Should creativity be an essential part of our learning process?
Or does creativity have no other purpose than fun and entertainment?
What are the possible benefits of taking a more creative approach to learning programming?
It might be a fact but I dont like to just accept facts.
Why do we need more programmers?
Because more people are trying to make a profit out of computing, and out of technology in general.
Thats why we need more programmers.
If its about having the giant tech companies become even bigger then I feel its wrong.
No one is thinking of the impact on resources all this is creating.
Digitalization brought solutions but also made our lives faster and faster.
Because of that, I think we should learn to use technology properly, for our own profit.
For example: to safeguard our rights, privacy, and democracy.
We shouldnt just let ourselves be carried away by people and businesses controlling it.
We need to be more clever, more alert, more informed.
At the same time, we cant constantly be ready for a revolution to happen.
We also need to relax and live our lives… but staying informed is very important.
People shouldnt be lazy when it comes to understanding their devices and understanding their power.
I think we need more people that love programming for what it is.
Even though, in its core concept, its completely the opposite.
Theres no magic in programming, its all 1s and 0s.
On the creative side of things, I believe as a society we should reclaim public art.
Art should be spread out, people should be craving for beauty and for art.
Creative coding: understanding the magic behind science and technology
Everything started when I discovered Processing.
For that song, they made a video clip using laser scanners.
Laser scanners produce an array of points in (x, y, z)space.
They used these points to recreate the scenery by spreading them out in a 3D environment using Processing.
The amazing part is that Radiohead released the data and the code they used to create the video.
Then, they said to all of us: Now its your turn.
Take the data and the code and do your own thing.
I was blown away and discovered Processing like that.
I really felt I found something special to do with code.
Thats when I knew this direction was for me.
No one is paying much attention to beauty anymore.
Im not talking in the sense of common beauty.
I mean beauty in terms of Art, of wanting things around you to be vibrant.
I think people should pay more attention to that and use technology more for this kind of purpose.
Behind the computer, theres math.
Thats the origin of the digital feeling: the visualization of all these mathematical concepts.
It makes sense because people were exploring a new medium.
People were wondering: How does the computerthinkabout that?
What would this action or formulalook like?
But we went through this in the 90s and early 2000s.
Many statements were made and now we need to move on.
Some people still use computer-generated art as a statement.
This kind of mindset is a bit annoying to me.
I cant appreciate something just because its done with code.
To me, computer-generated art needs to have something extra.
It has to promote the need for using a complex tool.
I think people should pay more attention to that.
InGreece, its very much about technical knowledge and memorization, understanding complicated concepts in math or physics.
But this way of teaching is not effective though.
You just know stuff and then pass the exam.
Now, theres no excuse for not using programming to teach math or physics.
But if you’re free to see the graphs… the graphs are amazing!
Learning like that wouldve probably kept me more interested in math and physics when I was in school.
At least, its the first language that hookedmeinto doing something with code.
Traditionally, students learn all these algorithms and have all these exercises.
Thats what using Processing did for me.
Final thoughts: what does this mean for all of us?
Do you think people who dont necessarily want to become professional programmers could benefit from learning programming?
Yes, I do.
Its the same as keeping yourself informed with politics and being involved with whats happening in the world.
I think learning programming is extremely important.
Its the new way of being literate at the moment.
We need to escape this mindset.
31-year-oldPanagiotis Pandisis a senior software developer from Corfu Island, Greece.
In his free time, Panos is a long-time avid creative coder.
More recently, hes been exploring sound manipulation and live coding by using software such as SuperCollider and FoxDot.
This article was written byMynah Marie,a web developer, writer, musician, and speaker.
it’s possible for you to read the original piecehere.
Story byMynah Marie
Mynah Marie is a web developer, writer, musician, and speaker.
