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The learn to code movement has popularized the idea that coding is a skill everyone can and should learn. It's the American dream: learn the desirable skill and you'll succeed financially. Those who master the skill and achieve the goals are held up as prime examples of just how easy it was. But if it was that easy, why are there so few victors encouraging hoards of hopefuls? I'll discuss the history of the American Dream, how new programming education endeavors have repackaged it, and how the lack of awareness and analysis of this privileged rhetoric is damaging our culture and workforce. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/Fovc/
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The video "Programming, Education, and the American Dream" features Liz Abinante discussing the intersections between programming education and the concept of the American Dream. The presentation critically examines the learn-to-code movement, which suggests that coding is a skill everyone can learn and that mastery leads to financial success. Abinante explores the complexities of this idea, outlining key points that contribute to an understanding of programming education in America today. **Key Points:** - **Overview of the Learn-to-Code Movement:** - Involves a variety of factors such as startup success stories, the rise of new curricula, and initiatives like Obama's "Hour of Code." - Highlights the appeal of success stories like Mark Zuckerberg, which perpetuate the narrative that coding guarantees financial success. - **Accessibility of Education:** - Emphasizes the availability of more affordable in-person and online coding courses that lower barriers to entry. - Mentions programs like the Y Web Academy that provide resources to underprivileged communities. - **Challenges of Learning to Code:** - Differentiates between learning to code (skills and syntax) and programming (understanding and analytical skills). - Discusses inadequate instruction in coding boot camps and the pressure to achieve success without acknowledging systemic barriers. - **Broader Educational Context:** - Critiques the traditional educational systems in America, which often focus more on performance metrics than actual learning. - Highlights disparities in demographics within STEM education and questions the feasibility of promoting computer science when basic literacy is lacking. - **The Evolving Definition of the American Dream:** - Contrasts modern interpretations centered around financial success with the original idea of developing personal potential and societal contributions. - Expresses concern over the privileged narrative that coding is accessible to everyone, urging a more inclusive approach to education. **Conclusions and Takeaways:** - The notion that "anyone can learn to code" is a narrative often rooted in privilege, failing to address the socio-economic barriers many face. - Abinante suggests redefining success in education and advocating for foundational literacy as prerequisites to programming education. - A shift in focus from merely achieving wealth to nurturing a love for learning can help realize a more inclusive version of the American Dream, encouraging true access to opportunities in tech education.
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