FOCUS Magazine May June 2017

EDUCATION
Learning innovation through technology
London offers some amazing schools and
as a result, we have kids getting great scores
in their GCSEs, A levels, IBs, SATs and
more. ey are usually ready, at the end of
their secondary school, to move on to university
here in the UK or wherever they
may want to pursue higher education but
are they ready for the world that they are
going to inhabit?
We typically teach our children to pass
tests, prepare for university, and get good
scores, but that’s not enough for them to
be successful in a rapidly changing world.
We know from our own work (and home)
lives what kinds of skills are really important
– adaptability, resilience, problem
solving, and communication. Adaptability
because things are changing rapidly and no
sooner do you get a grip on things than
they change; resilience because we can
choose to see ‘failures’ as opportunities to
iterate and improve; problem solving because
putting together solutions is where
we create value; and communication because
no matter how bright you are or how
good your solution is, it won’t be valuable
if you can’t communicate it well to others!
Beyond these ‘soft’ skills, our young people
will need to use information and technology.
Coding and making or inventing gadgets,
are great ways for students to get all of
these skills. Learning basic programming
helps young people break down problems
and solve them systematically – it’s a skill
that serves them offline as well as online.
Tinkering and creating digital and physical
projects lets them design, iterate, and
problem solve. Children take creative and
intellectual risks, and they can be proud of
the original products that they create. ey
can also hone their communication skills
inside their games and apps, or through
pitches showing off their wares.
Programming is now on the national
curriculum so all children in British education
are getting some exposure. Some international
schools have strong tech
programmes, with Python programming
courses, a Maker space, a Robotics league,
and more. ere are also a number of
groups that offer camps and courses during
school holidays and at weekends with a
focus on creativity and the development of
a supportive and engaging community.
ere’s never been a better time to learn
programming, create gadgets, or build
your own website. It’s a golden age of tech
and learning, with lots of accessible tools
and platforms. Plus, with another article in
the paper each day on the automation of
the economy, there’s never been a more
critical time to learn these skills.
Your children can build up their soft
skills and be prepared for a world where
change is the only certainty. Added to this,
becoming confident digital creators will
allow them to make their own opportunities
in the future. Code on!
Learning basic
programming helps young
people break down
problems and solve them
systematically.
Jill Hodges is the Founder of Fire Tech
Camp, which runs camps, clubs and
workshops for 9-17 year olds in coding,
making and digital arts. For more
information, please contact Jill
on info@firetechcamp.com or see the
website: www.firetechcamp.com
www.focus-info.org
FOCUS The Magazine 17