The Rise and Fall of "Learn to Code"

The video "Why "Learn to Code" Failed" by PolyMatter explores the dramatic rise and fall of the "Learn to Code" movement. Here's a breakdown:

The CS Boom: The number of Computer Science graduates exploded, with some universities seeing increases of over 1000%. Some schools created entirely new colleges dedicated to computing, driven by the allure of tech jobs and the mythologizing of tech founders.
The Political Endorsement: Politicians like Obama and Bloomberg championed coding as a pathway to the middle class and a solution to economic woes. This led to widespread adoption of computer science education in schools.
Oversupply and Underpreparedness: While demand grew, universities struggled to keep up, leading to overcrowded classes and overworked professors. Graduates often lacked specific marketable skills, despite a focus on general algorithms.
The Coding Bootcamp Hype: Coding bootcamps emerged as a faster, cheaper alternative to traditional degrees, promising job-ready skills in a matter of weeks. However, they faced similar challenges as universities, including a lack of qualified instructors and pressure to raise tuition.
The University Takeover: Bootcamps eventually partnered with universities to gain accreditation and access to federal student loans, becoming integrated into the existing higher education system.
The Tech Layoff: The tech industry experienced massive layoffs, exposing the oversupply of programmers and the expendable nature of tech workers.
The Reality Check: The video argues that "Learn to Code" was an oversimplified solution that ignored the laws of economics and the diversity of human interests. It reduced people to interchangeable units of labor and failed to deliver on its promises for many.
The Future: Despite the downturn, computer-related occupations are expected to grow. The video suggests focusing on developing broad skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability, skills that transcend specific industries. It recommends Brilliant.org, a learning platform, as a tool for developing such skills.