Computers and software are taking over the world. Programming is now required in many jobs, and most students have free access to PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Many of the projected STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) jobs involve computers, and there is an increasingly high demand for employees who can write computer programs. This means that students should learn to code while still in school because it is the language of the future.
Source: Students Shoud Learn to Code Because it is the Language of the Future – The Edvocate
I don’t think I’ve posted this article before, but it does bear repeating if I did. I’ve posted some other articles to share that show that the future might be that blue-collar work could include understanding basic coding techniques. I can tell you from personal experience that understanding the basics of HTML changed my career entirely. It got me out of a customer/client services position into a higher paying, more fulfilling career in tech comm, and it continues to help me as I continue to learn. It amazes me that there are still a lot of millennials that don’t know this basic skill–they would’ve been the first generation to have a chance at learning this information, and yet, there are times that this skill has kept me employed or needed. The thing is, the basics of HTML are so easy to learn!
Now, granted, not everyone is cut out to be a programmer. When I was a kid, the only way you became a programmer was either by becoming a math major with a concentration in computer science, or you learned it on your own. My husband, who has been a desktop and web developer for about 27 years, is one of those people who learned on his own. (But then again, he has the brain for it–his undergrad degree is in mechanical engineering.) If the standards were different 30 years ago, I often wonder if I would’ve been a computer programmer/developer as well. I seem to have a knack for it. I started learning BASIC language when I was a teenager, but never made it that far through, since my parents weren’t as technically adept as I was or wanted to be. I don’t remember that much of it now. And since it wasn’t reinforced, and that math major thing loomed overhead, I went with my liberal arts degree in history instead. Many years later, it’s that HTML course that one of my employers let me take after I asked if he’d pay for it that has paid off now, so that I can combine my creative side with my more technical side.
As time progresses, this is something that will most likely be more prolific. There was a time when knowing Microsoft Office products was a hot thing. Now, my teenage son is a pro who’s been using it for years at school, and it’s something that many people do learn while they are still in school. Why can’t they learn some basic coding? Might be easier than doing Algebra 2 or Calculus, and more practical use of mathematical skills!
What do you think? Include your comments below.
–TechCommGeekMom
TechCommGeekMom 