Local youngsters will soon become masters of the web, thanks to a new coding class at the Westbury Memorial Public Library.
Matthew Kates, an information technology aide at the library, is currently teaching a four-week class for teens on the basics of HTML and CSS. The class meets once a week for an hour, and by the end of the sessions, students will be able to learn how to program a website and code.
“We’re going over the basics of web stuff and how to program a website and getting an understanding of how to code,” Kates said. “We want to get kids to think in more of a mathematical way and to use the computers not just to play games or talk with friends, but be productive on them.”
Kates said that several children had also asked him for coding help, so he figured this was a good time to hold the class. Sponsorship from #YesWeCode, a national initiative that helps train teenagers to become high-level computer coders, was also an extra push. Kates said that the Westbury library is one of the only ones on Long Island to have this type of sponsorship.
The students use the programs Notepad++ and Eclipse, which has been installed on the computers at the library and can also be accessed by the teens at home.
On their first day of class, July 8, students learned HTML basics. In future sessions, they will learn about CSS and by the end of the four weeks, they will create a homepage that has links to all of their favorite websites.
Out of the 12 students enrolled, eight are girls, including 11-year-old Lea Veigl, who is one of the youngest in the class. She said she loved the idea of being able to create her own website.
“The idea that we might be able to create something sounded fun and really appealed to me,” Lea said.
She was joined in the class by her older brother, Karl.
“I want to be able to make a website and post it so people and my friends can see it and so I can help people,” Karl said. “I knew nothing about it, but it was easy to understand.”
Kates has years of experience in coding, working as a web designer before coming to the library, and is currently enrolled at Nassau Community College pursuing a degree in Information Technology. He said the class holds numerous benefits for the teens who have signed up.
“This will get them thinking in a more mathematical way and there’s a problem solving aspect also,” Kates said. “They can see if it’s not working and figure out how to fix it. This class gives them a finished result and something they can show off and be proud off.”
Teens entering grades 7-12 can still sign up for the program, which is held Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. until July 29. To find out more, contact the library at 516-333-0176.
