The Fourth 'R'

As technology continues to grow at an increasing rate, why is our educational system stuck in a pre-technology age? Why is programming rarely taught even at a High School level? Why do stereotypes of the isolated, nerdy programmer continue to linger, driving away smart, creative people from computer science degrees?

'The Three Rs' of Reading, Writing and Arithmetic have come to stand as the cornerstones of education in this country. We need to step into the 21st century and add a fourth R -- Programming. As a community of programmers and Ruby lovers, we should work to advocate Ruby as the fourth R.

This is not just an education problem. This is also a diversity problem, and even a technological advancement problem. Negative programming stereotypes drive away women and minorities. Difficulty finding programming talent hampers technological innovation and growth. The technology community has stood by for decades waiting for education to catch up -- instead, we need to be the catalyst of change within the system.

I want the flying cars I was promised, and teaching today's children programming from an early age is the fastest path to a Jetsons future.

Transcript

1. The Fourth 'R' Ruby on Ales 2013
2. About Me Davy Stevenson / @davystevenson Software Engineering Manager at Elemental Technologies in Portland, OR
3. Vision of the Future
4. Reading Writing Arithmatic Programming
5. Elementary School
6. Logic Problem Solving Hands‐on Activity
7. Middle School
8. Write Basic Programs How Computers Work Algorithms, Data Structures
9. High School
10. Choice to Specialize Advanced Courses Plus more Basics
11. Benefit?
12. Core Understanding Impact All Industries Tech as a Tool
13. Education Today
14. Computer Labs Research and Essay Writing
15. First Introduction? High School!
16. Two Tracks Word + Excel Building Computers Programming?
17. 10% Teach Programming
18. Sine & Cosine vs For & While
19. Money == Motivation? Tangible Interesting
20. Stereotypes Form Early Moldable
21. Fear of Engineering == Fear of Math
22. Raise Your Hand Computer Internet
23. 20% No Internet Access Under $15K? 43%
24. 9% Outside Internet Access School, Work, Library
25. Correlations
26. STEM Interest Access to Tech Income & Minority Status
27. Who Cares? Affirmative Action? Globalization Threat? Dwindling Workforce?
28. Cultivate Creativity Different Background Different Perspective Different Ideas
29. Drive Innovation
30. Breaking Stereotypes
31. Early Engagement Hands‐on Activities Collaboration
32. Role Models Teacher Awareness Girls Groups Minority Groups?
33. Chess for Success
34. Problem Solving Low Income Schools Improves Math and Reading Engages Girls
35. Why Us?
36. Knowledge Teachers Cultivate Environment
37. Engage Curiosity
38. Thrive on Problems
39. Improve Society Unique position Alter future
40. Why Ruby?
41. Syntax Matters Frustration kills enthusiasm Focus on algorithms & logic
42. Ruby p u t s ' H e l l o W o r l d '
43. C # i n c l u d e < s t d i o . h > i n t m a i n ( i n t a r g c , c h a r * a r g v [ ] ) { p r i n t f ( " H e l l o , w o r l d ! \ n " ) ; r e t u r n 0 ; }
44. C# u s i n g S y s t e m ; c l a s s P r o g r a m { p u b l i c s t a t i c v o i d M a i n ( ) { C o n s o l e . W r i t e L i n e ( " H e l l o , w o r l d ! " ) ; C o n s o l e . R e a d K e y ( t r u e ) ; } }
45. Java p u b l i c c l a s s H e l l o W o r l d { p u b l i c s t a t i c v o i d m a i n ( S t r i n g [ ] a r g s ) { S y s t e m . o u t . p r i n t l n ( " H e l l o , w o r l d ! " ) ; } }
46. Python Logo Scheme p r i n t " H e l l o , w o r l d ! " p r i n t [ H e l l o , w o r l d ! ] ( d i s p l a y " H e l l o , w o r l d ! " )
47. How?
48. Be a Proponent
49. Programming is Fun Shouldn't be a secret
50. Speak Out Support Reform Vote
51. Provide Space Provide Tools
52. Want More?
53. Mentor
54. After School Summer Camps Inside the Classroom
55. Direct Impact Measurable Change a Life
56. Scaling Locality
57. Teach the Teachers DRYing Things Out
58. Not a Teacher? That's OK!
59. Build Tools
60. No Denial Skills Time
61. DRY Multi‐threaded Design
62. Games / Puzzles Podcasts / Screencasts Poignant Guides
63. Towers of Hanoi PB&J Sandwich Secret Messages Personal Facebook
64. Kids Ruby Hackety Hack
65. Mod Minecraft JRuby & RubyBukkit
66. Code.org
73. Up to You