Coding...do you?

I must admit I don't know much about coding.  Basic HTML is my <b>limit</b>... as you can see.  But lately, teaching coding has been a topic of discussion among our tech-savviest educators.  And today I came across this Lifehacker article which not only covers various ways you can teach yourself to code, but also why you'd want to, and also provides links to numerous excellent resources.  It's a great read, even if you don't know anything (or care to know anything) about the world of computer programming.

Did you know there are apps that teach toddlers how to code?  While you can go to pretty much any university and get a degree in computer science, you can also get a free coding education online from Harvard (among others).   While computer programming isn't new, its mainstream popularity and practicality continues to climb.  We hear of high school students creating (and making popular and financially successful) iPhone apps all the time.  So that begs the question... how necessary is a college degree for a successful coding career?

So what do you think?  Should coding be taught in high schools?  Or is it better left to explore on your own?  Is it valuable?  Or will it soon be replaced by something else?

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