Why Learn to Program?
Programming experiences in schools serve three functions. First, programming is a skill that some believe is important to learn; it provides an understanding of the functioning of the computer and computer software and thus is one way to develop certain aspects of general computer literacy. And for a few students, it may eventually become a profession. Second, programming has been advocated as a powerful environment within which problem solving or some other general cognitive skills can be developed. A great deal of work is in progress to test this claim and to create classroom environments in which the overall benefits of learning general problem-solving skills through programming might best be realized. Finally, programming may allow students to learn the content of some other discipline, such as geometry. It appears possible that programming can provide an active way to explore and construct a personal understanding of content within certain disciplines.
Here, we explore these final two claims. We emphasize these issues because we see them as important to decisions that educators must make about how students will spend school time. Will students have programming experiences or not? Before this discussion will make much sense, you will need to gain some insight into the programming experiences that students might encounter.