Mini Missions for Home Learning: Computing

Barefoot Mini Missions to build computational thinking skills: Easy to do mini activities provide fun ideas to get children practising their computational thinking skills. Split into the six computational thinking concepts it’s easy to discover new ways to introduce and reinforce learning from school and at home. Mini Missions: Easy to Print Save Ink Document.

What does ‘Computing’ mean?

Computing is any activity that uses computers to manage, process, and communicate information. It includes development of both hardware and software. Major computing disciplines include computer engineering, software engineering, computer science, information systems, and information technology.

Why is ‘Computing’ important?

Computing capability is an essential skill for life and enables learners to participate more readily in a rapidly changing world. Using the internet and email, for example, gives them rapid access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures.

At what age can a child start using a computer?

Most children will be ready to start learning to use a laptop around age 2 or 3. During this early stage of laptop use, a parent, teacher or another adult should always supervise them.

What can I teach my child about computers?

The best way to introduce your child to a computer is to start them on a family laptop or desktop rather than a tablet or phone. Why? This limits the child's access and allows you to teach them the basics: such as how to turn the computer on and off, and how to open and close software.

How young can a child use a computer without help?

There are no specific guidelines; but child health advocates often emphasize the importance of parents monitoring their child’s media use. At the age of 4 – 5, most children have fine motor skills to manipulate a mouse. However, preschool kids are still too young to use a computer independently. When kids start Primary School (5-7 years), kids can start to use a laptop with some independence. After their sixth birthday, they become capable of thinking a bit more abstractly. At this point, they are also capable of enjoying the complex and time-based games and activities.

What do you mean by coding?

Coding means using the programming language to get the computer to behave as desired. Each line of the code is a set of instructions for the computer. A set of codes form a script, and a set or dozens of sets, form a program.

What is coding in simple language?

Coding is a skill where you take instructions (the steps in a task) and translate it into a language the computer understands since computers do not communicate like humans. They communicate in a language called BINARY and it is uses 0's and 1's. Coders write the instructions using a programming language.

Is coding and programming the same?

While coding and programming seem to be the same, they are altogether different from each other. While coding means writing codes from one language to another, programming means to program a machine with a given set of instructions to run.

How to get good at coding:

1. Remind yourself how much you have to learn.
2. Stop trying to prove yourself right.
3. “The code works” isn't where you stop; it's where you start.
4. Write it three times.
5. Read code.
6. Write code, and not just as assignments.
7. Work one-on-one with other developers any way you can.
8. Learn techniques, not tools.

Learn to code:

• Pre-reader Express: https://studio.code.org/s/pre-express-2020
• Express Course: https://studio.code.org/s/express-2020