Coding Careers by Mediaplanet_USA

SEPTEMBER 2018 | EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today

Coding Careers

Learn how Allison Farris

skillfully balances pageantry and STEM advocacy.

Achieve a future

career in coding through a coding bootcamp. Discover how

coding may be your ticket to Mars.

2 | EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

Popular podcaster Saron Yitbarek taught herself to code, and you can too. Page 10

in this issue

Current students discuss the computer science industry from their perspective. Page 14

Browse more stories, including one woman’s experience with gender inequality in the workplace. Online

It’s Not Just About Jobs: Computer Science Boosts Creative Thinking

There’s an easy way to help prepare children to become future problem solvers: introduce them to computational thinking at a young age.

he first time I visited a computer science (CS) classroom, I watched a group of second graders race across the room in a sorting network. “We’re thinking like a computer,” one student explained. “It’s like when we do a project as a group and work on different parts at the same time, we can finish faster than if we had to work alone.” For this student and her peers, CS is not just a discipline, but a way to understand the world. The foundational skill of computer science is computational thinking, a strategy for organizing and breaking down problems in order to solve them.

In the classroom Today, millions of educators from around the world are engaging in computing activities with students and working to embed CS across the curriculum. We know there’s a strong economic imperative to prepare the next generation of CS-literate students — a labor market opportunity to the tune of $1 billion. Teaching computational thinking is not only about preparing students for high-paying jobs, although that is a nice incentive. It’s about giving them the tools to create their futures and find meaning in the world around them. It’s recognizing that we’ll solve some of the biggest challenges we face using the power of computing, and

we need everyone to contribute to those solutions.

Richard Culatta CEO, International Society for Technology in Education

Around the world Students around the globe are already doing this. Take, for example, Kavya Kopparapu, who at age 16 developed an AI-enabled “Eyeagnosis” system that uses a smartphone app and a 3D-printed lens to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. Fifteen year-old Anisa Valenzuela designed a model — based on the age-old hot potato game — that helps younger children understand the importance of electronic circuits, computing power and technologies encountered in everyday life. The International Society for Technology in Education believes

that empowering students to excel as critical thinkers and problem solvers through CS will create active, collaborative and lifelong learners who are prepared to succeed in their future endeavors. In the home If CS and computational thinking are to be an integral piece of students’ educational experience, it must also be a critical component of educator practice and a topic that parents are at least familiar with. Educators and parents everywhere, we call you to engage in computer science education. Dip your toes in it. As one teacher put it, “Learn a little, teach a little.” You won’t regret it, and our kids will certainly benefit. n

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Mitchell Robertson brings over 20 years of experience to his role as VP of business development and growth at Code Fellows. Here he discusses preparing forward-thinking professionals with the training and agility to take on current and future challenges in leadership and technology. How would you describe the teaching style at Code Fellows? At Code Fellows, we believe tech careers should be opened to the full breadth of humanity. The future of tech will be shaped by the diversity in our world. It will be the people from all walks of life desiring to level up — the curious who have fallen in love with learning and the problem solvers who see things that need to be changed and don’t give up until they’ve made an impact — that will find rewarding careers in coding. At Code Fellows we seek to train individuals in the most advanced software development skills in order to build a better life, a better community and a better world. Our passion for education is only outshone by our passion for providing access to it. We believe the immersive education model works when passionate instructors, teaching assistants, and support staff recognize education’s ability to change lives. In months — not years — someone can dramatically improve their career prospects and access to opportunities previously closed to them. We invest in strong partnerships and alliances with government agencies, private companies, and non-profits within your community to ensure our students have the best opportunities to make an impact in their new careers. Code Fellows has a strong commitment to quality. What should potential students do before a coding bootcamp interview? Evaluate the school to determine what the learning environment is like and ensure it is the right fit for you. Then, prepare your life for your journey ahead. If you decide to join a school that provides an intensive experience of being completely immersed in the learning process, know that you will need to be fully committed to being transformed into a software developer. What are the top three benefits of coding bootcamp? You don’t need to spend four years to get a degree, and end with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt. You get fresh, real-world skills that track with market demand in an educational environment built by experienced developers. You will launch a career that’s collaborative and engages your creativity, where you will be wellcompensated and have a wide-range of opportunities in upward career growth. Mitchell Robertson, VP of Business Development and Growth, Code Fellows

