Learning about language
through focusing on Coding
Learning Coding (a language that enables humans to communicate
with and direct robots) can foster insights on English Language and its
applications in inter-human communications! In other words, if students learn
this new (additional language) of Coding can they understand English better by
observing the rules, mechanics, conventions, applications, etc. of Coding?
This would be true of learning a foreign language. Learning French would give a fresh and differently contextualized set of insights into grammar, punctuation, etc.
This would be true of learning a foreign language. Learning French would give a fresh and differently contextualized set of insights into grammar, punctuation, etc.
One VERY simple activity for kids to do based on the above - after having kids learn some Coding and apply
it to a robot project they are working on, simply ask them to reflect and
respond to a prompt like “What about the way you used Coding to communicate to
your robot gives you an understanding about the way you speak to people when
you are instructing them to do something?”
Dr.
Rose Reissman (English Language Arts Coach at I.S. 63 - Ditmas Middle School –
Brooklyn, NY) adds:
I would
pose prompts like these:
-
As you learn the language and conventions of coding, share
some mistakes you or your partners make at first with programming that causes
your robot to not make the move or do the task you desire.
Detail the exact coding mistakes you make the
consequences for the robot moves or task completion.
-
In what ways do speakers of English or other languages also
make "mistakes" in codes which result in actions or answers which do
not communicate the information or achieve the action desired.
For example:
For example:
A contest in a school for a movie trip that was paid
for by the students which promised "3 tickets" after the students
wrote a review for the movie.
This was a code mistake by the school since there was
only one paid by students chance to see the movie and so 3 free tickets to it
would be useless. The intent was that writing a review would get the student
blue positive behavior tickets that could be redeemed in the school reward
store.
Find other examples of "mis-coded" school or
store notices or outside signs and explain the coding mistakes and how the
"code" can be corrected.
2. What "codes" play out or are used in
friendship exchanges that indicate you've got a friend- List code exchange
between you and a true friend that make little actual literal sense but
have meaning to you. Some of these may have to do with where you come
from- such as someone from Brooklyn NY will say:
I got your back-meaning I will defend and side with
you
Busting your chops- meaning just arguing to argue for
fun -not serious about it
3. Also if you are an ESL speaker, say from a Spanish
speaking country-
How is the code of noun verb object different from
English-
For example "I have 12 years” in Spanish is great
code but in English correct to say "I am 12 years old."
Explain how coding for correct grammatical response
differs from Spanish to English or other native languages to English
Suggested Reading List - Coding and Language Learning
Suggested Reading List - Coding and Language Learning
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