Pollack, Gregg. “No, Not Everyone Needs to Learn to Code – But Here’s What They Should Know.” Huffington Post. HPMG News, 16 April 2014. Web. 22 Aug. 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gregg-pollack/no-not-everyone-needs-to-_b_5155549.html?utm_hp_ref=huffpost-code
As founder of Code School, Gregg Pollack’s article fittingly describes the value of “basic code literacy.” In our digital age where tech seems both foreign and crucial, mastery of computerized language is a highly prized skill. Though Pollack doesn’t believe intensive programming is necessarily for everybody, he does insist that basic coding knowledge can benefit anyone. As a starting point, Pollack recommends learning two fundamentals: the basics of programming and the basics of the web. He includes links to several free, online courses in JavaScript, HTML and CSS coding, as well as Google’s DevTools resource for in-browser editing.
Making coding accessible has endless possibilities for online environmental activism. Anyone wishing to spread information, organize groups or publish eco-literature now has options for creating sites on their own, without the costly help of an IT team. These free courses eliminate barriers between the average population and competence in web building. Though coding does require a computer and internet access, this development makes the idea of basic code literacy a tangible reality.
