Is Code .org Good, Bad , Evil or Ugly?

[THE MASTER OF HIS LIFE]

The video features popular celebrities and politicians / valued people in the technology industry. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FC5FbmsH4fw

So for the past year Khan Academy many other celebrities and huge public figures have been promoting Code.org as a way for young people to code. Now, is it just me who feels like certain people (the masses who only use their computer for Facebook...shoot me . ) But besides that , I think if this becomes popular the culture of computers and technology will become diluted ! If you agree great , and if not why? Explain/Rant have fun.

 

P.S: I looked at some of their "games" . Some are a complete joke others I can see the use but I would just prefer to take up a book...

 

The Link of Evil: http://code.org/

[frustratedrocka]

 

The video features popular celebrities and politicians / valued people in the technology industry. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FC5FbmsH4fw

So for the past year Khan Academy many other celebrities and huge public figures have been promoting Code.org as a way for young people to code. Now, is it just me who feels like certain people (the masses who only use their computer for Facebook...shoot me . ) But besides that , I think if this becomes popular the culture of computers and technology will become diluted ! If you agree great , and if not why? Explain/Rant have fun.

 

P.S: I looked at some of their "games" . Some are a complete joke others I can see the use but I would just prefer to take up a book...

 

The Link of Evil: http://code.org/

 

Right. Because the only people who deserve to learn a skill are the ones who already know it.

 

Knowledge is awesome. Skill is awesome. Why in the hell would you want to make it harder for people to broaden their horizons? Besides, we could always use new blood. It keeps things interesting.

[LogicDeifying]

 

The video features popular celebrities and politicians / valued people in the technology industry. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FC5FbmsH4fw

So for the past year Khan Academy many other celebrities and huge public figures have been promoting Code.org as a way for young people to code. Now, is it just me who feels like certain people (the masses who only use their computer for Facebook...shoot me . ) But besides that , I think if this becomes popular the culture of computers and technology will become diluted ! If you agree great , and if not why? Explain/Rant have fun.

 

P.S: I looked at some of their "games" . Some are a complete joke others I can see the use but I would just prefer to take up a book...

 

The Link of Evil: http://code.org/

 

Oh god my teachers tell me to use Khan Academy to do stacks for math .

[THE MASTER OF HIS LIFE]

Right. Because the only people who deserve to learn a skill are the ones who already know it.

 

Knowledge is awesome. Skill is awesome. Why in the hell would you want to make it harder for people to broaden their horizons? Besides, we could always use new blood. It keeps things interesting.

I think you're missing my point. I am not worried about new programmers but exactly WHO is now interested in this topic. If this gains popularity , the world of coding will be threatened. Code.org does not seek to gain my attention but those who e.g  use facebook and don't know what's RAM nor a cpu socket type! It gets even worse....imagine all the reprobates of society endorsing this idea! The quality of the culture surround technology that you and I both enjoy is at stake!!!!

 

rant....lol

[THE MASTER OF HIS LIFE]

We're currently going over this in our Mouse Squad program at our school. The issue I see is how we're using Scratch (I believe it was called that), where you put commands together is a puzzle like format. I was really hoping that we would be doing something that actually involved the old, line by line and 0111000 stuff.

 

I am glad that this will at least educate some people on what coding is.

Providing this in schools is good! But it's the fact that we are providing "baby" tools that will build false confidence. Now, I'm 16 and I know several code languages , in which I taught myself by picking up a BOOK yes we still use them at B&N and the results occurred. I'm not saying everyone should go get a book but do what helps you learn! My opinion about these online "academies" is that it reduces complete involvement in the task at hand.

[zerouplol12]

THANKS FOR GIVING THIS TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF SEMESTER EXAMS REALLY THANKS

[frustratedrocka]

I think you're missing my point. I am not worried about new programmers but exactly WHO is now interested in this topic. If this gains popularity , the world of coding will be threatened. Code.org does not seek to gain my attention but those who e.g  use facebook and don't know what's RAM nor a cpu socket type! It gets even worse....imagine all the reprobates of society endorsing this idea! The quality of the culture surround technology that you and I both enjoy is at stake!!!!

 

rant....lol

You talk about "the world of coding" like it's some big, amorphous thing. It's not. It's people. I see nothing wrong with throwing open the doors to the ivory tower and shouting "HEY! This thing is awesome! And now you can learn it too! It's going to take work, but we can give you the steps to get started, and if you're willing to put in the effort, we'll be happy to have you." Yeah, a book is better, but if someone gets started on this and finds that they want to pursue it, they'll end up with books anyway. Lowering the barrier to entry doesn't lower the barrier to competence, it just makes it possible to get there in the first place.

 

And frankly, the culture surrounding tech could probably use a whole lot less snobbery. We bounce back and forth between saying how incredibly easy it is to build a computer and participating in a big self-congratulatory circle jerk for knowing how to do that same self-admittedly easy thing. 

[THE MASTER OF HIS LIFE]

The thing is, most of us are 12-14 years old and, the club/program has only 20 or so people in it.

 I have no idea if 20 is large or small in your school ...so yeah lol. If you're trying to get more by attempting to popularize it . Well, that's why effective especially at that age group we tend to isolate ourselves to specific social groups. Coding might be haunted by the stereotypes of an inept nerd but in reality it's passionate people who gain profit on the very ones who are discouraged. If you want any advice on making popular in your school I could crawl back into my brain and search?

[THE MASTER OF HIS LIFE]

You talk about "the world of coding" like it's some big, amorphous thing. It's not. It's people. I see nothing wrong with throwing open the doors to the ivory tower and shouting "HEY! This thing is awesome! And now you can learn it too! It's going to take work, but we can give you the steps to get started, and if you're willing to put in the effort, we'll be happy to have you." Yeah, a book is better, but if someone gets started on this and finds that they want to pursue it, they'll end up with books anyway. Lowering the barrier to entry doesn't lower the barrier to competence, it just makes it possible to get there in the first place.

 

And frankly, the culture surrounding tech could probably use a whole lot less snobbery. We bounce back and forth between saying how incredibly easy it is to build a computer and participating in a big self-congratulatory circle jerk for knowing how to do that same self-admittedly easy thing. 

I wish to hold onto my opinion and my beliefs but your argument has moved me. I am not persuaded entirely but I can agree with you about the culture which we present. I try not to promote the snobbery of the " Master Race" ( unless justified by console ignorance). I seek to provide information to those who see the use for it. I've tried to reduce that barrier. But many who do not take the interest to begin with at a young age is due to the pressures and superficial responsibilities created in social groups. 

My overall fear was the band wagon that pop culture will create! 

[OutlawedConsole]

 I have no idea if 20 is large or small in your school ...so yeah lol. If you're trying to get more by attempting to popularize it . Well, that's why effective especially at that age group we tend to isolate ourselves to specific social groups. Coding might be haunted by the stereotypes of an inept nerd but in reality it's passionate people who gain profit on the very ones who are discouraged. If you want any advice on making popular in your school I could crawl back into my brain and search?

I'm 13 and my school is pretty nice and I have about 200 kids in my grade, however only maybe 10 want to code, the others are to busy obsessing over iPhones and beats. Our school tries to incorporate tech but falls on its face. We all got MacBook Airs, but the teachers have no clue how to use them. No one wants to code because they have no clue how to do it but if this thing is all over social media there is a chance some will check it out and try it. Usually, it'll take too much effort and they'll give up.

[Grape Guild]

I've heard good things about the site, although I've never used it.  I learned my first language, HTML, with good old Google.  VB came next from school and then Java.