How Learning to Code Gave Me Direction My decision to apply for Girls Who Code has shaped me into the woman I am today.

our years ago, I was a high school junior with little direction. I excelled in school and my family had the general expectation that I would make something of myself, but I was never quite sure what I wanted to be. My parents are not traditionally technical in any capacity — my mother is a teacher and my father analyzes pensions for city workers — but they knew that coding was a valuable skill and had me join Girls Who Code (GWC). A valuable skill During the program, I worked in Python to control a small robot. The task was simple: give the robot a pen and program it to draw any n-sided symmetrical shape. It was then that I saw how the lines I was typing on my computer could make an impact on the world around me. It was the first time I had absolute control over an outcome. I was the one in charge of making the robot turn right or pick up the pen — I was the one responsible for completing the task correctly.

PHOTO: GIRLS WHO CODE

Discussing the Benefits of Taking a Non-Traditional Path to Coding

“Now more than ever, I hope other girls find a path through technology, like I did.”

attend a hackathon with. The program helped me develop skills using fundamental coding concepts and taught me to work with several different languages and technologies, giving me the background to thrive as a college student and intern. I became more confident in my ability to work with new people. I grew from a curious, yet directionless, high schooler, into a young woman with a newfound passion for technology.

Seven weeks later, the program was over. I graduated from GWC with a network of fellow women in technology I can always count on to listen to my coding struggles, or

Finding a path Now, I’m affectionately known by my friends as “Coder Caitlin.” I have interned for companies like Qualcomm and AOL and cofounded two separate hackathon plan-

ning groups. GWC was the perfect launchpad for my involvements in technology. Both the technical and non-technical skills I learned pushed me to pursue a degree in electrical and computer engineering, and widened my understanding of what it means to be an engineer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that in 2020 there will be 1.4 million more software development jobs than applicants who can fill them. Now more than ever, I hope other girls find a path through technology, like I did, and use it to help shape the world around them. n Caitlin Stanton, Electrical and Computer Engineering Student, Cornell University

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Ready to Blast Off as the First Woman on Mars? Coding May Help

PHOTO: “BROADCOM FOUNDATION

where coding has become a major skillset for science fair competition. Coolest Projects builds upon earlier hands-on family coding events in Orange County like the 2017 Raspberry Jam where visitors learned to code using bananas as drums at the Girl Scouts OC booth.

In the 2015 movie “The Martian,” Captain Melissa Lewis and astronaut Beth Johanssen completed the near-impossible mission to rescue astronaut-biologist Mark Watney. A little known fact? They all held degrees in math and computer science, oceanography, geology and planetary sciences. SPONSORED

et’s get real, the Race for Mars is on! NASA engineer Dr. Farah Alibay at the Pasadena Jet Propulsion Laboratory says young women everywhere can prepare for blastoff — so add coding to your favorite activity! The Human Missions to Mars explains that the scientific and engineering challenges of space travel to-and-from the red planet

require many professionals trained in a number of STEM skills — most of which include coding; developing trajectory systems to travel +/-140 million miles; building equipment to land in different atmospheres; preparing humans for life in space for up to three years by replicating earth’s ecosystem; and designing space suits that shield astronauts from the effects of deep space radiation. Mapping your trajectory To be a part of both on-the-ground and space flight teams that complete this historic challenge, you can translate your personal interest into a STEM career needed for a successful mission.

