Summary

Argument on the side of coding being mandantory and my experience with coding.

After my brief experience with coding, I now think that it makes sense for humanities students to learn to code, at least the basics. It would enable them to interact with the internet in a level beyond simple browsing. Kirschenbaum compares learning a computing language to learning a foreign language, saying that: “I believe proficiency in a computer language can fulfill many of the same functions — accessibility, self-reliance, heightened critical awareness — as knowledge of a traditional foreign language.” Kirschenbaum is not saying that it is no longer useful to learn a foreign language, only that learning a computer langauge opens up what a student can do in the world, similarly to learning a computer language. We live in an increasingly digitized age, where fluency with the internet equates to fluency with the larger world. Making it a requirement would also provide each student with valuable skills, that have immediate relevance for the job market.

Before this, I have only done coding with applications like R, for my statistics class. I enjoyed the functionality that it provided, but my knowledge with using it was very limited. Because of this, and because of coding continually becoming more of a part of popular culture, I had a basic understanding of what coding is. After my minimal time coding, I can now say that I see its value, and also enjoy it to some extent. I can see how it might be tiring to code for a long time, but that would also increase proficiency with coding.

This is my first page
Expression of feeling
Dang it really is exciting.
Again feeling
Yo tis crazy.