Tag: Education

The Best Christmas Gift for Children Under 12

On December 13, 2022

In Charity, Coding, MiniCoders, Parenting, Udemy, Victor Jung

Who invented the Python coding language?

Python is a popular programming language that Guido van Rossum created. Van Rossum began working on Python in the late 1980s, and the first version of the language was released in 1991. Python is named after the British comedy group Monty Python. The language is known for its simple and easy-to-read syntax, making it a popular choice for beginners and experienced programmers. Python is used for many applications, including web development, scientific computing, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. Van Rossum continued to lead the development of Python until 2018 when he stepped down as the language’s Benevolent Dictator for Life.

Is Python a popular software coding language?

Yes, Python is a very popular programming language. It is widely used by professional software developers, as well as by scientists, data analysts, and other users who need a powerful and flexible language for their work. Python is known for its simplicity and readability, which makes it a good language for beginners to learn, as well as for its extensive standard library, which provides tools for a wide range of applications. Python is also a highly extensible language, which means that it can be easily extended with additional libraries and frameworks to support a wide range of use cases. All these factors have contributed to Python’s popularity and widespread adoption.

Why should kids learn to code?

Ultimately, coding helps to strengthen problem-solving skills, which kids can use to overcome their future problems. In addition, computers are built with zeros and ones, and mathematical operations are processed during the coding.

Due to living in an increasingly digitalized world, computer coding is important for kids and students in the future. These transferrable skills enable kids to learn relevant and competitive skills while developing a problem-solving mindset from an early age.

Although the right age to start learning any skill may differ from child to child, the average and safest age for children to start coding are seven. So, it can be concluded that children as young as five can be introduced to the basics of coding, and children as young as seven can start coding.

Since coding is most often used to problem solve, they are happy to show that they understand how best to utilize technology. While there are often varying levels of capabilities, once they grasp this insight, you will often see elegance in how they implement solutions.

Can kids learn how to code while playing?

Of course, do you know the Montessori System, a famous game-based school technique that uses play as a learning method? In the same way, we use the Digital-Metaverse environment to teach kids the basic principles of Coding and Programming while they play an adventure game inside Roblox.

It’s one thing to know how to use a mobile phone or a tablet.

Knowing how exactly they work and which technological principles are at play is another ballgame. Coding helps children realize how processes work “behind the scenes.” By using coding-related software, kids will slowly learn what powers an application, website, or other programs. With these knowledge-building blocks, kids will gradually see the bigger picture and learn how to recognize the poor design, faulty apps, and much more. As a result, they will perceive the world around them entirely differently, with an increased sense of power, control, and competency. Kids who code will understand why something doesn’t work as it should, and they will learn what´s happening beneath the surface of daily tech activities.

For which age range are children best suited for coding?

Generally, experts agree that children should be taught how to code at the earliest age possible. All children develop various skills at different rates and with different learning styles. Still, you can generally start teaching a child the basics of a skill around the age of 5 or 6. The best place to start is by introducing various logical games that simulate the skill of coding. Children can then move on to more demanding exercises.

Several studies have shown that children who code from the beginning of their elementary school education achieve better academic performance. Compared to children who don’t engage in coding-related learning, a higher percentage of children who start coding early gain interest in STEM in college and professionally.

The early elementary years are the best age for a child to be introduced to coding. At this time, kids will use the ideal cognitive stage of development to sow seeds for more complex knowledge as they age and grow. When children are taught logical-thinking skills and adopt a problem-solving mindset, they will comprehend more complex coding concepts later in life. Much like a child who learns a language early and does not retain the language, even those who do not maintain an interest in coding as they age will benefit from understanding basic technology concepts that will enhance other learning and be invaluable to their future success.

What is the first step a parent or care-giver should make?

Like Confuscious the proverb, “A journey begins with the first step”. The first step begins with booking an appointment with a Victor Jung Foundation team member or enrolling for online course at Minicoders or another provider.

5 Charities that are Promoting Children’s Literacy

By Victor Jung

On February 6, 2020

In Charity

If you’ve ever lent a hand to a charity in the global fight for literacy, you’ll be glad to know that literacy rates have risen in recent years. Literacy programs and charity organizations have a huge role in this!

