The document introduces Dr. Derrick Mears, an educator with 25 years of experience who now teaches at the University of Arkansas. It discusses Mears' background in teaching science, PE, and gifted education. The document then makes the case for learning to code, noting there are over 1,000 coding jobs available in Arkansas paying $50,000-$85,000. It argues the field of coding is growing significantly and learning to code can lead to a well-paying career. The document closes by inviting questions.

1. Why Should I Learn To
Code?
Dr. Derrick Mears, Ph.D.
EdS Program Coordinator/Associate Professor of
Curriculum and Instruction/Educational Technology
University of Arkansas
Email: dmears@uark.edu
Web: www.tinyurl.com/derrickmears
Twitter:@mearsdr

2. You’re Kind of a Big Deal

3. Who is This Guy?
• 25th year in education:
– Middle School and High School
Teacher:
– Kansas City Public School
District
– North Kansas City School
District

4. Who is This Guy?
• 25th year in education:
– Middle School and High
School Teacher:
• Taught Science, Physical Education and
Gifted Education
• Helped Train Teachers
– Chair of Staff Development Committee, New
Teacher Mentor, Essential Elements of
Instruction Trainer

5. What does he do?
• 25th year in education:
– 13th year in Higher Education:
• Teach teachers about curriculum or
what they should be teaching
• Train teachers, instructional
designers and business and
industry how to use technology for
teaching

6. What does he do?
• 25th year in education:
– 13th year in Higher Education:
• Introduction to Educational Media
• Instructional Design
• Learning with Computers in K-12
• Curriculum Models and
Implementation
• Learner Assessment and Program
Evaluation

7. Coding-Old School!
• 1984-Neosho High School:
– Computer Programming:

8. Coding-Old School!
• 1984-Neosho High
School:
– Computer Programming:

9. Math Problem Time!
• Commodore 64:
– 64 KB of RAM
– Poker Face by Lady
Gaga
– 5.29 MB
– 1 MB=1,024 KB
– How many
Commodore 64’s
would it take to play
Poker Face?
• Solution:
– Song Size in
Kilobytes
• 1024 KB X 5.29 MB
• 5,416.96 KB
– Commodore 64 (64
KB RAM)
• 5,416.96 KB/64 KB=
• 84.64 Machines

10. Why Learn to Code?

11. Why Learn To Code?
• Arkansas Coding Jobs:
–December 7th, 2015
• 114 jobs- $50,000
• 93 jobs- $60,000
• 76 jobs- $70,000
• 54 jobs- $80,000
• 10 jobs- $85,000

12. Why Learn To Code?
• The future for coders:
–2012 Coding Jobs
• 1,018,000 jobs nationwide
• Average salary $93,350
• Growing by 22%
–Average is 8%

13. Why Learn To Code?
• To Become a Coder:

14. Thank You!
Questions?
Dr. Derrick Mears, Ph.D.
EdS Program Coordinator/Associate Professor of
Curriculum and Instruction/Educational Technology
University of Arkansas
Email: dmears@uark.edu
Web: www.tinyurl.com/derrickmears
Twitter:@mearsdr