When I returned to college in the mid 1980s, I got a “work study job” as a computer lab assistant. It came easy to me because I was an enthusiast from the time the first personal computers and programmable calculators became available.
At that time there were many students who despite a complete lack of aptitude wanted to have a career in computer programming. Many of them tried and worked hard, but just couldn’t get it. It seemed sad to me at the time because failing left many feeling disillusioned.
Maybe it is different now because kids grow up surrounded by electronics. Although I think that it might be worse. I grew up in a time when software was often distributed in the pages of magazines and books. One had to type the actual program out to use it. This gave one a sense of how the program actually worked and in fact that was often the point. These days I think most people are strictly consumers of computer programs and make no effort to understand the mechanics.
I fear this program probably is a recipe for disaster and a boondoggle.
A lot of kids confuse being a proficient computer user with programming ability. While it doesn’t hurt, they are NOT the same thing.
I lost track of the number of kids who are good at playing video games, but can’t even begin to program them. You should see their faces when it dawns on them how much work is involved in writing even the must rudimentary games.
On the flip side, the array of languages, tool and websites available now is amazing. Likewise, being able to Google solutions to problems on the Internet. I started programming in the late 70s—looking back, it was the equivalent of the Stone Age.
The guy in the article who said that this is all “privileged knowledge” couldn’t be more wrong. There is a mind boggling number of websites and tutorials (including YouTube videos)—all freely available to ANYONE who wants to learn. You also have environments like Scratch and the MIT Appp Inventor, which are totally browser based. The real problem is having the underlying skills and motivation, not a lack of learning resources.