It’s the language of the digital age, but for many modern workers, it remains a mystery. Called “code”, it’s the collective term that refers to the wide assortment of programming and markup languages used to design and create the websites, programs, and apps that we interact with every day.
Despite its omnipresence in our lives, however, many are intimidated by this new digital language, and remain digitally illiterate.
“People have a stigma about what it means to be a programmer and to code,” says Jeremy Shaki, co-founder of the web-development training firm Lighthouse Labs. “We want to open people’s minds to coding and show them what they can create. It’s so easy now to take your thoughts and ideas and turn them into something you can share with the world.”
To that end, Lighthouse Labs has partnered with 50 Vancouver-based high-tech firms to create a free one-day training seminar to help make Canadians digitally literate.
Called HTML500, the one-day bootcamp teaches participants the ins and outs of HTML (HyperText Markup Language), otherwise known as the language of the Internet. By the end of the day, participants will be able to design their own web landing page, and will have rubbed elbows with close to 100 industry professionals who will be volunteering their time as mentors.
Shaki says the aim of HTML500 is to inspire the public by showing all the amazing opportunities created by code, as well as offering free access to introductory tech education.
“In its most basic form, digital literacy is the ability to read and understand digital technology,” he explains. “Coding is one form of digital literacy, and HTML is one of the most basic forms of coding knowledge.”
No prior coding experience or knowledge is necessary, and it’s never to late to learn how, Shaki insists.
“We have people in their 60s participating,” he says. “It’s never too late.”
• HTML500 starts its cross-Canada tour this Saturday in Vancouver at the Rocky Mountaineer Station (1755 Cottrell) Register (for free!) at TheHTML500.com. Laptops required.
