Why Should Communicators Learn To Code?
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This document discusses why communicators should learn to code, as coding skills are becoming increasingly important in many careers. It notes that computers and data will be ubiquitous, storytelling is becoming more interactive, and coding develops problem-solving skills. It then provides an overview of different types of computer programming languages and basic coding syntax for HTML, CSS, variables, logic, and functions. Finally, it suggests ways for communicators to start learning coding skills.
Why Should Communicators Learn To Code?
- 1. Why Should Communicators Learn To Code? @CindyRoyal Associate Professor Texas State University Knight Journalism Fellow 2013-2014 slideshare.net/cindyroyal
- 3. “Learning these skills isn’t just important for your future, it’s important for our country’s future.” Barack Obama
- 4. “Everyone should learn a computer language, because it teaches you how to think.” Steve Jobs
- 6. Computers will be a part of any media career and most other careers
- 8. People will get information in a variety of embedded and atmospheric ways
- 9. Storytelling has become interactive
- 12. Coding is becoming an important literacy • Supports algorithmic thinking • Develops a problem-solving mindset • An expression of innovation and creativity • Provides a perspective on the tech environment
- 13. We have a high % of women in the mass communication discipline An opportunity to address the digital divide
- 14. The role of media platform • The content management system defines a media company’s business • Who can publish, participate and share? • What kinds of stories can be told? • What kind of analytics are available? • Need to be able to work efficiently in a CMS
- 15. Retrieving data: Scraping and APIs
- 17. What is Computer Programming? • Problem solving using computer code • Working with and developing algorithms to accomplish specific tasks • Web development is a type of computer programming • Combination of content, design, functionality and data • Computers are dumb, but obedient –will do what you tell them. • It’s fun! Provides a sense of accomplishment.
- 18. Types of Languages • Markup languages – HTML/CSS • Compiler languages – Java, C, C++ - used for large systems • Interpreted languages – JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP • Data-oriented languages - SQL • Visual languages – like Scratch for kids • Web Development Frameworks – Bootstrap, Django, Rails • Libraries - JQuery
- 19. Basic Coding Syntax HTML – using tags to markup text <html> <head> <title>My Website</title> <head> <body> <h1>Welcome to my website</h1> </body> </html> CSS – applying design and layout body { background: white; font-size: 12px; color: black; } h1 { font-size: 30px; color: red; }
- 20. Basic Coding Syntax • Data types – string, integer, etc. • Variables – can store and reuse information x = 10; name = "Cindy";
- 21. Logic: applied through if statements and loops if (age >= 18) { document.write(“You are old enough to vote”); } else { document.write(“You are not yet old enough to vote”); } x = 0; sum = 1; while (x < 10) { sum = sum * 2; x = x+1; }
- 22. Functions: ability to reuse coding instructions and call when needed function addNum(x) { sum = sum + x; document.write(sum); } addNum(10);
- 23. Coding in the Curriculum • HTML/CSS • Bootstrap • Wordpress • Drupal • JavaScript/Jquery • Charting Tools • Python Web Scraping/API • Web Frameworks
- 24. Get Started • Codecademy.com • Lynda.com • Chartle/Wordle • Google Charts, MyMaps and Fusion Tables • Chart.js or HighCharts • Spreadsheet basics • Coding meetups/hackathons in your community, like Girls Who Code, Hacks/Hackers • Review great work • CodeActually.com
Editor's Notes
- #4: Kicking off Computer Science Week last year, President Obama proclaimed “Learning these skills isn’t just important for your future, it’s important for our country’s future.”
- #5: As far back as 1995, tech visionary Steve Jobs was saying, “Everyone should learn a computer language because it teaches you how to think.”
- #6: When asked what’s cooler? Music or computer programming, musician will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, said “Coding. By about 10 times. A trillion times. It’s the most creative space.” He says great coders are today’s rock stars.
- #7: We work in tech
- #10: Make a story meaningful to a user Allow user engagement with a story Find, use and present data Visualize a story Create tools to help users More educated and engaged users
- #11: Make a story meaningful to a user Allow user engagement with a story Find, use and present data Visualize a story Create tools to help users More educated and engaged users Most visited story at NY Times.com and was created by an intern
- #12: Make a story meaningful to a user Allow user engagement with a story Find, use and present data Visualize a story Create tools to help users More educated and engaged users Most visited story at NY Times.com and was created by an intern
- #24: Web Development languages Ways to add data and interactivity to Web pages
- #25: New York Times Propublica WNYC NPR Texas Tribune
- #26: There is nothing more exciting than seeing those a-ha moments when the code works and students gain confidence in their ability to create and innovate. I want journalists to experience that feeling of excitement and accomplishment too.