This article was written by Megan Goldman ’15 and originally appeared on the Scripps College website. To view the original article, click here.

In 2013, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and others produced a video encouraging students to study computer science. Its message is both simple and profound: coding is the closest thing we have to a superpower. Scripps students agree, and some are working to make the complex field more accessible to the community.

As demand skyrockets for coders, technical skills are no longer just for engineers. More and more jobs depend on technology, and candidates have a leg up if they have even a basic understanding of computer science. Coding not only increases a student’s chance of getting hired, but also can enhance creative thinking skills.

In light of these trends, four Scripps computer science majors created a space on campus to discuss and practice coding. The outcome is [CodeLiteracy]@Scripps, where Szyezin Lee ’15, Kate Finlay ’15, Shinjini Nunna ’16, and Sneha Deo ’17 host biweekly forums where students can learn basic web design skills, hear from guest speakers, collaborate on creating an app, or  discuss their CS classes at The Claremont Colleges. Topics are determined based on the interests of participants and are intended to provide a safe and comfortable environment for those who want to learn. Continue reading A New Kind of Literacy →