Learning To Code | Dave Duggan IT Consultant

I believe that there has never been a better time to learn how to program than right now.

There is an ongoing shortage of programming talent in the US.

Many high paying programming jobs go unfilled.

Startups have much difficulty finding a tech cofounder CTO because all the talented programmers are typically already engaged in fruitful endeavors.

More importantly: programming is a blast! Learning how to program will help train your mind and benefit you in other educational areas. Programming is very satisfying.

I should disclose a few things about my background:

• I am a life-long technology enthusiast.
• My first programming experience was with punch cards and languages like Cobol and Fortran. I found these first programing experiences to be extremely difficult and unrewarding.
• In recent times, I did take university programming classes in java at the beginner level ? ? I enjoyed the class, I was challenged, but I did well in the class. I also took an intermediate to advanced level C++ class and I barely passed and did not have fun as I struggled throughout the class. I also had many frustrations in how the class was taught. The failure rate was % 50 percent in the C++ class. HaIf of the people who started the class did not pass. I ?passed. Luckily for me, I was not permanently discouraged from learning how to program. In my opinion: a 50 % failure rate demonstrates a dysfunctional class, school, teacher and program not dysfunctional students. So in some ways, it is no wonder that so many students shy away from engineering majors. The computers science school that I was in had the best and brightest students in the entire school. Yet, % 50 would not be able to get through the C++ class that I took in their first attempt.
• I am by no means the brightest light bulb in the knife drawer. I have average intelligence and I am an average student.
• Because I love technology ? especially information technology ? I am able to hang in and keep trying after many have become discouraged and have moved on. And because I have stuck with it, I have also experienced the immense satisfaction and pleasure that comes with successful learning (and applying) a new programming technique or concept.
• I am now making great progress on learning how to code.

So what has changed?

For me, the big thing that has changed is the availability?of high quality, free online programming classes from the best institutions and with the best instructors.

In Khan Academy?s intro to computer science you are learning javascript while you learn programming and computer science concepts. Excellent! javascript is an important language to learn and is widely used to enable interactivity and enhanced functionality in most websites today.

I am currently taking Udacity?s Intro To Computer Science where you learn computer science topics by building a search engine using the Python programming language. I am really enjoying this class.

I have noticed that these classes are continually improving at a very rapid pace.

Advances in browser technology is also having a dramatic impact.

Javascript allows for writing and testing code in the browser without having to install any program applications whatsoever.

You can immediately start to learn how to code by doing the examples after watching a video explanation. You run your code in the browser and receive immediate feedback.

This is incredible!

In my opinion: This represents a revolution in education.?

Advantages include:

• You can learn at your own pace.
• No travel required ? learn in the comfort of your home
• low or no cost ? these classes are free
• no textbook required
• repeat lessons at your will
• ask for help on forums with any concepts or problems you need help with
• view the answers if necessary at your discretion
• receive immediate feedback
• there are no grades so there can be no failure ? just learning

And as a result of these advances my attitude toward learning how to program has changed. I am now ?switched on? to learning about computer science and programming.

I am doing this totally on my own.

I supplement online learning with books from the public library.

Computer Science, programming and math are now my new passionate hobbies along with music.

I feel that I am now accelerating my learning in the area of computer science and programming.

I feel that you are never too young or old to start learning about something that interests you.

Continued learning for baby boomers will help keep their minds sharp and vital as they advance into senior status.

And now there are fewer impediments to accessing high quality learning opportunities.

I find these developments to be vey exciting.

We live in exciting times.

What do you think?

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Source: http://www.daveduggan.com/learning/learning-to-code/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=learning-to-code

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