However, literacy rates are still below par in many underdeveloped and developing countries. The following is a list of charities that are promoting children’s literacy across the globe by working day in and night out.

1. Reading is Fundamental

Ready is Fundamental is an organization that aims to fight the literacy crisis in the U.S. Committed to spreading the light of literacy among kids, the charity works with schools, book publishers, distributors, community centers, health facilities, and homeless shelters to provide needy children with books and other reading resources.

They invite you to join hands in creating a completely literate nation and accept donations online as well as by mail or phone.

2. Literacy for Incarcerated Teens

This New York-based organization focuses on an important population: youth. It strives to educate teens who are imprisoned and confined by creating libraries in juvenile prisons. This one-of-a-kind non-profit organization aspires to inspire teens to read and learn to become better human beings.

3. Everybody Wins!

Everybody Wins! is another non-profit charitable organization that utilizes an innovative shared reading experience approach to encourage children to read. they feature an interesting program called ‘Power Lunch’ where an adult mentor and a child pair up for a fun reading session.

Since its inception in 1995, Everybody Wins! has donated approximately 200,000 books to kids in need and has supported 60,000 children on the fight against illiteracy. You can sign up for mentoring kids or simply donate books and money online to support their cause.

4. World Literacy Foundation

The World Literacy Foundation aims to fight the 20% illiteracy rate in the world. It uses the power of research and advocacy to promote literacy in underdeveloped communities across the globe.

Currently, they are working on eradicating illiteracy in 25 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Africa, and Latin America. To make your contribution, you can volunteer or donate money to the World Literacy Foundation or any one of the three organizations: North America, the UK, and Europe.

5. Milk and Bookies

Milk and Bookies is a non-profit organization that works to promote literacy and reading among children. Not only this, but it also aims to spread awareness regarding the importance of community work and giving.

This organization has an inspiring Leaders + Readers Program for student volunteers in Los Angeles. In addition to this, it also hosts a program called Book Raisers to motivate children to pick and donate books for other unfortunate kids who can’t afford them.

You can donate money or books for the needy children or even host your own book drive in your community.

Thanks to the many charities that are promoting children’s literacy, the global literacy rate is improving. Nevertheless, a lot of work still needs to be done. You can do your part by donating money, books, or any reading resources that needy children don’t have access to or can’t afford.

Educational Nonprofits for Families and Teachers

By Victor Jung

On September 24, 2019

In Parenting

There are many nonprofit organizations available to help supplement the educational system in the United States. Whether these organizations are geared towards teachers, students, parents, or all of the above, their support often bridges gaps that would otherwise linger between educators, schools, and families. Here are three great nonprofits that are making a real difference in today’s education system.

The Association of American Educators

This organization’s mission is to provide support to the teacher of the country. They do this through programs such as teacher scholarships and grants, liability insurance, member discounts on supplies, tuition discounts, and more. They also advocate on behalf of educators for their rights and for improvements in their careers and classrooms.

This organization seeks to reduce or eliminate strikes and boycotts, which, in the end, negatively affects students more than anyone. They do this by attempting to provide the essentials that educators need (such as supplemental insurance, for example) that they may not be getting from their jobs. By keeping educators happy, peace and balance is maintained within the education system.

Help 4 Kids

This is a small organization located in Florence, South Carolina whose mission is to make sure that underprivileged elementary school students don’t go hungry during weekends. In coordination with local schools and administrators, this organization provides a bag of food to these students in need on Fridays before they go home.

Help 4 Kids is fairly new, having been in operation since 2013. It was inspired by their other chapter Help 4 Kids in Horry County, South Carolina. As the organization continues to be successful, hopes are that the chain will continue to grow and open even more chapters throughout several other communities in the country.

National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

This 120-year-old organization has accomplished thousands of amazing feats for children. Some of which include creating the National School Lunch Program, pushing for teacher pay raises, rounding up resources for financially-challenged schools so they can keep up with modern education, and so much more. In fact, there is almost nothing that this organization doesn’t do to help parents, teachers, and students.

The PTA is comprised of over 4 million members. This includes teachers, parents, students, other family members of students, foster parents–basically anyone involved in students lives and education. Their mission statement is “to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.”

