Apple released new coding education resources for elementary school students and educators on Tuesday. With them, the company now offers coding curriculum tools for kids all the way from kindergarten up to college.
In addition, teachers can try a new one-hour Inclusive App Design activity to introduce young children to the world of coding and app development.
Teaching younger kids to code
“Learning the fundamentals of coding at a young age helps students listen, communicate, and think in new ways — and it improves students’ confidence,” said Leticia Batista, Ed.D., a dual-language kindergarten teacher at McKinna Elementary School in Oxnard, California.
Apple’s Everyone Can Code Early Learners helps teachers and families introduce coding to the youngest students.
The tools are designed to be engaging and don’t always involve screen time. Kids in kindergarten through third grade discuss, discover and play to build a foundation in core coding concepts through subjects that include science, art, music, and physical education.
“Our resources and support for educators are designed to prepare students to be the innovators of tomorrow, whether they’re just getting started or ready to build their first apps,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s VP of Education and Enterprise Marketing.
Try the introductory Inclusive App Design activity
Apple suggests its one-hour Inclusive App Design activity as a way to get started in coding and app development.
This helps educators guide students as they turn their ideas into apps with inclusion and accessibility in mind. The application design process helps children identify problems they care about, and then plan, prototype, and code creative solutions.
Everyone Can Code Early Learners is available starting Tuesday as a free download for families and educators on apple.com. There are also tools for other students and ones to help educations learn how to teach coding.
