However, from graphics to Python and C++, it takes several years of long-term accumulation. She is somewhat undecided about whether to spend several years improving her thinking, habits and other less "real" abilities.

　　"The key is to make up your mind and figure out why you are learning, what abilities you want to improve, what your goals are, and then decide which language to specialize in based on your goals, instead of just learning them all in a rush," said Ms. Wang.

The next “Math Olympiad course”?

　　An interview with China News Network found that learning programming can help competitions and further education, and has become a publicity point for children's programming institutions.

　　According to Teacher Nan, students can participate in whitelist competitions in the field of programming, including the "Blue Bridge Cup" (National Software and Information Technology Professional Talent Competition) and NOC (National Primary and Secondary School Information Technology Innovation and Practice Competition), as well as those organized by units directly under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology The YCL (Youth Artificial Intelligence Programming Proficiency Test) exam.

　　She mentioned that if they win the white list competition, students can be certified as students with scientific and technological talents. In the primary school entrance examination, high school entrance examination and college entrance examination, if the school in their area has an enrollment policy for students with scientific and technological talents, students can apply.

"Especially for the college entrance examination, if you win the first prize in the "Information Olympiad" (National Informatics Olympiad for middle school students), the second prize in the province, the third prize in the national competition or above, you can strengthen the basic plan or recruit students independently, and you will have the opportunity. Admitted to a '985' institution."

　　In September 2022, the Ministry of Education issued the "List of National Competitions for Primary and Secondary School Students in the 2022-2025 School Year", and 23 natural science literacy competitions such as "Blue Bridge Cup", NOC, and "Xin Olympiad" were included.

　　In recent years, the country has repeatedly issued documents related to artificial intelligence education.

As early as 2017, the State Council promulgated the "New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan", which clearly proposed to set up artificial intelligence-related courses in primary and secondary schools, gradually promote programming education, and build artificial intelligence disciplines.

During this year’s Two Sessions, Lei Jun, a representative of the National People’s Congress and founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Group, suggested setting up a general course on artificial intelligence in the nine-year compulsory education stage.

　　Regarding the craze for artificial intelligence, Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said that setting up artificial intelligence courses in primary and secondary schools is worth encouraging from the perspective of developing students' interests.

However, while promoting the introduction of artificial intelligence education into textbooks and classrooms, it is also necessary to avoid utilitarianism so as not to neglect the cultivation of students' literacy and interests.

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