How to communicate coding (a new subject) to parents in your school

Learning coding at an early age is important because it equips individuals with essential skills for the future, promotes problem-solving and critical thinking, fosters creativity, opens up career opportunities, empowers innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhances digital literacy and citizenship.

As with the default subjects at school, it is also crucial that coding is aligned to learning and performance, it is measurable, and that parents are involved throughout the end-to-end delivery of coding or any new subject allocation. Furthermore, there may be extra fees that accompany coding initiatives making it all the more important that the parents are involved from concept to ideation.

Engaging parents in the coding education of their children is a valuable way to build a supportive and collaborative learning community. Here are some strategies to introduce coding to parents at a primary school as experienced during my trip to support teachers and schools in Nigeria:

1. Organise Parent Information Sessions: Schedule dedicated sessions to inform parents about the importance of coding education and its relevance in today’s world. Explain the benefits of learning to code and how it enhances problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Provide examples of coding activities and projects students will be involved in. Ensure the sessions are interactive, allowing parents to ask questions and share their thoughts.
2. Showcase Student Work: Organize events, such as coding fairs or exhibitions, where students can showcase their coding projects to parents. This allows parents to see firsthand what their children have been learning and accomplishing. Encourage students to explain their projects to their parents, fostering a sense of pride and achievement. Consider setting up hands-on coding activities for parents to try themselves.
3. Provide Parent Workshops: Conduct workshops specifically designed for parents to learn the basics of coding. Offer introductory sessions on block-based programming languages like Scratch or coding platforms used in the school. Focus on simple coding concepts and activities that parents can do with their children at home. Empower parents to be actively involved in their child’s coding journey.
4. Share Online Resources: Create a dedicated section on the school website or a newsletter that provides links to coding resources and tutorials for parents. Include suggestions for educational coding websites, online courses, or coding apps suitable for young learners. Encourage parents to explore these resources with their children, fostering a shared learning experience.
5. Establish a Coding Club or Parent Support Group: Initiate a coding club or parent support group where parents can come together to learn and share their experiences related to coding. Offer regular meetings or workshops where parents can collaborate, exchange ideas, and support each other. This provides a platform for ongoing engagement and creates a network of parents who are invested in coding education.
6. Communicate the Curriculum: Clearly communicate the coding curriculum to parents, including the specific coding languages and platforms used, as well as the learning objectives at each grade level. Share information about the progression of coding skills and how they align with broader educational goals. Regularly update parents on their child’s coding projects, achievements, and areas where additional support may be beneficial.
7. Encourage Parent-Child Coding Activities: Provide parents with coding activities or challenges they can do together with their children at home. This could include coding games, unplugged activities, or online coding projects. Encourage parents to support their child’s coding practice by providing dedicated time and space for coding exploration outside of school hours.

Remember to maintain open lines of communication with parents and continuously seek their input and feedback. For impact, ensure that you use all your mediums of communication to keep the parents informed and engaged and part of their child or children’s learning.

By involving parents in the coding education process, you create a stronger partnership between home and school, fostering a supportive environment that nurtures students’ coding skills and enthusiasm.