Here are three easy steps if you want to become a Mars astronaut: 1. Pick your favorite thing to do and find the science in it. Check out how NASA tapped Holly Jackson’s passion for sewing! 2. Stay with math. Girls are really good at math says New York Times! 3. Learn to Code! Coding is useful in any STEM career — just download Raspberry Pi! There are lots of ways to learn to code outside of school. Join groups like Coder DoJo, Code Club and Code.org or participate in commu-

nity events like Coolest Projects North America — a free kid-led showcase at the Discovery Cube of Orange County on September 23, 2018. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is hosting its inaugural Coolest Projects in Orange County, California, a leading coding hot spot that leads the way for over 65 STEM Ecosystems throughout the United States. Orange County is the incubator of the national STEM Initiative supported by the Samueli and Broadcom Foundations, which provide students with multiple pathways to STEM careers. At Coolest Projects, students will showcase digital projects to the public, as they do at Intel ISEF and the Broadcom MASTERS

Translating your interests Whatever you like to do, you can use coding to make it cool! Take Sara who loves cities like Paris and London. She used a Raspberry Pi, LEGOs and LEDs to build famous monuments and created a mobile app to teach people all about these cities. She showcased her project at Coolest Projects Dublin and taught coding to kids during EU Code Week. Sara offers this advice: “Base your project on something you enjoy, do your best and, most importantly, have fun!” Coding is becoming the global language! The Hispanic Heritage Foundation promotes the National Computer as a Second Language Initiative and there are coding programs in colleges and universities. Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, hold summer and weekend workshops like FABcamp to empower 6th through 8th graders to become makers and designers through coding, applying computer aided design software, 3D printers, laser cutters and industrial sewing machines. “Coding will lead you to an exciting career — in space or here on earth,” said Paula Golden, president of the Broadcom Foundation. “Coding is one of the most in-demand skills today; 7 million job openings that require coding know-how. There are so many exciting ways to develop a skill that just might propel you to Mars one day!” ■ Paula Golden, President, Broadcom Foundation

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Author and educator Kiki Prottsman champions equality and inclusion in computer science employment and education; she discusses ways to get kids involved and interested in programming. How does learning to program at a younger age set children up for the future? Programming is hard. It’s challenging, unyielding and sometimes irritating. Even so, after fighting with a particularly difficult piece of code and adapting to the feedback from error after error, something clicks. You learn. You solve a problem and feel the glory of success that only comes from persistence in the face of adversity. That joy, that fire, reminds you that you are triumphant and capable of overcoming obstacles in many different shapes if you are just willing to tackle them from different angles and pay attention to the signs sent to you by failure. You learn the value of failure itself. You learn that no matter how many times you are wrong, you still have the opportunity to be right. You learn that your mind is malleable and that your understanding of the world around you can be shaped and reshaped by every dead-end that you hit. Best of all, you are reminded of this dozens of times each day as you arrange and rearrange a limited number of instructions to create an unlimited number of applications, utilities, games, models or simulations. Whether or not a student ends up in a job that requires programming, the act of learning to program will prepare them to learn from their environment. It will prepare them to learn from failure and to learn without explicitly being taught, which is the key to becoming an innovator so that they can shape their world instead of merely living in it. What do you think are the greatest benefits of integrating technology education in the classroom? Students learn different subjects at different rates and expecting each of them to move in lockstep with their classmates because their birthdays fall within the same year is uncomfortably arbitrary. Then, presuming that teachers should be able to differentiate curriculum appropriately for each of their students is unfair and impractical. Technology is uniquely situated to solve this problem, being that it is quite good at stashing away a vast amount of information and only presenting us with what is needed at that time. I believe that good platforms can help further individualize education by challenging those who are excelling while encouraging those who are falling behind. At the moment, it’s hard to imagine such options being successful since the majority of the cutting edge educational software is designed by engineers and philanthropists, rather than by educators themselves. This leads to a market saturated with options, and no way for teachers to separate promises from results. Technology can help here. With the right platform to curate options, reviews and results, the world of k-12 education would be able to confidently adopt products that are worth the investment, helping to prevent tech recoil from expensive experiments that don’t turn out to be effective.

