Young Coders, Big Lessons
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to share some of my human centered design knowledge with 80+ code campers at Girls Code Savannah, a free code camp for kids that live in Chatham County, GA. While my goal was to help them think about the end user of their website, I was surprised by what I experienced during my session with these 5th-9th graders:
Curiosity and Wonder: Younger folks often have a natural curiosity and sense of wonder about the world. Their questions not only helped me understand their point of view, but made me explain concepts, such as user research, in a way that really examined the “why.”
Creativity: They tend to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems. As I challenged them to think about the people who would use their website, the array of use cases they suggested definitely surpassed what I would have imagined.
Honesty: They are often very honest and straightforward in their opinions and observations. This candidness provided clear, unfiltered feedback. Especially in their dismay at my favorite type of pizza - Hawaiian!
Adaptability: They are constantly learning and adapting to new information, technologies, and social situations. Every input mattered, and seemed to be considered and then applied at warp speed.
Enthusiasm and Energy: Their enthusiasm and energy can be contagious. Even though it was a big group, there was no shortage of raised hands and voices in the room. It boosted my own positive attitude and energy.
While challenging no matter what age group you are teaching, I’ve always found that teaching refreshes my faith in humanity. People of all ages never fail to surprise me with their intelligence, kindness, and energy as they learn something new. And I’m grateful that yesterday I got to be a part of that journey. Thank you Lesli Ott and Girls Code Savannah!
