3 tips to introduce programming in high schools and community colleges

Sakina Turabali
Sakina Turabali
Co-founder Last updated on 4/12/2023

As technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly important for students to have a strong understanding of programming. Not only is it a valuable skill for those pursuing careers in computer science and technology, but it can also be applied to various other fields, such as finance and marketing. However, for many high school and community college teachers, incorporating programming into their curriculum may seem daunting. Here are three tips to help get started.

1. Start small and build gradually

Many teachers may feel overwhelmed by the idea of introducing programming to their students, mainly if they themselves have limited experience with coding. To ease into it, start with small, manageable projects and build gradually. For example, begin with simple tasks like just a story with some basic programming theory integrated into it. CodeEasy helps teachers quickly introduce programming into their curriculum, and then work your way up to more complex projects.

2. Use online resources and tutorials

There are a plethora of online resources and tutorials available that can help teachers and students learn programming. Websites such as CodeEasy offers interactive, step-by-step story-based tutorials that can be used in the classroom. Additionally, many free programming software tools and platforms, such as Scratch can be used to create projects.

3. Encourage collaboration and teamwork

Programming is often a team effort, and students can learn a lot from working together. Encourage your students to discuss the codes and share their codes with one another. This will not only help them learn from each other, but it will also give them a sense of community and support.

Incorporating programming into the classroom can be a challenging task for high school and community college teachers, but it is also a valuable and rewarding one. By starting small, using online resources, and encouraging collaboration, teachers can help their students gain a strong understanding of programming and prepare them for future careers in technology and other fields.