A student shows Lt. Governor Reynolds the coding process. (file photo)
Should Java, Python and Ruby be some of the languages taught in Iowa schools? That’s a question state officials are asking.
If you recognize Java, Python and Ruby as the languages for computer coding, you already may be fluent. Fourteen states are allowing students to take a computer coding class to fulfill science, math or foreign language requirements in high school. Governor Branstad says computer coding is a foreign language to him, but it’s important for young people to learn it.
“Clearly, this is a direction that we think is important for the future of education in our state,” Branstad says. “And we want to do all we can to encourage and prepare Iowa students for this important subject of computer science.”
There are thousands of “languages” used to program computers. Many computer programmers say the best “language” to learn first is Python. The most popular computer coding language right now is Java. Java started out as the language used to program smart televisions. It’s now used to program all the apps for Androids. One of the simplest computer languages to learn is Ruby. Once you learn Ruby, you can use “Ruby on Rails” to design apps.