Solving the Technology Skills Gap One Child at a Time

I remember the day our family got our first computer. It was 1982 and it was the Commodore 64 (C64). I know, I know, I’m dating myself, but it’s ok. It was on that historic day when my love of technology was born.

Capabilities on the C64 were limited – primarily used for rudimentary games like Boulder Dash and Pitstop, and with a basic GUI tool set for word processing and file storage, it was all the rage. Sold in regular retail stores versus electronic hobbyist stores, coupled with low price points, made it the most successful computer of all time according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Regardless of the limitations that are obvious to us now, in those days we were easier to please. Many phones were still rotary-style and our family still had a TV that required you to walk up to and turn the dial in order to change the channel. Remote controls came later. Slight adjustment of the rabbit ears to get the best picture and we were good to go!

The C64 unleashed a technology revolution in my family. Being an electrical engineer, my father became an instant hardware junkie. He would build several white-box PCs over the next 10-15 years just for the fun of it. He would draw diagrams and explain the inner workings of the motherboard, memory, and provide tutorials even though no kids in my house were asking. He would also draw a detailed blueprint of a manual transmission before my first driving lesson so that I understood how it worked when I shifted gears when all my 16-year old self wanted to do was learn how to drive.

I learned by osmosis and because passion is contagious.

The honeymoon period with the C64 period lasted until I saw my first Atari game system and it was all downhill from there.

With release cadences getting shorter and shorter, the hardware became a means to an end – a way to get our hands on the latest software.  Software that made basic tasks easier, more efficient, more fun and more relevant to our lives.

In 2009, our son entered the world shortly after the release of the iPhone 3GS. He was already doomed. He would know how to swipe like a boss by the ripe old age of 2.

Last Christmas we (I mean Santa) got our son a Kano computer. It is a computer you and your child can assemble from scratch and where they can learn basic coding skills. Shortly after discussing this gift with friends, we were told about code.org, which is a free website where children of all ages and skill levels can develop and hone their coding skills.

This week at our son’s school they began Coding Week using code.org. Through this website they are exploring coding through one hour tutorials designed for all ages. They will use Minecraft, Star Wars and Frozen themes to create characters that can move forward, backward and turn. They will learn the language of code and the basics of computer science. They will create their own stories, art and games. Some of the coding concepts they will learn will include algorithms, nested loops, conditionals, and events.

On the first day of Coding Week, our son came home wanting to code on the Kano computer from Christmas last year. He developed his own music loop and played it for us with pride.  “The baton” was being passed.

So why in an age where software has grown from enabling basic word processing to helping people make financial decisions via robo-advisors, are we seeing a shortage of technology skills in the US workforce?

This is a real issue. In my work at Pivotal, a company solely focused on helping companies get better at software, I speak to customers all the time about their struggle to find skilled developers and technology problem solvers.

According to an article in Fortune magazine I read last year, “Nine in 10 parents want their child to study computer science, but only one in four schools teach computer programming, according to the organization behind Computer Science Education Week, an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science.”

In the US, there are over 600,000 jobs open in technology with only around 40,000 graduates annually to fulfill them. Wow. What an opportunity.

We are lucky to be a part of a school that values STEM and fosters technology curiosity at a young age. So how can you do the same if the opportunity doesn’t exist in your school?

Well, if you don’t have the means to start your own, then you should look locally. Just in Tampa alone, local universities like USF, MOSI, various cultural and tutoring centers are starting new programs. You could also join or start a local meetup or check out several YouTube videos on the very topic.

Our children are already more technologically savvy than previous generations so it is a natural extension for them. It is also future job security and relevant across every industry for the foreseeable future just in case our son’s dream of becoming a professional hockey or lacrosse player do not work out.