The Bezos Day One Fund: An Overview

By Victor Jung

On September 21, 2018

In Philanthropy

Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos recently declared their first philanthropic endeavor. “The Bezos Day One Fund” is expected to tackle two issues: homelessness and early education. Bezos explained that his organization would tackle homelessness by serving as a supplemental source of operational funding for other nonprofits invested in aiding homeless families. His approach to early education would be managed more directly, seeking to establish a network of high quality nonprofit preschools within low-income areas. Bezos has high expectations that his business acumen will lead his charitable efforts just as well, specifically saying he would use the same guiding principles that led Amazon to excel: an obsession with satisfying customers. In this particular case, the “customers” are children.

Because technical jargon in marketing can be troubling, here is an assessment of what Bezos’ child-first schooling would look like. Bezos schools would mimic the unstructured approach used by Montessori schools. While that may sound scary, 4-year-olds are not exactly needing of intense structure.

Alina Adams, author of a “Getting Into NYC Kindergarten,” explained that parents tend to be overwhelmed with choosing a preschool. The market is loaded with dozens of keywords, leading to further confusion regarding which institution would be best for a human recently-freed of diapers.

The bulk of preschooling revolves around keeping children engaged while their parents work. Things like socialization or advancing cognitive development can occur elsewhere. One Head Start program study indicated that preschooling laid the groundwork for better adult earnings and educational gains for mothers. The ideal preschool scenario would be a mixture of daycare and schooling. When looking to low-income families, as Bezos is, the ability to offer flexible hours would be of great benefit.

Another approach the Bezos schools could take with their focus on aiding children is to offer lots of time outdoors. Free play has continued to diminish in public schools since 1955, partly because parents have risen in control over what children get to do and, consequently, lead to the increasing prevalence of depression and anxiety in children. Keeping that play outdoors would help in managing stress, obesity, and other health issues by exposing children to nature.

Bezos’ schools will have the greatest success if they work toward customizing education down to each child, rather than adhere to one-size-fits-all approach most institutions take.

Teaching Children With Special Needs

By Victor Jung

On June 12, 2017

In Philanthropy

Educators that have been trained to teach students with special needs are familiar with the challenges faced in this field, and are dedicated to helping said students receive the education they deserve. Learning disabilities can be any number of complications involving a child’s difficulty to read, write, or speak, and can be a challenge for both student and teacher. With that said, accommodations must be made, and there are considerations that should be brought forth beforehand in order to provide special needs students with the best learning environment possible.

The first consideration every teacher should keep in mind is the aesthetics of their classroom. Children tend to thrive in an engaging environment, yet with limited distractions. Conversely, programs with little structure that allow freedom of expression can be just as beneficial. Utilize colorful labels and checklists to help them stay on top of their tasks, but give them the option to change up how they do their work. Children with special needs often struggle when trying to complete an assignment with distractions around them. If changing where they work helps, allow them to do so.

Your tone of voice when speaking to children with special needs plays a bigger part in their receptiveness than you may have initially thought. Be animated in the way you speak rather than monotone. Varying between loudly speaking in a higher pitch to whispering according to the conversation can teach them to do the same, as well as encourage them to take part in the activity you are asking them to.

Rather than focusing on just teaching verbally, help students with special needs learn more efficiently by including visual and auditory strategies. Children who suffer from dyslexia may excel at lessons dealing with color or light, and those who have speech disorders may be excellent writers. It’s important to expose them to a wide range of categories in order for them to experience the joy of doing a job well done.

Always provide positive feedback and reinforcement. When faced with a difficult task, children with learning disabilities can become intimidated and frustrated. Immediately point out what they’ve done correctly and their accomplishments thus far. Inspiring them to continue is crucial. Structure lessons around certain students according to their disabilities. For example, children with autism often thrive when given strict schedules and are rewarded for completing them, whereas a child with ADHD may perform better when given a task that allows them to restructure their environment.

Take time to sit down with these children and talk, listening to what they have to say to best learn their interests and habits. Whether you’re a teacher, or just a parent of a child with special needs, the strategies mentioned above can be extremely beneficial in both a school setting and at home.