What is the most compelling reason young people (13-18) should learn to program—especially if they are not interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry? Why should students use their computers for more than browsing the web and using word processors?
Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
1–10 of 122 posts
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#2hacking
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#3If they are not interested in tech they might not need to learn it. Basic literacy might be helpful in some situations, especially since users aren't really masters of their own devices anymore and the technicalities are well hidden from them.
To see if the tech is interesting it might not hurt to have an introductory course though.
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#4It's probably useful to be exposed to a variety of fields when you're at school - that's why we study so many subjects that we won't use directly in our careers. Programming is like that too.
It's like asking why kids should study chemistry or literature - they don't have to but it's probably a good idea. I don't think programming is more special in any way (even though personally I might like it more than those other fields).
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#5Modding Minecraft and other games.
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#6I can think of at least two reasons:
* Information technology is important enough that it's worthwhile having at least a passing understanding of how it works internally.
* It's important to learn how to be rigorous when organizing information and procedures. Learning to program can help with both.
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#7The same reason we learn any other subject -- to demystify it, and give people a basic understanding of it, so that others are less able to take advantage of your lack-of-knowledge to control you.
Yes, being exposed to a variety of fields in order to choose one and get a job is an important part of school. But I think giving kids a sense of how the important aspects of our lives / society work under the hood is where the true value of education lies.
For the same reason, I think film/media studies should be standard high school curriculum.
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#8Because it's fun. Lots other good reasons, but to me this is the most important.
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#9Simple. Not to fall for marketing slogans and false promises, and not to rely too much on the results of technology. If you know (at least basically) how the sausage is made, you will know it does not work without meat.
Re: Ask HN: What is the most compelling reason young people should learn to program?
#10Honestly, they shouldn't if they aren't interested.
But moving past that, Excel. Just a little bit of programming knowledge can really up your spreadsheet game.