Unit 3: Strategy for Teaching Coding
In Unit 3, I learned about different
strategies for teaching coding, and it gave me new insights into how
programming can be effectively taught and learned. One of the key areas we
explored was web tutorials.
From my understanding, web tutorials
are online learning resources that guide learners step by step through coding
concepts and practical exercises. The characteristics of web tutorials include
being interactive, flexible, and often self-paced. They are usually
well-structured with examples, videos, or tasks that make learning coding more
approachable.
I realized that web tutorials come
with both benefits and challenges. On the positive side, they provide
flexibility since I can learn at my own pace and revisit the content anytime.
They also give me the chance to explore real-world coding examples. However,
one challenge is that it requires strong self-discipline, and sometimes without
a teacher’s presence, I may feel lost if I do not understand something clearly.
We also discussed how to use web
tutorials effectively. I feel it is important not just to passively watch or
read but to actively code along, experiment with the examples, and reflect on
what I have learned. Using tutorials as supplementary material to reinforce
classroom lessons can make learning more effective.
Another strategy we studied was PRIMM (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, and Make). I found PRIMM to be very practical in coding education. Each stage has its own purpose:
Predict – where I try to guess what the code will do.
Run – where I execute the code and observe the outcome.
Investigate – where I analyze how the code works.
Modify – where I make changes to understand it better.
Make – where I create something of my own.
The benefits of PRIMM are that it
helps me think critically, learn step by step, and gradually build confidence
in coding. It doesn’t just teach me to copy code but to understand and create
independently.
Lastly, we did a group activity that
made me reflect even deeper. Group A argued that web tutorials are more
effective and can replace traditional classes, while Group B argued that live
classes are more effective. Personally, I could see both sides. From Group A’s
point of view- web tutorials provide more freedom and flexibility, which can
make learning coding easier for self-motivated learners. But from Group B’s
point of view- live classes give opportunities for direct interaction,
immediate feedback, and guidance, which are sometimes more valuable than
learning alone.
Through this discussion, I realized
that both strategies have their strengths, and the best approach might be to
combine web tutorials with live classes. This way, learners can enjoy the
flexibility of online resources while still benefiting from the guidance and
interaction in traditional teaching.
I created the Mind-map according to my understanding of the lesson content.
