The Advantages of Learning Computer Science Early at School

With all the pressure on students to excel at more traditional subjects, you wouldn’t be blamed for postponing computer science (CS) education. The diminished role CS takes in traditional schooling can partly be attributed to the lack of CS in our public school system. Other countries, such as Scotland and China, are already leading the way in CS education, and for good reason. Only a month ago, the Connecticut legislature has advanced a bill to make computer science curriculum a requirement in the state’s public schools. There are numerous research studies that suggest many benefits to students studying CS at an earlier age - and we’ll examine some of the most important reasons together.

First and foremost, computer science takes time to master.

This goes beyond the ‘practice makes perfect’ maxim - you can’t jump straight into complex algorithms and expect to understand. By mastering the basics early, students can more easily grasp complex aspects later in life.

Children’s brains grow and expand at a rate that is never matched as they get older.

During this rapid brain development, many neural connections responsible for cognitive advancement and developmental intelligence are at their critical time for growth. Young brains also have more plasticity, which is why this is the prime time for children to adapt and pursue new skill sets, such as language, music, and coding.

Delaying study until college may mean that students miss the opportunity to discover a possible passion or career path.

Young learners, as opposed to adults, have less physical and emotional influences that might interfere with their learning process, such as the demands of a career, self-consciousness, or social pressures. By college, students will be busy with countless other priorities, so exploring CS may be an inconvenient option. Learning CS at a young age ensures students are ready to capitalize on a vast multitude of opportunities.

While the young brain is more proficient at learning computer science, computer science also provides advantages to the young brain.

CS uses logic, syntax, and other skills that are beneficial for core subjects like science, math, and language. It also shapes how one thinks and processes information – a skill known as ‘computational thinking’. Computational thinking is closely linked to sequential thinking, it’s a type of thought-processing defined by logical problem-solving. It can be compartmentalized into decomposition, pattern-recognition, abstraction, and algorithms. By making students computational participants, you empower them with the confidence and the know-how to shape tomorrow’s world, not just to inhabit it.

Thanks to both the skills and confidence it brings, Microsoft and others have shown that students who study CS at a younger age are considerably more likely to follow STEM studies and careers. In fact, computational thinking, digital literacy, and computational participation are all advantageous in employment and further study later in life. Code.org estimates that CS jobs are growing at twice the national average. Even if a direct CS career isn’t on the cards, it’s a vital skill in all manner of careers, from engineering to architecture. Being digitally literate will open countless doors, many of which won’t have even been invented at the time of writing. With increasing automation and a world-in-flux, nobody knows what the career market of 10 or 20 years-time will look like, but learning CS is an assured way to stay ahead of the curve.

Don’t want to take our word for it? Watch giants of the tech, music, and sports worlds talking about the advantages of learning to code early:

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