The Embodied Runtime - Dennis Heihoff

Discover the Embodied Runtime approach to learning programming, where creativity, movement, and experience come together to make coding more accessible, enjoyable, and demystified for beginners.

Key takeaways
  • The Embodied Runtime approach focuses on learning through experience, creativity, and movement, rather than teaching in a traditional sense.
  • The concept is inspired by the idea that code is not just a set of instructions, but a performance that requires creativity and experimentation.
  • In Embodied Code, beginners learn the basics of programming through physical activities, games, and art, rather than starting with code syntax.
  • The approach involves mapping abstract concepts to physical movements, making programming more accessible and enjoyable for beginners.
  • Embodied Code is designed to flip the traditional teaching approach, where learners are not just passive recipients of information, but actively create and explore.
  • Code and music share similarities in that there is a static representation of instructions that is interpreted into a dynamic performance.
  • The Embodied Runtime approach can help to demystify programming and make it more appealing to beginners by emphasizing creative exploration and experimentation.
  • The idea of a mental runtime, where learners develop their own mental model of programming, can be more effective than traditional teaching methods.
  • Beginners may struggle with syntax and semantics in programming, but they can still have a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment when they create something tangible and visual.
  • Embodied Code has the potential to increase diversity in programming, by making it more accessible and enjoyable for beginners from different backgrounds and skill levels.