How to Teach Kids to Code | Bryson Payne | TEDxUNG
Summary
TLDRThe script emphasizes the growing importance of coding literacy in a world where technology is ubiquitous. With only 3% of Americans able to code, it highlights the significant job opportunities and problem-solving potential that coding skills provide. The speaker encourages individuals to learn coding for personal empowerment, career advancement, and to make a positive impact on their communities and the world. Coding is presented not as an end goal but as a gateway to innovation and addressing real-world issues, from cybersecurity to clean water initiatives.
Takeaways
- 💻 Coding is essential: Less than 3% of Americans can read and write code, but coding is the backbone of modern technology.
- 📱 Coding runs our gadgets: From smartphones to drones and self-driving cars, coding powers all modern devices.
- 📈 Growing demand for tech skills: 7 out of the top 10 fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs are in technology.
- 💼 Millions of job openings: The U.S. currently has over 1 million unfilled, high-paying tech jobs, particularly in cybersecurity.
- 🎓 Learning to code boosts your earning potential: A computer science degree can significantly increase lifetime earnings, especially in cybersecurity roles.
- 🏫 Schools must teach coding: By 2025, 3 out of 4 high schools should teach coding to prepare students for the future.
- 🛡️ Coding helps you protect yourself: Cybersecurity skills enable individuals to safeguard against online threats.
- 🌍 Coding creates problem solvers: People who learn to code can develop solutions to local and global problems, from community apps to global initiatives like clean water projects.
- 🎮 Coding opens doors: Coding skills can lead to jobs in gaming, AI, robotics, and other exciting fields, offering career flexibility and security.
- 🚀 Coding empowers innovation: From creating businesses like Uber and Airbnb to building impactful apps, coding allows people to bring innovative ideas to life.
Q & A
What percentage of Americans can read and write code?
-Fewer than 9 million people in the U.S. can read and write code, which is less than 3% of the population.
How does the speaker define coding?
-The speaker defines coding, or programming, as telling a computer what to do. It is the same thing as software and is what powers apps and various technologies.
Why are coders considered valuable problem solvers?
-Coders are valuable because they use technology to solve problems. The world highly rewards problem solvers, and technology literacy helps individuals address both personal and societal challenges.
What is the projected impact of automation on jobs in the next 10 years?
-Experts predict that as many as 70 million jobs could disappear over the next 10 years due to automation.
How many job openings are currently available in technology fields in the U.S.?
-There are over 6 million job openings in the U.S., with more than 1 million of them in technology fields.
What is the salary range for cybersecurity jobs, and how many positions are currently unfilled?
-Cybersecurity jobs can average as much as $90,000 a year, and there are currently over 300,000 unfilled positions in the U.S.
How does learning to code benefit individuals financially over their lifetime?
-A computer science degree can earn a person $1 million more over their lifetime than someone with just a high school diploma. Additionally, cybersecurity professionals may earn another half-million dollars more than the average IT worker.
What is the historical comparison made between high school attendance in 1910 and coding education today?
-In 1910, fewer than 18% of teenagers attended high school. Similarly, in 2010, fewer than 18% of teenagers attended a high school that taught coding.
Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of teaching coding and cybersecurity in high schools by 2025?
-The speaker emphasizes this because just as secondary education was essential during the early 20th century, technology education is critical now. By 2025, 3 out of 4 teenagers should attend schools that teach coding to prepare for future job markets.
What are some reasons the speaker provides for why people should learn to code?
-The speaker provides three main reasons: to protect yourself from cyber threats, to create new business models and job opportunities, and to solve societal issues like improving local communities or contributing to global causes.
Outlines
💻 The Importance of Learning Code in a Digital World
This paragraph introduces the analogy of a low literacy rate to illustrate how few people can code, despite the rapid integration of technology in daily life. Coding is essential for controlling modern technology, from drones to self-driving cars. The author emphasizes that every job will be affected by software and that knowing how to code opens opportunities, especially in the face of automation-driven job losses. It also points to the current high demand for tech professionals, with unfilled positions offering lucrative salaries.
👩🏫 The Urgency of Teaching Coding and Cybersecurity
The speaker, a computer science professor, highlights the pressing need for coding education, especially in high schools. Drawing parallels to past education reforms in response to disappearing agricultural jobs, the speaker argues that a similar investment in tech education is critical today. They stress that students should start learning coding and cybersecurity now, rather than waiting until it's too late, and calls on parents and citizens to advocate for this change.
🎮 Coding as a Gateway to Opportunity
The speaker emphasizes that coding isn't just for those who want to be coders for life but is a fundamental skill like reading or math, which helps in solving problems and fostering innovation. They share success stories of students who leveraged coding into careers at major gaming companies and explain that coding equips individuals to adapt to changes in the job market. The speaker also reflects on their personal journey into coding, underscoring the lifelong benefits it has brought them.
