We all know coding is fun. We also know it’s in high demand. By 2020, 1 million computing jobs will go unfilled in the United States due to a lack of appropriate preparation of our future workforce. Unfortunately, many students are graduating from excellent universities without the ability to obtain positions that utilize their expertise. However, someone who graduates from college with a computer science degree is very likely to obtain a desirable and high earning position immediately. Those who possess these highly valued technology skills will have the opportunity to work in any field they want as they depart college because every field will certainly contain positions that require expertise in technology.
Throughout the country, schools are beginning to emphasize and demonstrate the importance of coding. For example, students at Jesse Bethel High School are not just learning coding, but using it to earn money for resources. Dianne de Guzman explores this in a recent article titled “Jesse Bethel students learn coding and earn money for school resources.” De Guzman writes, “Thanks to a company called Codecademy, the students are learning the code required to build websites. A web-based program, Codecademy teaches users computer coding skills, teaching HTML, Javascript and other coding languages. In 2014, the company partnered with DonorsChoose.org, and through a $1,000,000 grant from Google.org, they’re offering schools a chance to earn $100 per student in DonorsChoose rewards. Each student that completes a 12-hour Javascript coding course by March 17 can earn rewards. Underrepresented groups in computer science, such as girls or African American, Latino, American Indian or Alaska Natives can earn more funding credits for their class.”
Meanwhile, in New York, coding schools are acting upon a recent initiative from President Barack Obama to encourage coding. According to the Associated Press, “Targeting stagnant wages in an otherwise improving economy, President Barack Obama on Monday called on employers, educational institutions and local governments to develop a home-grown high-technology workforce that could help drive up higher-income employment. The effort aims to attack a stubborn downside of the current economic recovery and fill a gaping demand for high-tech workers in the United States. It will also make use of coding academies, including New York City-based General Assembly and the Flatiron School, which have had a growing role in making tech skills more widely available. General Assembly will pilot an online Web development program with at least one community college system and also work on standardizing tech training programs. The Flatiron School will be helping to expand on a program it operates now as part of the city’s Tech Talent Pipeline to train 18- to 26-year-olds who do not have a college degree.”
At CodeRev Kids, we applaud these efforts. It’s our mission to provide youth with the tools they need to succeed in the computer science field when they get older. We offer a wide variety of programs that teach youth about robotics, web development, app making, and much more. Our lessons are customized to meet the expertise of each student and we emphasize engaging lessons that are not just highly informative, but fun.
Whatever youth coding education needs you might have, look no further than CodeRev Kids!