Computer classes in new education plans lauded by tech expert

New Brunswick's new 10-year education plans, whichinclude computer programmingas a key learning tool from elementary schoolon up,aregetting an A-grade from a leading tech expertwho pitched the idea three years ago.

David Alston is at the forefront of preaching about teaching children to "code."

"It's almost like Play-Doh, but in a totally digital way," he said with a laugh.

Coding is atool that "empowers kids to be problem-solvers,"to be innovative, and to be collaborative, said Alston.

He was the vice-presidentof marketing and communityfor Radian6, a social media tracking company that sold for $325 million in 2011.

In 2013, Alston took the stage at a New Brunswickawards dinner, and posed this question:"Is there a chance that we could bring incomputer programming as a mandatory part of the curriculum for math? If you want a person to do that, I will do that, because I think it's really important."

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A year later, Alston was on the road with a New Brunswick government employee, Ren Boudreau, travelling the world to gather information aboutbest practiceson teaching coding in school.

Alston believed teaching kids coding to understand how to write the instructions that make arobot move, or a coffee machine to dispense willallow them to create their own future.

He contends adocumentary called Code Kidsthat aired on CBC Televisionhelped increase the groundswell of support for tech innovation in the classroom.

I might havekicked the rock to start it down the hill, but hundreds have been involved.-David Alston, tech expert

Now, three years after he volunteered to push the idea of mandatory coding,it's in black and white in New Brunswick's education plans, announced on Thursday.

The plans, entitled "Everyone at their best" for the anglophone sector, and "Donnons nos enfants une longueur d'avance," forthefrancophonesector,set a target of90 per centenrolmentin technology programs by 2025.

Asked what influence he thought he had on that decision, Alston replied:"One of my favourite Ted Talks is this crazy shirtless guy one, and it's this one person who is willing to be out there on the hill, dancing crazy, but it takes No.2, 3, 4and 5 to start a creative movement. I might have been the first person to put up my hand and volunteer, but there were hundreds waiting in the wings."

"I might havekicked the rock to start it down the hill, but hundreds have been involved. It wouldn't be anywhere near where it is today if it wasn't for everyone within the Department [of Education],to the folks at Brilliant Labs, to the teachers, to the parents, to the mediaeveryone has supported it."

While Colin Steeves prepares his Fredericton classroom for this year's students, he talks about the coding exercise he gives his Grade 4 students every week. He says it's another tool to get the children to problem solve, especially if they can't get it to work.

"Oh definitely. And some of the kids have a hard time when their code doesn't work, they get frustrated, and then it's learning how to overcome and stepping back and really try to find the problem, where it went wrong, and trying to fix it," he said.

"So there's a problem solving and critical thinking aspect to it. And the other thing that's neat is when we're doing those activities [is] that they start asking each other, 'Can you look at this? Can you read this over?' And that's a great practice."

Other priorities of the education plansinclude establishing a culture of belonging, improving literacy, and numeracy skills, ensuring proficiency in fundamental language skills, and fostering leadership, citizenship and entrepreneurial spirit.

No details about the cost of the plans, or how the goals will be achieved,have been provided.

Education Minister Brian Kenny described them as "high level" plans, wherethe government setsgoals, while giving local schools and school districts the tools to reach those goals according to their own challenges and opportunities.