A Push to Recruit More Girls Into Computer Science By exposing girls to coding at a young age, we can diversify STEM fields and foster a community that is welcoming to all kinds of coders.

t every engineering event I attend, people tell me: “You don’t look like an engineer.” In a world that grooms young girls to believe their career, personal life and skills must stem from their femininity, it is no surprise that attitudes like this still exist. Just because I have long brown hair and prefer wearing floral dresses over company-branded t-shirts does not mean I am not a competent engineer. It is impossible to look like an engineer, because all engineers look different. While it’s hard to believe women are still isolated in any career field during a cultural period that champions equality over exclusion, the narrative is no different in most corporate STEM settings. Walk into even the most diverse technology company’s 20 person engineering meeting and you will be lucky if you see one or two female engineers. Even worse, for those strong women who do pursue engineering, few stick with it because of the climate. We must break down the existing

walls of engineering stereotypes, and help to rebuild them with a more inclusive image in mind.

“Just because I have long brown hair and prefer wearing floral dresses over companybranded t-shirts does not mean I am not a competent engineer.” It isn’t that the narrative around women in coding should change — it must change. We have the power to do that. Technology is ingrained in our society and is not leaving anytime soon. Teach young girls computer science at an early age. Through programs like Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code and many others, we have the capacity to familiarize young girls with coding and equip them with the skills to

PHOTO: GIRLS WHO CODE

The Benefits of Technology and Programming in the Classroom

change our tomorrow. We can create an environment where all coders are welcome. If we raise young girls coding, it will not be possible to keep the engineering industry a boys-only club and will help increase diversity in one of the most unequal fields in present day. Girls of the future Through coding games on the internet, clubs at school, online courses and coding camps, teaching young girls to code will increase their critical thinking and set an example that women can succeed in the technology industry irrespective of gender. As technology comes to dominate industries from healthcare to education, the possibilities for women in engineering are endless. No woman should ever feel like her gender holds her back. Teaching young girls to code will change our future for the better. Now is the time to pave the way for the girls of tomorrow, so let’s get started. ■ Alexis Polevoi, Student, UC Berkeley Intern, Salesforce Software Engineering

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3 Ways Women Can Break Barriers in STEM Fields While fighting for equality in the workplace is not new, there are innovative ways women can break down barriers in technology fields.

omen in technology have always shown extraordinary tenacity throughout their fight to earn equality, in the hopes that upcoming generations of women might have a brighter future. One important tool women have in the fight for gender equality is networking. Women can trade ideas, discover new opportunities, help others, make new friends and feel included. Networking with other women — in the same field or others — has a major impact. There is power in numbers. Here are three other ways women can fight against inequality and break down barriers in STEM fields: 1. Speak up For many years, women were viewed as less capable for certain tasks than men. Today, many women have had the courage to use their voices to make a difference. They voiced a need for the placement of women in traditionally male-held positions, respect during meetings, leadership roles in project coordination and pay raises. Research shows that companies who hire women at all levels are more profitable. 2. Use resources Some resources are available just for women; you just need to find them. For example, many women have found help through programs specifically

for female entrepreneurs. They provide training for women interested in becoming investors, allocate funds for female-founded technology companies and host fellowship programs that provide mentorship. 3. Continue to learn Many women have the opportunity to grow as individuals and employees by attending seminars, conferences and classes. By doing so, they find more confidence in their expertise. Organizations like Women in Technology International (WITI) bring women together through WITI networks around the world. The leading global organization for women in technology, their annual Women in Technology International Summit and industry events — where attendees have the opportunity to expand their network, share best practices, and learn about hot topics in technology, STEM, business, and leadership — encourage women to continue to learn. No matter the length of the journey, women are more powerful than ever. They only need to stay steadfast to reach their goal. As the next generation of women in STEM rises up,  new boundaries will be tested. Each milestone marks a celebration and should empower women to keep moving forward, continuing to make history. n Women in Technology International

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A New Star Emerges in the World of Computer Coding With her hugely popular podcast, CodeNewbie, Saron Yitbarek is opening up the world of coding to her legion of followers.

aron Yitbarek, a selftaught coder from a decidedly non-techie background, never imagined the success she would eventually achieve when she first launched her coding podcast, CodeNewbie. Today, the show has over 1.4 million downloads and has fans tuning in from more than 100

countries to learn how they too can break into the world of coding. Yitbarek’s own coding journey began while she was working a dull job as a fact-checker at a magazine. In order to fill her down time she began reading books, and stumbled upon a Steve Jobs biography. “When I saw that there was another side of tech that wasn’t so

calculated, that it was creative, flexible and emotional, I thought,‘That’s interesting’,” she says. Soon, she was devouring everything she could find on coding — reading about various startups, following tech blogs and listening to podcasts. She made a list of startups she was interested in and set about cold e-mailing the CEOs.

