No.21 Let's learn "programming" during summer vacation♪

　At Kanto Gakuin University, a "programming class" for elementary school students was held.
　This project, which has been ongoing since 2014, is currently being implemented jointly with Kanto Gakuin University as part of the campus town Kanazawa, a community development in cooperation with universities. Lecturer is Akiaki Hirano, a full-time lecturer at the Information Network Media Course, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kanto Gakuin University. Professor Hirano specializes in CG programming, image engineering, software design, etc.
　Using Scratch, a visual programming tool for children developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, we created movements by combining "orders" prepared as blocks with mouse operation. Even elementary school students can create very simple apps and games by programming according to the menu, so they can learn programming while having fun as an introductory version.
　This time, there were 85 applications from the first grade to the sixth grade of elementary school. Children who are accustomed to personal computers on a regular basis were programming more and more at a speed that could not keep up with adults thinking themselves. The children who touched the keyboard for the first time were nervous at first, but with the careful guidance of the teachers, I fully enjoyed the first programming experience.
　I hope that this classroom will help Kanazawa Ward create digital talent for the next era.

※Scratch is a project undertaken by the Scratch Foundation with the cooperation of MIT Media Lab's Lifelong Kindergarten Group. You can get it freely from Scratch (external site).

(August 2, 2024 Takayuki Watanabe, Manager, Planning and Adjustment Section, Regional Promotion Division Kanazawa Ward)