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6 Reasons Coding is Important for Students

There is no denying that in recent years, the concept and practice of coding education has
become a much more prominent part of school curriculums around the world. With the power
and presence of technology only going in a forwards direction, it is absolutely essential for
current and future generations of young people to get to grips with things like coding Python and
other broad computer programming skills.
The importance of gaining an early grasp and solid understanding of coding in the 21st century
should not be underestimated, as the skills cultivated within the classroom are inevitably going
to have a reach and application well beyond the educational environment.
Here are six of the most significant reasons why coding is so important for students in today’s
digital landscape.

Enhanced Problem-Solving Abilities

Learning coding introduces students to the notion of computational thinking, which is a strategic
problem-solving approach. Computational thinking breaks down some of the potentially more
complex issues into manageable components, and guides participants towards the creation of
algorithmic solutions that they might not have been able to initially. These problem-solving skills
are obviously very versatile and can be applied to various situations outside of the world of
computer programming.

Preparation For Future Careers

In a world that is becoming incredibly digital in every single department, coding skills are
becoming a much more valuable skill across a spectrum of future careers. Regardless of
whether students decide that they want to pursue coding as a profession, the knowledge that
they gain in their education will become a really valuable asset. Coding proficiency is something
that can benefit careers in the worlds of finance, business management, marketing, public
service and more by nourishing tasks like data analysis, formula creation, KPI tracking, and
process improvement.

Fosters Creativity

At its most fundamental, coding is just a powerful creative problem solving process. It involves
taking on a challenge, analyzing it, developing a problem solving strategy and then
implementing a solution to put into action. The computational thinking that is required when
learning coding helps to encourage creative thinking, and this can enable individuals to tackle
any problem in a more unique and effective way.

Cultivates Persistence

The intricate nature of some coding tasks can help to build resilience and persistence in the
problem solving process. The trickier coding tasks will often require a period of extensive testing
and troubleshooting in order to find the best and most effective solutions. The kind of trial and
error process that is required can equip learners with the will power and tenacity to take on
complex challenges not only in coding but also in ‘real life’.

Boosts Confidence

There is no doubt that becoming more comfortable with coding can empower learners and make
them feel much better about their creativity, their problem solving and their persistence. The
newfound abilities that they discover can boost their confidence outside of the computer screen
and the classroom, making them feel like they can take on a wider range of opportunities and
challenges. These are really valuable skills that will transcend the classroom, creating
individuals that are able to adapt quicker and handle diverse situations.

Advances Digital Equity

Ultimately, the teaching of coding in schools promotes better digital equity, helping to ensure
that all students have equal access to vital technology and gain a similar digital proficiency.
Good digital equity means that students, regardless of their gender and background, will be
possessed of the skills that are needed going forward in the world of technology. Being able to
understand and manipulate lines of code is the key to enhancing digital literacy, and it will
prepare learners for success in the ever expanding and increasing digital world.

The Best Techniques to Boost Your Child’s Typing Speed

Having a good typing speed is a necessary skill these days. Most jobs today are done on computers and efficiency is key. Being confident and competent while typing on the computer is a skill that employers are looking for when making hiring decisions. Making sure that your child has these skills is important!

Computers are always needed

Typing speed is very important to employers. Since a computer is running many sophisticated programs, it is important that whoever is operating it is an expert at running the command buttons. Typing speed is important for many jobs, including those in the service industry (where customers are always in a hurry), and also for students (whose curriculum is often computer based now). If a child has not learned to type quickly and accurately, they can find themselves lagging behind their instructors, other students, and eventually their colleagues.

Typing Games

Apart from using software and other creative tactics, one way for a child to learn how to increase their typing speed is to play games online. There are many online games out there that are designed for children and can be an excellent aid in learning to type. Increasing typing speed takes time and practice, and online games will certainly help your children to familiarize themselves with where keys are located on the keyboard which will help them increase their typing speed!

Take a class

Typing lessons are aimed at three things: speed, discipline and accuracy. Of course children have speed, but discipline and accuracy are not usually something they naturally excel at. For children, typing lessons might not sound like a fun thing to do, so how do parents find something that their children will enjoy while also producing results? Typing lessons for kids should be fun.  Many typing programs for children are filled bright colors, music and animation to pique the children’s interest. However, it is the most important that these programs are effective in increasing your child’s typing speed and accuracy. It is up to the parents to ensure that this is happening. Active parental involvement can ensure that children learn to type properly, accurately, and quickly. Spend just 15 minutes a day helping your child with their typing lessons and you will see great results!

Train to accelerate while typing

There are a variety of creative ways for a child to learn how to increase their typing speed. Many children do not have the patience necessary to develop these skills. They prefer to just spend time on the internet browsing and playing games.  This extra practice can definitely help but you also want to use a good typing program to make sure they are learning correct form and learning where the keys are without looking. As they say, practice makes perfect! The more time a child spends on typing, the more their speed will increase.

Benefits of Typing Speed and Accuracy using Typedojo

Unfortunately, most typists care more about their writing speed than their accuracy. They are very proud of how fast they can type, and often compare this with others, but they neglect to consider their accuracy until they notice that what they have written is full of typos.

This can be fixed by memorizing where each key is on the keyboard.  This is done through muscle memory and is called touch typing.  The main advantage of touch typing is that typing can be done without the typist consciously thinking about each keystroke they are making. When you copy text from a source you no longer need to split your attention between the source, the screen and the keyboard. You do not have to interrupt your thinking to scan the keyboard for the right letter or to correct a typo.

While learning to type, you will definitely see a noticeable increase in your speed, but that is only one factor that contributes to a significant increase in productivity. Another factor is your accuracy. It is important that you improve in both of these areas if you want to type well. When you take a writing speed test, it is not enough to only find out your speed. Also pay attention to the number of errors you made. Concentrate on reducing these errors in future tests as well as increasing your speed. Be sure not to sacrifice your typing accuracy for the sake of increasing your typing speed. If you concentrate on improving in both areas, the end result will be an increase in productivity.

Increased speed and accuracy are possible through constant practice. You have to start with the basics and gradually increase to more advanced typing. At first you will make mistakes, like having to correct wrong keystrokes or having look at the keyboard, but you will quickly improve.  Soon you will not have to split your attention between the keyboard and the screen, but will be able to focus your attention solely on the screen making sure your input is correct.

So now you can type accurately, but you wonder how many words per minute you can type. Taking a Typing Test on TypeDojo.com will let you know your typing speed and accuracy so you can see and measure your improvement! At TypeDojo.com you can choose from typing articles, jokes and games, original copy, and more. You will be able to see your net speed, gross speed, current speed, accuracy, error beats and beats per minute. After you finish your typing test, you will immediately know your typing speed and accuracy. If you are not satisfied with your typing speed and accuracy, just keep practicing until you see progress! To celebrate your improvement, you will even be able to download and print a free Certificate of Accomplishment from us.