Page 13 - Cornwall Issue 3 2025

EDUCATION

2025 brings a significant shift in the

education system, with the coding and
robotics curriculum for grades R to 9,
gazetted in June 2024, now entering

classrooms. It presents opportunities for
skills development in this fast-expanding

field and new challenges for educators
and learners.

INFORMATION AND PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY
PRME CONSULTANTS

published in June 2024, consists of to theoretical and practical learning
specialist terminology from the coding at school or in the home. “Having the
and robotics curricula for the foundation dictionary readily available boosts
and intermediate phases and related learners’ confidence in understanding
computing terminology in everyday use. and applying coding concepts.”

“This resource allows students to The introduction of coding and robotics
reference unfamiliar terms, strengthening in South African public schools is
their technical vocabulary and necessary to equip our youth with the
comprehension,” says Spies, editor and digital skills and proficiency already
co-contributor. The dictionary: required in most industries and sectors.
• simplifies complex ideas into Educators, parents and guardians can
digestible explanations play a crucial role in fostering the digital
proficiency of learners by educating
• presents definitions in simple and familiarising themselves with the
language with illustrations for language of coding and robotics through
better comprehension and resources such as the Oxford Illustrated
• contains thematic content Coding and Robotics Dictionary and
that introduces learners to online platforms such as Resolute
programming languages and Education’s Code the Nation.
digital concepts.
It is an investment in learners’ lives and
Therefore, it is the perfect complement the country’s digital economy.

6 educator and coding and robotics subject
head at Curro Durbanville. “The difficulty
lies not just in defining these terms but in
helping students understand how they work
together in coding.”

A deep understanding of algorithms,
abstract concepts and related principles
helps learners solve problems and think
creatively. This foundational knowledge
provides them with the tools to apply
computational thinking (pattern recognition
and decomposition) and critical thinking
practically and effectively, which are
essential when coding and building robots.

AN ANALOGUE SOLUTION FOR A
DIGITAL CHALLENGE
The good news is that there is a solution to
support educators and parents in teaching
the technical language of coding and
robotics and helping learners understand
it. The above-mentioned dictionary,

Cornwall View • Issue 3 2025 11