🚁 Start Coding with Fun and Accessible Technologies
This section provides practical advice for those interested in learning to code. The speaker encourages the audience to start with technologies that interest them, such as 3D printers or programmable drones. They introduce a block-based programming app that simplifies coding by using visual commands similar to building with Lego bricks. The demonstration shows how accessible coding can be, emphasizing that people should dive in and experiment, even before fully understanding every aspect.
💡 Coding to Improve Communities and Solve Problems
Here, the speaker focuses on the practical benefits of learning to code for others. Coding skills can help individuals provide for their families, protect their communities from online threats, and even solve local problems, such as developing an app for reporting infrastructure issues. The speaker illustrates how technology can be harnessed to improve one’s surroundings and make a positive impact on society.
🌍 Coding for a Better World
The speaker concludes by discussing how coding can be used to tackle global challenges, such as providing clean water through transparent, data-driven initiatives or tracking endangered species like tigers. They stress that coding gives individuals the power to contribute to causes they are passionate about, whether it’s conservation, security, or activism. The world is already deeply interconnected through technology, and learning to code enables participation in shaping its future.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Coding
💡Automation
💡Cybersecurity
💡Technology Literacy
💡Problem Solving
💡Jobs of the Future
💡STEM Education
💡Entrepreneurship
💡Self-Protection Online
💡Impact on Community
Highlights
Imagine a world where only 3% of the population can read and write code, the language of technology.
Fewer than 9 million Americans, less than 3%, can read and write code, despite the country’s reliance on technology.
Coding is simply telling a computer what to do, and it's the backbone of all modern technology, from smartphones to self-driving cars.
Automation could eliminate 70 million jobs in the next 10 years, but there are over 1 million high-paying tech jobs with no qualified applicants.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 7 of the top 10 fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs are in technology.
Over 300,000 unfilled positions in cybersecurity exist in the US, with average salaries reaching $90,000 a year.
Coding makes individuals valuable because coders are problem solvers who use technology to address real-world issues.
A college graduate with a computer science degree can earn $1 million more over their lifetime than someone with just a high school diploma.
By 2025, 3 out of 4 teenagers should be attending high schools that teach coding and cybersecurity to prepare for the future.
Coding is not just about becoming a professional coder; it’s a gateway to problem-solving and creating new platforms for communication.
Learning to code now can buffer individuals from the rapid changes coming due to technology-driven industries.
Students can start learning with block-based programming languages like the Tickle app, which lets them program drones and robots.
Coding can help individuals protect themselves and their families from cybercriminals and online predators.
People can use coding to build applications that improve their communities, such as apps to report local infrastructure issues.
Code can also be used for global impact, such as apps like Charity Water, which tracks donations to provide clean water to communities.
Transcripts
[Music]
imagine a world with a literacy rate of
only 3%
what if out of every 100 people only 3
could read and write right now in
America there are over 320 million
people yet fewer than 9 million of us
less than 3% can read and write code the
language of technology so what is code
coding or programming is just telling a
computer what to do code is the same
thing as software or if you're in the
younger generation code is what apps are
made of code runs your computer and
these days computers are everywhere in
all the coolest gadgets from 3d printers
to drones self-driving cars to
smartphones fitbit's to Roombas and more
code is a part of every one of these
technologies and it's a part of every
technology you'll use at work and at
home for the rest of your life every job
you want every job you want your kids to
have is touched in some way by computer
software imagine the power you can have
if you learn how to read and write the
language of code experts say that as
many as 70 million jobs could disappear
over the next 10 years due to automation
but on the other hand there are over 6
million job openings in the US right now
and over 1 million of those are
good-paying technology jobs with no
qualified applicants no literate
applicants the Bureau of Labor
Statistics says that 7 of the top ten
fastest-growing and highest paying jobs
for the next 10 years are in technology
shooting and there are over 300,000
unfilled positions right now in this
country in cyber security and those jobs
can average as much as $90,000 a year in
salary plus you don't have to go very
far to find these jobs there are
literally thousands of openings
available every day right here in the
Atlanta area so what makes coders so
valuable well it's because we're problem
solvers who can use technology you tell
me are there some problems in the world
yeah a few right
the world needs problem solvers your
goal in life should be to solve more
problems than you create and the world
highly rewards problem solvers you might
have seen a graphic like this one before
from code.org a college graduate can
earn a half-million dollars more in
their lifetime than someone with just a
high school diploma a computer science
degree can earn you a million dollars
more over your working lifetime than a
high school degree
but there's another stack of gold coins
that belongs to the right of that one a
cybersecurity professional may be able
to earn another half-million dollars
more than the average IT worker a
million and a half dollars more in a
lifetime than someone with just a high
school diploma and this gap is growing
wider now that small stack of coins on
the left is a grim picture of what
technology illiteracy can look like but
this chart is also an illustration of
how important coding can be for your
future and for your children's future
did you know that in 1910 fewer than 18
percent of teenagers went to high school
and in 2010 fewer than 18 percent of
teenagers
went to a high school that taught coding
now it only took us 30 years to solve
that first problem as farming jobs
disappeared in the early 1900s the u.s.
