Posts Tagged ‘code’

Not Every Child Needs to Learn How To Code

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

I’ve seen a lot of people talking lately about how important it is for every child to learn to program, to code.

I disagree.

I think that it’s very important for children to make art and music, to learn to read and write very well. I think that it’s essential that children learn that the scientific method is how we discover how the physical world works. I think that everyone single child needs a solid education in the language of math.

From my perspective, history, literature, and civics are are critical areas of study. But programming is a specialization that I feel is only necessary to the few who are interested in it.

But won’t the future belong to the programmers? Nope. The future belongs to those who create. And creating isn’t limited or bounded by the ability to program or code.

I have many programmer friends and colleagues. I value their skills. But I don’t believe that everyone should be just like them no more than I believe that everyone needs to be a skilled auto mechanic or landscaper or architect. I don’t even believe that everyone should become a professional-quality writer.

It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that many, even most programmers are not vastly rich from things they make. Most of the programmers that I know are working stiffs, little different from people who work on an auto assembly line or build houses. They code, they program, because they enjoy it, they have the skills. Very few of them want to build apps or create the next Facebook.

The foundation of programming is logic. Children need to learn logic, but programming is an application of logic and not required to thrive in today’s or tomorrow’s world. Those who want to program can learn to do so easily if they understand logic. But to insist that all children learn to code and program is a misunderstanding of this world and the world to come.

 

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Writing Assignment: Practice Your ABCs

Friday, June 8th, 2012

When you are struggling to answer the question “what should I write about?” it’s sometimes helpful to ask an alternative question:  How will I write? When using a puzzle or structure as a basis for writing you can free yourself from the concerns about your subject and first focus on achieving a specific goal. After you’ve completed your objective, you can put it aside, rewrite or edit as needed, and move on.

One of the simplest methods for doing this is to use your ABCs. Pick up a piece of paper, write an A on the first line, B on the next, and so on. Then pick a subject, any subject, and try and write coherently starting each line (not necessarily sentence), with the designated letter.

And it can be fun!

For today’s assignment, write a short descriptive piece about your current location starting each line with the next alphabet letter. You may use as few or as many letters as you desire. The further along the alphabet you go, the more challenging your piece will be. Let yourself relax and write, looking for that upcoming next letter as a place to start the next line, but remember, you don’t have more than 26 lines!

Note: This exercise may be easier to do with a pen and paper. Line lengths on computer screens can vary. My example below may not display correctly depending on your browser settings (but it worked fine with I drafted it).

Here’s my example:

At my desk early this morning I found my list of tasks for today to be long,
But worrying about it wasn’t going to make the list shorter. I’ll refill my
Cup of coffee and get started. If I’m going to get these completed in my busy
Day I’m going to have to be methodical. A couple big things sit near my
Empty inbox. They can wait. But eventually I’ll have to get up and feed the
Fish. I’ll also need to remind myself to
Get up out of this chair and move around. If I sit
Here too long I know my back pain will flare, ending my productivity.
Instead I’ll plan for breaks, look out the window, enjoy this late spring day, and
Juggle the tasks that need completing.

 

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