Unpacking the Demandfor Coding Skills

an exercise in skepticism

All opinions expressed in this talk are

solely those of the speaker

Source: The Orange County Register September 26, 1987

Source: The Orange County Register September 4, 1993

What hasn’t changed?● Businesses still have costs

● Businesses must still be marketed

● Businesses still need infrastructure

● Businesses still require supply chains

● Businesses are still run by people

● Competition has not disappeared

● Margins are still pinched

● The playing field is not level

You cannot simply open your door for business

and then head out for vacation

The Digital Native Myth

Born with a mouse in one hand and a joystick in the other, able to leap

tall websites in a single bound, jargon cascading out of their mouth,

the digital native needs only observe over our shoulders for half a

minute before ripping the keyboard out of our hands to show us that

had we simply pressed CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-F7 we could have accessed

binary code through a backdoor that the original programmers had left

wide open for digital natives who want to inventory their refrigerators

while Snapchatting with friends around the globe and storing away

bitcoin in secret reserves in the cloud.

The Reality ● Adroitly navigates digital media

● Knows a lot of jargon

● Naively shares every thought, foible, and photo

● Was not born knowing how to code

● Must master logic, algorithms, and analysis

● Knows almost nothing about:

○ Business

○ Technology

○ Society

○ Diplomacy

○ Law

The digital native:

Digital native is to computer programmer as...

Digital native is to computer programmer as...

licensed driver is to automotive engineer.

What about competition from MOOCs?

What is good:

● Access for all

● No or low cost

● Organized training

● Study remotely

What about competition from MOOCs?

What is not so good:

● Personal attention

● Accreditation

● Completion rates

● Credibility

The Good:

● Master a skill

● Get first job

● Move up ladder

● Fast

● Intensive

● Focused

● Targeted

Code camp

The Bad:

● Federal financial aid

● Liberal arts

● Management skills

● Business context

● Technological context

● Communications

● Accountability

Students are customers!

Code camp

The Ugly:

● Not graded

● Not accredited

● Does not count towards

eventual degree

● The skill, the whole skill,

and nothing but the skill

● Prepares you for...

Code camp

The true challenge: molding adults who will not be manipulated and fooled by machines

● Fake news● Cold calculus in ethical questions● Quantification not qualification● Computer-generated social media● Belief that all data is fair game● IoT, listening and watching● Remote take-down of home, office, cities, or states

Not a surprise...

NMC students share a rich collegiate tradition...

So what about this demand for coding skills?● Coding is a useful but not a necessary skill for most careers

● Society needs:

○ Doctors, dentists, lawyers, and CPAs

○ Writers, poets, and artists

○ Fire fighters, police, and lifeguards

○ Social workers, philosophers, and teachers

○ Politicians, judges, and regulators

○ Welders, plumbers, and builders

○ ...and so many more...

But what about competitiveness in the 21st Century?It certainly won’t hurt to teach our “digital natives” about:

○ HTML, spreadsheets, and databases

○ How to be informed consumers of computer applications

○ How to be informed consumers of information

○ Ethical issues raised by pervasive technology

○ Legal boundaries they should not cross

○ How to be a master, not a victim, of technological change

Conclusion, Part AYes, we need:

● To turn out more programmers

● To increase inclusivity, especially for women

● To assure that all of our students leave NMC with necessary digital skills

● Turn out citizens who will not be manipulated and fooled by machines

Conclusion, Part BBut:

● Teaching everyone to code is like teaching everyone to wire and plumb their

own houses

● Coding is but one of many skills that our community needs filled

● The liberal arts component of a college education results in:

○ Better citizens

○ Better workers

○ Better businesspeople

○ Better engineers

○ Better lives

1. Do not be distracted by demands that every child should code.

Concentrate on a complete education…

including the skills needed to survive in a digital world!

Takeaway 1:

Takeaway 2:

2. Talk to Faculty.

We are experts in our domains and we care about student success.

For referrals, email FacultyCouncil@nmc.edu

Takeaway 3:

3. Come visit us in our classrooms.

This is where the magic happens.

For suggestions, email FacultyCouncil@nmc.edu

For more information about CIT:

CIT Developer Program:

https://nmc.edu/developer

CIT Infrastructure Program:

https://nmc.edu/infrastructure

Photo & Image Credits

The photos and images in this presentation were obtained through Creative Commons licensing or fair use

from:

● WikiMedia

● Pixabay.com

● TechRepublic.com

● NMC.edu

What is Pixabay?

Pixabay is a vibrant community of creatives, sharing copyright free images and videos. All contents are released

under Creative Commons CC0, which makes them safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to

the artist - even for commercial purposes.