The Right Way to Learn Code | Brian Underwood, Max Ptacek & Ben Makarechian | TEDxYouth@SHC

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[Applause] tell your story change the conversation

tell your story change the conversation

tell your story change the conversation colonized by students TEDx youth at SHC

three months ago I thought we were

three months ago I thought we were screwed we had committed ourselves to

screwed we had committed ourselves to

screwed we had committed ourselves to creating a virtual reality

creating a virtual reality

creating a virtual reality aka VR dodgeball game okay okay wait up

aka VR dodgeball game okay okay wait up

aka VR dodgeball game okay okay wait up for those of you who do not know VR is a

for those of you who do not know VR is a

for those of you who do not know VR is a computer-generated three-dimensional

computer-generated three-dimensional

computer-generated three-dimensional simulated environment users typically

simulated environment users typically

simulated environment users typically wear a headset such as the one that Ben

wear a headset such as the one that Ben

wear a headset such as the one that Ben here is wearing to interact with the

here is wearing to interact with the

here is wearing to interact with the environment and the objects within it we

environment and the objects within it we

environment and the objects within it we were under the false pretenses that this

were under the false pretenses that this

were under the false pretenses that this would be easy or dare I say it fun but

would be easy or dare I say it fun but

would be easy or dare I say it fun but let’s just say that so far it had not

let’s just say that so far it had not

let’s just say that so far it had not been easy or fun at this point in our

been easy or fun at this point in our

been easy or fun at this point in our project we had completed our first code

project we had completed our first code

project we had completed our first code which is supposed to allow us to pick up

which is supposed to allow us to pick up

which is supposed to allow us to pick up a ball we had spent hours working on it

a ball we had spent hours working on it

a ball we had spent hours working on it the problem was we cannot pick up the

the problem was we cannot pick up the

the problem was we cannot pick up the ball so what were we gonna do we had

ball so what were we gonna do we had

ball so what were we gonna do we had tried troubleshooting but that didn’t

tried troubleshooting but that didn’t

tried troubleshooting but that didn’t work we scavenged the internet looking

work we scavenged the internet looking

work we scavenged the internet looking for a possible solution trying to save

for a possible solution trying to save

for a possible solution trying to save the thing we had spent so much time

the thing we had spent so much time

the thing we had spent so much time working on but nothing came of our

working on but nothing came of our

working on but nothing came of our efforts so like I said before screwed

efforts so like I said before screwed

efforts so like I said before screwed but let’s go back to the beginning not

but let’s go back to the beginning not

but let’s go back to the beginning not just the beginning of this air but the

just the beginning of this air but the

just the beginning of this air but the beginning of our entire project about

beginning of our entire project about

beginning of our entire project about four months ago

four months ago

four months ago one day I sent a text to Ben saying I

one day I sent a text to Ben saying I

one day I sent a text to Ben saying I just bought an HTC vive and I found out

just bought an HTC vive and I found out

just bought an HTC vive and I found out that we can make something with it do

that we can make something with it do

that we can make something with it do you want to do it and of course I say

you want to do it and of course I say

you want to do it and of course I say I’d love to but then later I think wait

I’d love to but then later I think wait

I’d love to but then later I think wait what does Brian know about creating a

what does Brian know about creating a

what does Brian know about creating a virtual reality game I had just tested

virtual reality game I had just tested

virtual reality game I had just tested out the HTC vive with Brian when he

out the HTC vive with Brian when he

out the HTC vive with Brian when he asked me if I wanted to create a game

asked me if I wanted to create a game

asked me if I wanted to create a game with him and Ben I instantly agreed

with him and Ben I instantly agreed

with him and Ben I instantly agreed without thinking about what we were

without thinking about what we were

without thinking about what we were actually going to do with Max I get a

actually going to do with Max I get a

actually going to do with Max I get a text from been asking what kind of game

text from been asking what kind of game

text from been asking what kind of game we would make he suggests a VR dodgeball

we would make he suggests a VR dodgeball

we would make he suggests a VR dodgeball game and I was immediately attached to

game and I was immediately attached to

game and I was immediately attached to that idea we were all passionate about

that idea we were all passionate about

that idea we were all passionate about going outside and playing games and we

going outside and playing games and we

going outside and playing games and we wanted to create something that can

wanted to create something that can

wanted to create something that can capture the feel of being outside or

capture the feel of being outside or

capture the feel of being outside or being in a gym we just had one tiny

being in a gym we just had one tiny

being in a gym we just had one tiny problem I was the only one who had a

problem I was the only one who had a

problem I was the only one who had a computer capable of running VR and we

computer capable of running VR and we

computer capable of running VR and we had no idea how to use the software okay

had no idea how to use the software okay

had no idea how to use the software okay I just filmed we’d figure it out okay

I just filmed we’d figure it out okay

I just filmed we’d figure it out okay okay we had a little bit more of a plan

okay we had a little bit more of a plan

okay we had a little bit more of a plan than that I had just gone back from a

than that I had just gone back from a

than that I had just gone back from a three week coding camp so I knew what

three week coding camp so I knew what

three week coding camp so I knew what programming languages could be used the

programming languages could be used the

programming languages could be used the coding experience of

coding experience of

coding experience of accent I had however did not reach

accent I had however did not reach

accent I had however did not reach beyond what we had learned at school

beyond what we had learned at school

beyond what we had learned at school which was not much at our school we do

which was not much at our school we do

which was not much at our school we do this program called hour of code the

this program called hour of code the

this program called hour of code the goal of it is to get kids interested in

goal of it is to get kids interested in

goal of it is to get kids interested in coding by having them do some sort of

coding by having them do some sort of

coding by having them do some sort of coding related activities for an hour

coding related activities for an hour

coding related activities for an hour there are many problems with this

there are many problems with this

there are many problems with this however namely the fact that it is one

however namely the fact that it is one

however namely the fact that it is one hour of code for the whole year also we

hour of code for the whole year also we

hour of code for the whole year also we feel that it makes things misleadingly

feel that it makes things misleadingly

feel that it makes things misleadingly simple yeah this lack of knowledge that

simple yeah this lack of knowledge that

simple yeah this lack of knowledge that we had from hour of code is part of the

we had from hour of code is part of the

we had from hour of code is part of the reason why Max and I trusted Brian so

reason why Max and I trusted Brian so

reason why Max and I trusted Brian so blindly when he said it would be fine

blindly when he said it would be fine

blindly when he said it would be fine and then we ran into another roadblock

and then we ran into another roadblock

and then we ran into another roadblock we had no money to actually purchase the

we had no money to actually purchase the

we had no money to actually purchase the software or got computers that could run

software or got computers that could run

software or got computers that could run the software so we launched the

the software so we launched the

the software so we launched the Kickstarter campaign and we raised

Kickstarter campaign and we raised

Kickstarter campaign and we raised almost $5,000 and so our project began

almost $5,000 and so our project began

almost $5,000 and so our project began we were horribly misguided in our

we were horribly misguided in our

we were horribly misguided in our project we had sold copies of our game

project we had sold copies of our game

project we had sold copies of our game promised to be distributed at a fixed

promised to be distributed at a fixed

promised to be distributed at a fixed date we had set a deadline for ourselves

date we had set a deadline for ourselves

date we had set a deadline for ourselves and we were committed and we had no idea

