Mac10 + Ladies Learning Code = National Learn to Code Day

This article was originally published in McMaster University’s Alumni Blog in 2012.

Linh Tran remembers the first website she ever built.

The site was on musical themes developed when she was still in middle school in Russia. That was her first taste and attempt at coding.

A 2013 Commerce graduate from McMaster, Tran, 23, had a chance to revisit coding through the inaugural National Learn to Code Day, a full-day workshop introducing the basics of HTML and CSS.

More than 450 learners from nine cities took part in the workshop on Sept. 21.

The nation-wide event was offered by Ladies Learning Code, a not-for-profit women-run organization focused on advancing digital literacy among women through collaborative and friendly technology workshops designed for both beginners and advanced learners.

Sponsored by McMaster Alumni Association, the Hamilton event had 45 participants who attended the sold-out workshop at Platform 302, a co-shared office space for budding entrepreneurs launched in December 2012.
Led by Ladies Learning Code founder, Heather Payne, the workshop offered a step-by-step guide on how to code a website from scratch. It also introduced basic technical concepts and functions in website development, including ways to insert images, customize font types, colours and sizes, to create a one-page website incorporating HTML and CSS-defined layout.

The workshop gave Tran a chance to test different ways to code her website.

"The instructions were very easy to follow, so I am sure I won't forget what we learned today and will be able to build up more knowledge and skills through practice at home," said Tran.

Small business owner Cheryl Hills, who volunteered her time as a mentor, also found value in the workshop. She was one of the 13 mentors answering technical questions as they arose. Hills is the owner of CAH Productions, a local graphic and web design company. The one-and-a-half-year old company is a labour of love, said Hills, who graduated from graphic design at Georgian College in Owen Sound.

And she was pleased to share her passions. "It's kinda cool to be able to take a bunch of text and create something beautiful out of it," said Hills.

While Hills already knows coding inside out, others like Christina Jean Pierre saw the workshop as an investment in professional development. As the owner of a local communications and public relations agency, Red Hill Communications, Jean Pierre recognized how essential it is for public relations professionals to demonstrate technical competency. She plans enhance her company website and develop her own personal site. The mother of a 7-year-old also thinks coding skills is useful for any age, since the internet and websites are an "integral part of daily life," she said.

"This knowledge and understanding of HTML and CSS will enable me to communicate more effectively with project managers and web designer’s for the community organizations that I am involved with," she explained.

Lisa Bifano, who graduated with a BA in English and Communications Studies this summer, agrees. With her first exposure to coding in a first year Multimedia class, Bifano was glad to learn more through the workshop, adding that coding will be an asset for any communications role. 

"The workshop allowed me to feel more comfortable working with HTML/CSS…I enjoyed the atmosphere and the pace and found both contributed to the positive and encouraging work environment," she said.

For Bifano, the collaborative nature of the workshop was key, to motivate more women to take part in technical skill-building workshops. 

"The [software] industry is predominantly male as females tend to shy away or many haven't had the opportunity to learn. Females should feel as empowered as their male counterparts and the LLC [Ladies Learning Code] organization has helped with that," Bifano added, who now feels more confident with her ability to code. 

Founder of Software Hamilton,McMaster PhD student Kevin Browne also feels encouraged by seeing a large number of women engaging and participating in coding. Having a gender balance in the tech industry is necessary to advance Hamilton's burgeoning software community, he emphasized.