[neovive]

Great points. It's very important not to classify at such a young age. Kids in the club are encouraged to try new things, experiment, make mistakes and have fun without worrying about assessments or grades. There are no success rubrics and the computer, in this situation, is just a tool for creative expression--like LEGO or clay. Scratch works well since it's very approachable and is a fun introduction to computer programming as creative tool.

The drop-off effect is normal, just as some people choose to stop art and music classes after an initial introduction. For some, there is a "fundamental disconnect" when expressing themselves creatively with music or art and they will naturally gravitate away from those areas. However, a child should not be excluded from art class for not being able to draw a perfect portrait.

My hope is that being introduced to programming concepts in this club forms mental models that can be referenced later on when learning other subjects and, perhaps, motivate some students to further explore computer science. Either outcome is a success.