and we were committed and we had no idea

and we were committed and we had no idea that we were about to be hit by the

that we were about to be hit by the

that we were about to be hit by the metaphorical bus that was actual coding

metaphorical bus that was actual coding

metaphorical bus that was actual coding we had to learn to code really code

we had to learn to code really code

we had to learn to code really code somehow one way or another we would have

somehow one way or another we would have

somehow one way or another we would have to master the mountain of code that

to master the mountain of code that

to master the mountain of code that faced us mmm at first we were

faced us mmm at first we were

faced us mmm at first we were discouraged early attempts of finding

discouraged early attempts of finding

discouraged early attempts of finding good online tutorials had only resulted

good online tutorials had only resulted

good online tutorials had only resulted in us copying lines and lines of code

in us copying lines and lines of code

in us copying lines and lines of code into a project without actually

into a project without actually

into a project without actually understanding what they meant the first

understanding what they meant the first

understanding what they meant the first time we really began to understand what

time we really began to understand what

time we really began to understand what we were doing was what been here messed

we were doing was what been here messed

we were doing was what been here messed everything up so I had just made a

everything up so I had just made a

everything up so I had just made a relatively significant breakthrough I

relatively significant breakthrough I

relatively significant breakthrough I had learned how to add points to a score

had learned how to add points to a score

had learned how to add points to a score to the score when an enemy was hit by a

to the score when an enemy was hit by a

to the score when an enemy was hit by a ball however I also had the genius idea

ball however I also had the genius idea

ball however I also had the genius idea to rename the code that we were using

to rename the code that we were using

to rename the code that we were using for the enemies from interactable item

for the enemies from interactable item

for the enemies from interactable item to interactable item a la Ben we were

to interactable item a la Ben we were

to interactable item a la Ben we were really eager to test this out until we

really eager to test this out until we

really eager to test this out until we got at least 200 error messages we were

got at least 200 error messages we were

got at least 200 error messages we were all confused on what was wrong with the

all confused on what was wrong with the

all confused on what was wrong with the code that was just working and while Max

code that was just working and while Max

code that was just working and while Max and Brian were running the code I was

and Brian were running the code I was

and Brian were running the code I was frantically pacing around trying not to

frantically pacing around trying not to

frantically pacing around trying not to hyperventilate because I just ruined

hyperventilate because I just ruined

hyperventilate because I just ruined everything we had worked so hard on but

everything we had worked so hard on but

everything we had worked so hard on but then I realized that one code was

then I realized that one code was

then I realized that one code was referring to intractable item not

referring to intractable item not

referring to intractable item not intractable item Allah Ben and we fixed

intractable item Allah Ben and we fixed

intractable item Allah Ben and we fixed it

it

it like a mechanic who can learn about a

like a mechanic who can learn about a

like a mechanic who can learn about a car by taking it apart and putting it

car by taking it apart and putting it

car by taking it apart and putting it back together again we fixed our code

back together again we fixed our code

back together again we fixed our code because we broke it so then we managed

because we broke it so then we managed

because we broke it so then we managed to squeeze in work in our game in

to squeeze in work in our game in

to squeeze in work in our game in between school and same projects

between school and same projects

between school and same projects homework and sports we broke her goals

homework and sports we broke her goals

homework and sports we broke her goals down into fundamental interactions at

down into fundamental interactions at

down into fundamental interactions at first this was creating or destroying a

first this was creating or destroying a

first this was creating or destroying a game object when something happens but

game object when something happens but

game object when something happens but later we learned how to have the enemies

later we learned how to have the enemies

later we learned how to have the enemies track and follow the player and how to

track and follow the player and how to

track and follow the player and how to have the player teleport around the

have the player teleport around the

have the player teleport around the scene so in the end we we came out of

scene so in the end we we came out of

scene so in the end we we came out of this incident with much more knowledge