One of those emails eventually led to her first job. The position turned out to be in sales, but Yitbarek was fascinated by the engineering team and couldn’t help sneaking a look over their shoulders as her curiosity grew. Eager to learn how coding worked, Yitbarek signed up for an online coding course, but it didn’t

go well. She found the experience highly frustrating and felt like a failure. But then she realized that when learning to code, “Failure is not the exception, it’s the backdrop.” She had to change her mindset, change her expectations and be willing to fail. Learning to fail A year later, with a new mindset, she began researching boot camps like Codeacademy and Treehouse. She liked the immersive, hands-on approach of the boot camps, and suddenly, it all seemed much more doable. When choosing between a boot camp and a traditional four-year degree, Yitbarek recommends researching the options that are available and affordable, while making sure to consider the mindset of the companies you are

MEDIAPLANET | 11

PHOTO: BARTEK PAWLIK

“When I saw that there was another side of tech that wasn’t so calculated, that it was creative, flexible and emotional, I thought, ‘That’s interesting’.”

This could be the most

LUCRATIVE decision you ever make.

Learn to code. Get a (better) job. codefellows.org/upgrade

interested in. Startups and smaller companies may be more openminded to the non-traditional path, but things are changing, and some larger corporations are now beginning to hire directly from boot camps. That said, Yitbarek does warn against boot camps that claim to turn you into a rock star in

six weeks. “If you believe all that marketing and that headline without digging deeper, without being realistic, I think you’re going to be really disappointed,” she says. Diversity and inclusion in the tech space and startup culture are also very important to Yitbarek. Though many companies, organizations and schools are creating initiatives to attract people who are underrepresented in technology spheres, she believes it is up to all of us to continue to question and challenge our own blind spots and be mindful of all that we do and create. After all, it’s a great big world out there, and Yitbarek believes that anything is possible — especially when you know what’s going on under the hood. n Michael Flocker

12 | EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

MEDIAPLANET

Miss DC Shares Her Coding Secrets

What are some areas of interest to you in emerging technology? I am very interested in artificial intelligence. I also love being able to apply inclusive design concepts in front-end design when building information systems. What do you think the biggest issue is for women entering the technology industry? The lack of female representation and leaders is one of the biggest issues. The inability to see female role models in the field leads to young girls moving away from STEM, and, in particular, technology interests. How have you married pageants and STEM education support? The Miss America Organization allows me the opportunity to engage with audiences all across the District of Columbia to engage young girls in-hands on learning, exposing more women to

computer science, and depict a real world woman in the technology industry. I am able to share my experiences through being a spokesperson for this organization for girls to see Miss DC as a multidimensional leader so that they think, “I want to do that. I can do that. I will do that.” Who is your inspiration in coding? Karlie Kloss who is a supermodel who learned how to code and created a non-profit to offer women scholarships and summer camps to pursue and learn computer science. I love the message she sends — that anyone at anytime can be empowered by technology, learn how to code, and make a difference. What prompted you to pursue a career in computer science? Once, I dreamt of being a concert pianist. I grew up as a classical pianist with the goal to attend New England Conservatory for music performance. When I auditioned, I got rejected. I ultimately went on to major in music performance at the University of Alabama where I discovered music software, which introduced me to the world of tech. I had a moment where I realized how I could blend my love for music with technology, turning my passion into a career. I shifted my focus from pursuing a music degree to a technology degree.

PHOTO: MOSHE ZUSMAN

Beauty queen, singer, pianist and software developer, Allison Farris has found a way to combine her passions into something even more lucrative: a career. She discusses what interests her about the technology sector, and why we should be encouraging more young girls to get involved in coding.

