Introduction
We are constantly using computers and technology to enhance our lives. From the email we receive to the internet sites we use, we encounter the basics of computers each day. Our word processors and our presentation software are used to make our lives easier. The apps on our phones tell us when Facebook friends invited us to events. They tell us when we accumulate new Twitter followers. They also help us pass the time with games specifically designed for them. Our devices keep track of our calendars, store our pictures, and remember our friends’ phone numbers. All of this is done in a way that is extremely intuitive and simple to master.
Yet, while many students use computers, smartphones, and programs for various tasks, not all that many of them know about the program itself. More specifically, very few people know about the code that is used to power the program that you see on a screen when the program starts. While people have been fascinated by movies such as The Matrix and The Social Network, it is a challenge for some to comprehend the language that computers use to make programs work.
Even so, computer jobs are on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that jobs for software developers will increase at a rate of approximately 30 percent by 2020 ("Job Outlook: Software Developers"). The Department of Labor also suggests that demand for web developers will increase in that time ("Job Outlook: Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects”). Each of these jobs has at its core a basic requirement to know how to code. Therefore, the problem is simply stated but not easily solved. How do we make sure that these jobs are filled?
One of the biggest ways that this can be accomplished is through education. Education about computer programming, its languages, and its methods are going to be the way for people to learn the skills necessary to succeed in these jobs. However, many schools are either not emphasizing computer science classes or not offering them at all. For many students, their first opportunity to take a course in computer science is in college. The US News & World Report says that enrollment of computer science majors at the post-secondary education level is on the rise (Lytle). However, if students are not exposed to computer science at an earlier age, the ability may be lost on them.
Enter Code.org. This website permits students and teachers to explore the world of computer science by offering a basic introduction to some of the theories behind the “Blockly” language, a computer programming language specifically designed for beginners, which is easily translatable into JavaScript. It also strives to make computer science classes available in elementary and secondary schools. Using big names in the field of computer science and popular culture, Code.org strives to make an impact on how computer science is perceived, attempting to make it easy for someone to code for just an hour.
Yet, while many students use computers, smartphones, and programs for various tasks, not all that many of them know about the program itself. More specifically, very few people know about the code that is used to power the program that you see on a screen when the program starts. While people have been fascinated by movies such as The Matrix and The Social Network, it is a challenge for some to comprehend the language that computers use to make programs work.
Even so, computer jobs are on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that jobs for software developers will increase at a rate of approximately 30 percent by 2020 ("Job Outlook: Software Developers"). The Department of Labor also suggests that demand for web developers will increase in that time ("Job Outlook: Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects”). Each of these jobs has at its core a basic requirement to know how to code. Therefore, the problem is simply stated but not easily solved. How do we make sure that these jobs are filled?
One of the biggest ways that this can be accomplished is through education. Education about computer programming, its languages, and its methods are going to be the way for people to learn the skills necessary to succeed in these jobs. However, many schools are either not emphasizing computer science classes or not offering them at all. For many students, their first opportunity to take a course in computer science is in college. The US News & World Report says that enrollment of computer science majors at the post-secondary education level is on the rise (Lytle). However, if students are not exposed to computer science at an earlier age, the ability may be lost on them.
Enter Code.org. This website permits students and teachers to explore the world of computer science by offering a basic introduction to some of the theories behind the “Blockly” language, a computer programming language specifically designed for beginners, which is easily translatable into JavaScript. It also strives to make computer science classes available in elementary and secondary schools. Using big names in the field of computer science and popular culture, Code.org strives to make an impact on how computer science is perceived, attempting to make it easy for someone to code for just an hour.
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