this incident with much more knowledge

this incident with much more knowledge than we had going into it not only that

than we had going into it not only that

than we had going into it not only that but we also had a newfound confidence in

but we also had a newfound confidence in

but we also had a newfound confidence in ourselves our ability to solve our

ourselves our ability to solve our

ourselves our ability to solve our problems and our ability to learn from

problems and our ability to learn from

problems and our ability to learn from our mistakes

our mistakes

our mistakes we finally believed that we would be

we finally believed that we would be

we finally believed that we would be able to follow through to our backers

able to follow through to our backers

able to follow through to our backers with our commitment of creating a game

with our commitment of creating a game

with our commitment of creating a game and we can pick up the ball but the main

and we can pick up the ball but the main

and we can pick up the ball but the main source of this problem comes from the

source of this problem comes from the

source of this problem comes from the dissatisfaction of one thing we believe

dissatisfaction of one thing we believe

dissatisfaction of one thing we believe that the way schools teach coding is

that the way schools teach coding is

that the way schools teach coding is wrong and we think that one of the best

wrong and we think that one of the best

wrong and we think that one of the best ways I could solve this issue is in

ways I could solve this issue is in

ways I could solve this issue is in three parts the first part is to have

three parts the first part is to have

three parts the first part is to have kids learn on their own children need to

kids learn on their own children need to

kids learn on their own children need to be thrown into the deep end with coding

be thrown into the deep end with coding

be thrown into the deep end with coding and adults need to be willing to take a

and adults need to be willing to take a

and adults need to be willing to take a step back and let the kids learn by

step back and let the kids learn by

step back and let the kids learn by themselves the second part is to have

themselves the second part is to have

themselves the second part is to have the adult offer guidance to the kid only

the adult offer guidance to the kid only

the adult offer guidance to the kid only occasionally if the kid is stuck have

occasionally if the kid is stuck have

occasionally if the kid is stuck have them search the internet for possible

them search the internet for possible

them search the internet for possible solutions and if they really can’t find

solutions and if they really can’t find

solutions and if they really can’t find the solution then help them yourself the

the solution then help them yourself the

the solution then help them yourself the third and final part would be to connect

third and final part would be to connect

third and final part would be to connect with children’s passions if kids are

with children’s passions if kids are

with children’s passions if kids are invested and interested in what they are

invested and interested in what they are

invested and interested in what they are learning they will be much more likely

learning they will be much more likely

learning they will be much more likely to continue pursuing that interest in

to continue pursuing that interest in

to continue pursuing that interest in the future this alternative method of

the future this alternative method of

the future this alternative method of learning how to code would help kids

learning how to code would help kids

learning how to code would help kids create something that they can care

create something that they can care

create something that they can care about and commit to developing their

about and commit to developing their

about and commit to developing their coding abilities and while this

coding abilities and while this

coding abilities and while this interests and entertain some they will

interests and entertain some they will

interests and entertain some they will be using actual coding languages and

be using actual coding languages and

be using actual coding languages and software that could help them further

software that could help them further

software that could help them further along in life

along in life

along in life the current teaching philosophy of

the current teaching philosophy of

the current teaching philosophy of coding is flawed and it’s jobs that

coding is flawed and it’s jobs that

coding is flawed and it’s jobs that involve coding evolve so much the way

involve coding evolve so much the way

involve coding evolve so much the way that we teach it to students so we’re

that we teach it to students so we’re

that we teach it to students so we’re asking you parents and teachers to

asking you parents and teachers to

asking you parents and teachers to persuade the kids in your life to try

persuade the kids in your life to try

persuade the kids in your life to try their hand at code to create something

their hand at code to create something

their hand at code to create something that inspires and empowers them and that

that inspires and empowers them and that

that inspires and empowers them and that is truly their own thank you

is truly their own thank you

is truly their own thank you you