“This blog is the part of the “ExamTime New Skills” series which aims to provide info, tips and resources on how students can teach themselves new skills in their own time.
The World of Coding
This blog explores the world of coding, the benefits that are associated with it and how you can get involved. In this series of blog posts we are going to navigate this complex world and ultimately tell you how you can go about teaching yourself to start Coding and who knows, down the line, create the next big thing in online technology!
Coding may seem foreign to many of us but it shouldn’t be considering we use the outputs of Coding on a daily basis. This ever expanding application of technology in our daily lives is something we are very interested in here at ExamTime. We want to share our passion for new technology by inspiring you to explore the exciting prospect of getting involved for yourself.
In recent years there has been a big push from all walks of society to increase the numbers of young people who can code. Politicians see it as developing a life-long knowledge economy skill. Business leaders see it as ensuring there will be enough intelligent people to fill the jobs of the future. Entrepreneurs see it as the future of innovation. Educators see it as the next core requirement complimenting reading and writing. Coders themselves see the movement as a way to pass on their skills and inspire the next generation.
The Philosophy of Coding
The attitude and philosophy behind this movement can be encapsulated best when looking at communities such code.org, codeacademy or the rise of coderdojos. Such organisations aim to help share industry knowledge with students (or anyone who is willing to learn). Many are not-for-profit, some are founded and supported by successful tech entrepreneurs or philanthropists but all are great resources for those who want to code. There are many others (which we will explore in later blog posts) who are also hell-bent on spreading the benefits and skills that come with learning to code. Many of these movements seem to capture the essence and mindset of the millennial generation and their belief and thirst for social justice, equality and action.
Coding is seen as an extension of the openness of the internet and the learning to code movement is seen as encouraging people to no longer be passive consumers of digital content but rather to become active, engaged creators. This active engagement with the technological world increases digital literacy as a whole.
Taking Charge
The opportunity to develop your own ideas , implementing them and showcasing it to the world, no matter how small or simple, is proving to be a major pull factor for students who wish to learn how to code. Students no longer have a need for the mundane computer classes that teach them how to write a Microsoft Word document; nowadays students want to learn how to truly harness the power that computers have in today’s society. However, many educational institutions have been slow to react. This is where the basis of the coder movement has sprung from; the inaction of an older generation and the passion of a new.
Get Involved!
If getting involved in this sounds like something you’d be interested in, then make sure to check back here soon.
About the GoConqr Blog
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