IMO make learning programing (fun) a path to learning math (not fun). Once you understand mathematic fundamentals, understanding finance - and other such disciplines - comes naturally. You soon realize that most of (consumer) finance out there are marketing flush revolving around a few formulas.
Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
41–50 of 187 posts
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#42The Academy for Software Engineering is another effort in this area: http://afsenyc.org
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#43Has anyone noticed that they are recommending W3Schools?
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#44This is awesome.
I just wish someone had edited Will.i.am's quote though... I think he thinks 'reading code' is like reading music or something...
“Here we are, 2013, we ALL depend on technology to communicate, to bank, and none of us know how to read and write code. It's important for these kids, right now, starting at 8 years old, to read and write code.“
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
America has a problem where if students were taught about proper financial management and making proper financial decisions the college system would fall apart, because students are expected to commit to huge debts that are often very questionable decisions. The system relies on students never understanding the magnitude of the debt they're committing to, spend 10 minutes reading the personal finance subreddits and i…
I don't think the college system will "fall apart". Great universities existed in the US even before the recent education bubble. I do hope more young Americans realize the magnitude of obligations that they commit themselves into though. I've heard many stories of students enrolling in an expensive arts degree and then dropping out later as they realized just how much they would owe at the end of 4 years.
I don't even think the system would fall apart as is. We'd just see people looking more seriously at community colleges and other options that have better value for cost.
Or at least they'd be looking at different ways of financing college that didn't leave you with an incredible debt burden that prevents you from establishing a reasonable rate of savings.
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#46I'm making www.codehs.com which is one of the sites featured in the video (the one with the dog). It would be awesome to get some feedback on what people think of it if you get a chance to try it out. We're focusing on making it really fun and accessible to learn to make really cool programs really quickly while learning the fundamentals and getting a strong programming foundation. One of the keys to our site is that…
I see you guys are charging students a monthly fee for "unlimited help" from the tutors, but I can't find any info on your site about how much the tutors will be making from that income stream for the value they're providing to your site and the students. Can you elaborate?
Yeah, we're still working on exactly how tutors get paid. For now, it's still in beta, so we're just asking for volunteers and getting feedback and figuring out a fair way to pay people.
One thing we are planning to do (in addition to just paying cash) is to give students credits to continue learning and getting help from tutors when they help students who are further behind than they are. That way, students can help each other.
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
I see you guys are charging students a monthly fee for "unlimited help" from the tutors, but I can't find any info on your site about how much the tutors will be making from that income stream for the value they're providing to your site and the students. Can you elaborate?
Yeah, we're still working on exactly how tutors get paid. For now, it's still in beta, so we're just asking for volunteers and getting feedback and figuring out a fair way to pay people. One thing we are planning to do (in addition to just paying cash) is to give students credits to continue learning and getting help from tutors when they help students who are further behind than they are. That way, students can help…
That's a neat idea. Just please be aware of the danger of extrinsic motivation crowding out intrinsic motivation. People help each other on the internet all the time without any reward apart from doing The Right Thing.
Giving credits for getting more advanced help sounds like a good idea, though.
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#48"Learn to Make Webpages - W3Schools" WAT
I don't think they're as bad as they used to be, but still far from the first place I'd send someone seeking help.
Honestly, this was the first place I went when I started out (about 4 years ago). There werent many good sites out for learning to code back then. It was w3schools and lynda.com that really helped me get started.
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#49We should also encourage HCI and usability design sensibilities as a technical vocation kids can pursue if optimizing sorting algorithms and the like isn't for them. Making things easier to use, why things are a pleasure to use and why things aren't is a stimulating field that is very applicable to a computerized future.
100% agree. There is a lot of value in understanding usability design that I wish I had been presented with younger. I really wish I had the opportunity to choose some form of technical skillset as an elective in high school. I was only offered a choice of visual arts (photography, art, and ceramics).
Re: Code.org – Dedicated to growing computer programming education
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
Does anyone have a suggestion as to the K&R of managing finances?
Considering how old K&R is and who its intended audience was, how about The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith?
I think, The Intelligent Investor would fit the bill better. Or just read everything by Buffett and Munger.