What do you hope to do with DigiGirlz and Girls Inc. to empower young girls in coding? My goal is to show women and girls how they can turn their passion into a career leveraging technology as the tool to allow them to do it. I partner with outreach programs, like Microsoft DigiGirlz, to engage girls in hands-on col-

laborative learning while introducing concepts of computer science and the role technology plays in every industry. Generating energy around what it is that makes them excited to learn and grow empowers girls. Providing them a way to achieve that excitment through technology is what sparks passion to engage and explore STEM careers.

How did you start mentoring and why is it important to do so? My very first mentor at Microsoft sparked another moment for me when she helped me realize how I can bring my passion to promote women in technology to my dayto-day job as a software developer consultant. Mentorship is such a critical component for personal growth and creates ripple effects. n

14 | EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

Students in STEM Discuss How Computer Science Has Influenced Them

What inspired you to pursue computer science?

The path to studying computer science is not always an easy one, especially when the subject can be as intimidating as computer programming. Two students give their advice to anyone considering a career in coding.

Logan Parmeter: Growing up, I always had an interest in both computers and video games, so when I was changing my major during my first semester at Baylor, I took a great interest in computer science. I wanted to study computer science and become a game developer, and Baylor has a game development

Logan Parmeter

Negin Forouzesh

Bayler University

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track within the computer science program, which made the major a perfect fit. Negin Forouzesh: I was a high school student when I registered for a robotics summer camp in Iran. It was my first experience with programming, and it was fun and challenging. It inspired me to study computer science at university.

MEDIAPLANET | 15

What is one piece of advice that you would give a female student unsure about pursuing computer science? LP: Although this can be a very difficult field to get into, it is also immensely rewarding. In an age where computers and technology are becoming an increasingly integral part of our society, the demand for computer scientists will only continue to increase, as will the variety of careers in computing. For anyone who is interested in, but hesitant about, programming, I would encourage them to try learning some programming from one of the many websites that offer free courses. Even a basic course in Java or C++ can be beneficial to anyone interested in pursuing computer science. One of the biggest misconceptions that I had about computing jobs is that they all involve

staring at a computer and programming for hours on end with little to no human interaction. However, I’ve learned from both my own experiences and hearing the experiences of my colleagues that there is a wide spectrum of computing jobs, all with their own unique roles and responsibilities. There is a job in computing for individuals of all different personalities and interests, and you never have to feel stuck doing the same thing day after day.

“Although this can be a very difficult field to get into, it is also immensely rewarding.” NF: First and foremost, I believe that anyone can thrive in com-

puter science regardless of their gender. If you are interested in this field, go for it! Although the number of females in computing areas is much fewer than males, you can take advantage of this gender gap and be employed by many companies that are willing to increase workplace diversity. What kind of job are you hoping to pursue after you graduate? LP: I hope to pursue a career in technical consulting after I graduate. I really enjoy the dynamic, ever-changing environment of consulting, and I will have the opportunity to continue learning new technologies even after I have left school. NF: I would like to join a research center in the future, where I can employ my knowledge and skills in practical

Problem Solvers Wanted

Preparing the next generation of computer scientists to be a force for change through experiential learning and a commitment to diversity.

research projects. Particularly, I have found computational biophysics an appealing framework through which I can employ my learned skills to advance the process of drug discovery. What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far and what was special about it? LP: My favorite project that I’ve worked on so far was a semester-long group project in one of my software engineering courses. Our task was to build a web application that would match up pet owners and pet sitters, and this application was to be built from the ground up. This project was special because it gave me my first look at how different programming languages, frameworks, and technologies could work together to create a product, and it was awesome to see the

end result after a semester’s worth of hard work.

“I believe that anyone can thrive in computer science regardless of their gender.” NF: I had the opportunity to work at the Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine as an intern in the summer of 2018. In a productive collaboration with biologists, bioinformaticians and geneticists, we developed a comprehensive database for on-the-fly genetic variant annotation. This can be used to pinpoint subsets of functionally important genetic variants which result in major diseases such as cancer. n