Why Should Communicators Learn To Code?
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Why Should Communicators Learn To Code? Journalism and Women's Symposium, 2014
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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
- 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.”
- As far back as 1995, tech visionary Steve Jobs was saying, “Everyone should learn a computer language because it teaches you how to think.”
- 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.
- We work in tech
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Web Development languages Ways to add data and interactivity to Web pages
- New York Times Propublica WNYC NPR Texas Tribune
- 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.