{"id":29035,"date":"2025-07-21T15:05:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemonkey.com\/?p=29035"},"modified":"2025-07-30T15:54:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T15:54:12","slug":"professional-development-getting-teachers-comfortable-with-coding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codemonkey.com\/ru\/blog\/professional-development-getting-teachers-comfortable-with-coding\/","title":{"rendered":"Professional Development: Getting Teachers Comfortable with Coding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teaching is one of those professions that demands a vast array of skills, from subject knowledge and interpersonal mastery to expertise in IT and coding. But here’s the secret: many teachers shy away from the IT stuff because they’re naturally cautious of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, with the proper guidance, we can all become proficient enough to stand in front of a class to deliver coding sessions. Basic coding practices can simplify a teacher’s workday in various ways: focus your PD towards coding, and you’ll find a whole new way to bring the abstract world of computer languages to life for your students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it\u2019s not just the proficiency required to teach basic coding principles. Once you understand the fundamentals of coding, you can apply it to a range of applications, like spreadsheets and timetables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s explore how to get teachers comfortable with coding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I possibly teach coding (when I can\u2019t even do it myself)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all seen strings of numbers and incomprehensible phrases dripping down the screen in sci-fi movies. It looks purposefully intimidating and covert \u2014 but that\u2019s because it\u2019s a movie, and it wouldn\u2019t be very exciting if it were a string of easy-to-understand instructions for making a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But essentially, coding IS just a string of instructions directing a machine to complete a specific task. Those instructions are called an \u0430\u043b\u0433\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0442\u043c<\/a>, which underpins the type of coding you\u2019ll be teaching students to recognize and manipulate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And essentially, the heart of code education is understanding that you\u2019re simply learning to operate a machine to successfully complete a task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how do you do it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find the right coding platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some coders use basic text editors, such as TextEdit on Mac or Notepad on Windows, for programming, while others use dedicated platforms like Visual Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, and Xcode. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, those platforms aren’t designed for learners\u2014those are for the pros, and starting in one of those environments is a sure path to confusion for a newbie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, using the right learning platform<\/a>, designed to make coding visual and fun, can help YOU learn how to code and turn the dry task of teaching commands into a fun, engaging classroom activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning to code is fun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many ways a child (and a teacher) can learn the fundamentals of coding. You could <\/em>teach it like any language lesson, demonstrating how words relate to operations; explaining complex syntax, and teaching specific phrases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s not a lot of FUN. And teaching coding in this way could send children to sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why we developed the CodeMonkey platform: designed to bring coding to life through engaging games and non-destructive experimentation. And while we\u2019re not the only platform offering game-based coding games, we have worked hard to create a learning environment that\u2019s easy for teachers to navigate and learners to interact with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing coding to life for kids (and teachers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coding feels like a foreign language to most teachers. And that’s no surprise, because it is, essentially, a foreign language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, coding doesn\u2019t follow the syntax of spoken languages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"coding<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a piece of code a child might write for our Space Adventure game. It begins with simple code that any child can manage, and becomes progressively more challenging with each level. The task is to get the Space Monkey to the Space Bananas, work around the obstacles (such as laser beams). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The code is built for you to begin with, constructed using the simple icons at the bottom of the screen. And as you progress through each level, tasks require more forethought, using loops, operations, and sequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in no time, the learner becomes so accustomed to the way the language is presented on the screen that they understand how to manipulate the actual code to complete their own tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try Space Adventure for yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can try \u041a\u043e\u0441\u043c\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043b\u044e\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/a> for free in our Hour of Coding section.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u043a\u043e\u0441\u043c\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find that the simple interface provides all the tools you need to complete (and understand) each task. And through trial and error, you\u2019ll be able to control the characters to reach their destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why trial and error is valuable for coders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the other things you’ll discover as you try the Space Adventure tasks is that it doesn’t matter if you get it wrong. You’ll receive instant visual feedback that confirms whether your coding successfully completes the challenge. And it’s easy to go back and try again without any sense of failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This non-judgmental approach to discovery encourages learners to experiment with alternative methods for solving the same task, thereby activating their curiosity and empowering them to develop robust problem-solving skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why every teacher should learn how to code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your specialist subject, coding offers innovative and creative tools that can help you bring learning plans to life. As teachers, we innately recognize that children have different learning styles\u2014so it stands to reason that teachers also learn in various ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while the idea of stepping into the classroom to teach a subject we\u2019re learning ourselves feels intimidating, coding enhances a wide range of learning skills, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n