How to Teach Kids to Code | Bryson Payne | TEDxUNG

TEDx Talks

23 Sept 201815:17

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

00:00

💻 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.

05:04

👩‍🏫 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.

10:04

🎮 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

Coding refers to the process of writing instructions that a computer can understand to perform specific tasks. It is central to the video’s message, emphasizing the importance of learning to code as it underpins much of modern technology, from apps to autonomous cars. Coding is presented not just as a technical skill but as a gateway to problem-solving and innovation.

💡Automation

Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention. The video discusses the potential loss of 70 million jobs due to automation, emphasizing the need for coding literacy as a safeguard against job displacement. Automation is portrayed as both a challenge and an opportunity, depending on one’s ability to adapt through technological skills like coding.

💡Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity involves protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks. The video highlights the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, noting that there are currently over 300,000 unfilled positions in this field in the U.S. It stresses that coding literacy is a critical skill in this high-paying, fast-growing sector, which helps individuals protect themselves and their communities.

💡Technology Literacy

Technology literacy refers to the ability to understand, use, and engage with technology effectively. The video compares this to traditional literacy, arguing that in today’s world, understanding coding is as essential as reading and writing. It highlights that fewer than 3% of Americans can code, underscoring the need for widespread education in technology to avoid falling behind.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of identifying a problem and finding a solution, often through innovation or logical thinking. The video positions coders as problem solvers who use technology to address real-world challenges, from creating new apps to solving community issues. It emphasizes that learning to code enhances one’s ability to solve problems, which is highly valued in the modern job market.

💡Jobs of the Future

The video stresses that the jobs of the future are heavily influenced by technology, particularly coding. It mentions that 7 of the top 10 fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs over the next decade are in technology, illustrating the importance of coding education for securing employment. These jobs include fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and software development.

💡STEM Education

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The video advocates for the expansion of STEM education in schools, particularly in teaching coding and cybersecurity. It compares this to the early 20th-century movement to universalize high school education, suggesting that by 2025, three-quarters of teenagers should attend schools offering STEM subjects, particularly coding.

💡Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the act of creating and running new businesses. The video encourages individuals to learn to code, not necessarily to become professional coders, but to use their skills to innovate and start new ventures. Examples include creating apps like Uber or Airbnb, which have transformed industries and created new business models.

💡Self-Protection Online

Self-protection online refers to safeguarding oneself from digital threats like cybercrime. The video encourages learning coding not just for financial gain but to protect personal and family data from cyber attacks. This is framed as a vital life skill, akin to self-defense in the physical world, particularly in the context of the growing number of cyber threats.

💡Impact on Community

The video stresses that coding can be a tool to benefit one's local community. An example provided is a student creating an app for reporting potholes and other local infrastructure issues. This showcases how coding skills can help individuals address community problems, improve safety, and create lasting positive impacts by leveraging technology to solve local issues.

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.