invested heavily in secondary education
and by 1940 3/4 of teenagers went to
high school we need to do the same thing
this century for technology education by
2025 we need three out of four teenagers
going to a high school that teaches
coding and cybersecurity as parents as
citizens we can't wait until 2040 I'm a
computer science professor and a
cybersecurity expert I've been teaching
coding since 1998 I write books I record
videos I travel and speak in schools and
at conferences around the world but it's
not enough how many of you in this
audience today have taken a computer
programming class or taught yourself
some coding let's see a few hands that's
good but it's some but it's not enough I
need your help all of you you can learn
to code Henry Ford famously said whether
you think you can or think you can't
you're right but if you think you can't
code it's because you just haven't tried
yet if you're in this audience today or
if you're watching online you can learn
to code starting now now some of you may
already feel your defenses kicking in
what if I'm not good at it what if I
don't like it what if I just don't want
to be a coder for the next 20 years my
answer might surprise you you see coding
is not the goal
coding is the gateway in the same way we
learn English not just to become authors
or journalists but to communicate with
others and in the same way that math
doesn't just prepare us to become an
accountant or an engineer but it helps
us solve problems manage our finances
and think logically people who learn to
code can become entrepreneurs innovators
who connect people in new ways using new
platforms
you could be like two of my students
who've gone on to work at both Riot
Games and Blizzard Entertainment
building games like League of Legends
and world of warcraft and you can go
into a job like IT cybersecurity or
artificial intelligence robotics with
extra skills extra literacy that can
buffer you from some of the rapid
changes that are coming my mom and I am
so grateful to have my mom in the
audience with us today thanks mom
I love you my mom bought me my first
computer in 1984 a Commodore 64 and I
believe we have a picture look how happy
I am and 35 years later just thinking
about that computer still makes me smile
you see I learned to code when I was a
teenager but I have a lot of college
students who take their very first
computer programming class as young
adults they didn't know that instead of
just playing Minecraft all of these
years they could have been coding in it
so let me give you three reasons to
start coding now number one do it for
yourself and it's not just about the
money although you can earn a lot if you
learn about cybersecurity you can
protect yourself from cyber criminals
and online predators if you learn web
and mobile app programming you can
create your own new business model like
uber or Airbnb
you can start by finding a technology
that you enjoy go to a library and print
something on a 3d printer or buy a
programmable drone like this one for
under $100 some people like to start
with a black based programming language
this is the tickle app it's a mobile
application that lets you program drones
and robots right on your mobile device
you can see the commands look like Lego
bricks you choose the blocks that you
want to run and they snap together just
like Lego bricks in the order that you
decide when you're the coder you get to
choose how things work so let's see how
this code works on this actual drone
when I press play it should take off and
then it's going to repeat these steps
four times it's going to move forward
for about a second turn right 90 degrees
move forward again turn right 90 degrees
move forward for about a second
so what's it doing we're drawing a
square in the air
pretty close right so start with the
technologies that you find fun and
fascinating and even before you
understand what every line of code does
run it change it move things around
start coding for you number two do it
for others bring more value to future
employer provide for your family or
impact your community when you learn to
protect yourself online you can better
protect your kids and your other family
members from online threats you can even
write an app that helps people in your
own hometown one of my students this
semester is building an app for the city
of Dahlonega it's a mobile app that lets
you record problems like potholes in the
road or street lights that are out and
in addition to capturing the exact GPS
location of the issue it tracks how many
people have reported a problem and those
problems that get reported by more
people get higher priority in being
repaired you can build a future for
yourself a future for your family and
you can help people right in your own
hometown you can make your neighborhood
a better safer place that's the kind of
lasting impact you can make when you
learn to solve problems with technology
finally number three do it to make the
world a better place
here's a good example charity water is a
global clean water initiative that
revolutionized transparency in both the
dire need for clean water in poorer
communities and in the ability to see
where your donation goes down to the
precise GPS coordinates of the drinking
well you can sponsor a web application
code is bringing much needed attention
and relief to people who need it the
most in my house my wife is able to
subtract the remaining 3,800 tigers left
in the wild through a similar app from
an animal rescue organization the
thought of big cats going extinct before
our children grow up is heartbreaking to
her if there's something that breaks
your heart or if there's something that
makes you really mad coding can help you
harness the power of technology to reach
thousands or even millions of people who
care about the same cause you can create
a positive chain reaction to help make
people aware and get them involved if
you're passionate about protecting your
country did you know that all five
branches of the US military now
recognize cyber as a domain equal to
land sea air and space today billions of
people go online every day sharing ideas
and resources creating new businesses
new charities new games and apps new
ways of seeing the world four billion of
the world's seven and a half billion
people are connected to the Internet
spies and soldiers terrorists and
activists hackers doctors musicians and
bloggers are all logging on every day
and it's made possible because of code
people say the world is changing the
world has already changed step out of
your comfort zone and become literate in
the language of technology learn to code
what you do with it from there is
limitless thank you
[Applause]
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)