CREATIVE KIDS TOP Programming Education [Report] Programming Workshop @ Hiroshima

Programming Education

2015.04.21
[Report] Programming Workshop @ Hiroshima

Reprinted from the PEG page, a programming education project promoted by CANVAS.

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On Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 22, Nigel Barker and Yumiko Barker from PEG partner “JB Educational” held programming workshops for elementary school students in Hiroshima!

The couple has been hosting programming workshops in Hiroshima since the year before last.
Her husband, Nigel, also teaches programming at the Hiroshima International School.
With the understanding that programming languages are based on English—and hoping that programming will serve as an opportunity for Japanese children to learn English—they provide children with programming experiences conducted entirely in English.
They say that not only children attending international schools participate, but also children who don’t normally speak English—and that as they engage in programming, they gradually become accustomed to conversing in English.

You can view reports, materials from the event, and photos of the children on Nigel’s blog.

http://hiroshimaprogrammingworkshop.blogspot.jp/ ワークショップで使用されたスクラッチの例題もダウンロードでき—he’s provided a clear summary of how the event unfolded.

We received a comment from Yumiko about how the event went.
“Even the kids who had absolutely no experience were all able to create their own original games.
“This is so much fun!! I never thought I could make my own game!”
“Hey, should we swap this character out for that one?”
“Hey, what if it says ‘Gyaa!’ when you get hit?” Watching the kids say things
like that and roll around laughing, I thought to myself, ‘These kids are truly geniuses at creating things!’If
Japanese kids were to shift from playing DS games with their friends to creating and playing their own original games together like this, wouldn’t that lead to some truly amazing creations!?”

Although the two of them hold workshops in their spare time between work commitments, they say they plan to continue doing so because the children are really looking forward to them.
I hope that more children will have the opportunity to discover programming through their workshops.


　

Profile


  • Digital Picture Book Author

    Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
    Director, B Lab
    Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
    Chairperson, CANVAS

    After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
    He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
    His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”