So, uh, Glico, the company behind the comic-con staple Pocky released an app that teaches basic coding concept to kids. It's your generic make-a-robot-move-using-arbitrary-blocks-that-mimics-coding-but-not-really idea -- but this time, it's brought to you by chocolate covered biscuit et al. The app-tly named "G L I C O D E" app does just that. It's basically a simple puzzle game that the player must use arrows in the shape of confections to guide a morbid-looking character through its blocky world. |
I get it. It teaches the most basic programming to kids, who'll most benefit from it in the future. I think GE mentioned that they teach everyone that works there programming regardless of position, from the secretary, attorney, security, etc. It's such an important skill for the modern age. All kids in India are required to learn it, and in fact, it seems that the western education system is lagging far behind in preparing kids for not only the future job market, but simply life skills in general. There are stories of school boards skimping out on computer science curricula and businesses opening up to cash in on it. In the end, kids in low income families will be hit the hardest. It's definitely not great for creating jobs in the future if we don't invest in the education of kids in the present. Canada and US has the resources. They need to allocate it to build a think-tank to research and design a curricula that'll nurture kids that dream big and chase success. |