A few weeks ago I posted the article “Kids and the new literacy: reading, writing, AND programming”, where I talked about the importance of children learning to program computers as a critical skill going forward. So I’m really excited to see this idea echoed in the following video from the folks at code.org, where Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Chris Bosh, and Will.I.Am break it down for you:
Here’s the deal: there are not enough people available to write the software to launch new products, implement new ideas, solve problems, and start new companies.
Part of the problem is with our school system. As the video points out, 1 million of the best jobs in America may go unfilled because only 1 in 10 schools teach students how to code. Yet I think most people could also name a few professions that are already quite saturated, where schools continue to pump out more and more graduates that have almost no job prospects.
But part of the problem is also I think cultural. Society brainwashes too many people into thinking that “programming is hard,” like the “math is tough” Barbie doll sold by Mattel, or that programming is only for socially-inept geeks, like the Steve Erkel character in the Family Matters show.
Hopefully the above video will help change those false sentiments and encourage more students to take programming classes, and more schools to start offering them.
The sad part is that I hear from so many people today out of work, having trouble finding jobs, having difficulties in paying back student or other loans, and even having trouble funding their real passions, such as writing or making art.
As far as I know, none of these people has taken a programming job. None has started their own company writing software. None has even tried to learn to program.
Maybe some people consider programming intimidating. Learning to program certainly isn’t difficult or expensive to do—learning to program can be done in your own home. As examples, here are a few free courses, offered by Harvard, I stumbled across just today:
- Introduction to Computer Science
- XML with Java, Java Servlet, and JSP
- Building Mobile Applications
- Building Dynamic Websites
Writing software can be done in your own home—get a computer and get to work.
Selling the software you create can be done in your own home—check out Apple’ service called iTunes, where you can sell software apps you create.
As for the concept of learning to program being intimidating—at least consider watching this video on programming by Harvard’s David Malan:
And after watching the video, consider taking one of the above-listed free programming courses—the ones I listed are all taught by the guy in the video, David Malan.
And after that, it’s your move—a universe of opportunity is ahead of you.