You’ve been managing content in WordPress, maybe you’ve dabbled with modifying a file, but you’re not sure where to go from here (other than total failure). In this session we’ll cover how to transition from dabbler to budding developer, learning opportunities around the web, and issues that can impact your learning, ranging from impostor syndrome to gender and generalism to non-computer science educational backgrounds.
What Are The Drone Anti-jamming Systems Technology?
WCNYC - Leveling Up: From Bashful Beginner to WordPress Warrior
1. Leveling Up: From Bashful
Beginner to WordPress Warrior
Courtney OCallaghan @courtneydawn
Beth Soderberg @bethsoderberg
All resources at the end of the presentation
25. You are NOT imagining things.
In 2005, women made up 24% of computer science
students. By 2010, that figure had dropped to 19%,
according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
A 2012 report from Creative Skillset found that only
29% of the interactive media industry in the UK is
female, and the majority hold positions in art and
design and communications rather than
engineering.
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/women-in-tech-
female-representation
47. RESOURCES - IMPOSTER SYNDROME
Worksheet: Understanding Imposter Syndrome
https://github.com/hypatia/virtuoso/blob/master/Part_1_worksheet.en.md
Video: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome by Ada Initiative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZg9rax-ky4
Wiki: Geek Feminism
http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Impostor_syndrome
Quote
“Unlike learning other skills where one can expect to be reasonably competent
after sufficient practice, programming largely consists of constantly failing, trying
some things, failing some more, and trying more things until it works. One of the
biggest differences between experienced and novice programmers is that
experienced programmers know more things to try. “
https://medium.com/@aliciatweet/overcoming-impostor-syndrome-
bdae04e46ec5
48. RESOURCES – BEING A “UNICORN”
Comic: “whenever someone says women can’t program I grow more powerful”
http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2516#comic
Specialty Groups (incomplete)
Women who Code - https://www.womenwhocode.com
Black Girls Code - http://www.blackgirlscode.com
Allstar Code (young men of color) - http://www.allstarcode.org/
Lesbians who Code - http://lesbianswhotech.org/
MotherCoders - http://www.mothercoders.org/
Girl Develop It - http://www.girldevelopit.com/
Girls who Code - http://girlswhocode.com/
Ladies who Code - http://www.ladieswhocode.com/
FemTechNet - http://femtechnet.newschool.edu/
DC FemTech - http://dcfemtech.github.io/
Ada Initiative (women & allies in Open Source) - http://adainitiative.org/
Tech Lady Mafia - http://techladymafia.com/
Ada’s List - http://adaslist.co/
49. RESOURCES – RECOGNIZING PRIVLEDGE
Article: Programmer privilege as an Asian male
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/programmer
_privilege_as_an_asian_male_computer_science_major_everyone_gave.2.ht
ml
Wiki: micro inequities vs micro affirmation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microinequity
Allies: Workshop Resources (see end of page)
http://adainitiative.org/what-we-do/workshops-and-training/
50. RESOURCES – WP COMMUNITY
WordCamps
Congratulations! You are already here. Go to sessions that you think will challenge you, but likely
won’t be too far above your head. Ask questions! Absorb as much information as you can.
http://central.wordcamp.org/
Local Meetup
There are tons of local meetup groups where developers, designers, and bloggers of all skill levels
gather to learn more about WordPress AND get to know each other. If there isn’t a meetup near
you, you can start one yourself!
http://wordpress.meetup.com/
WordPress Forums
The forums are great places to ask questions or to search for questions similar to the one you
have. Forum people are usually very nice.
http://wordpress.org/support/
IRC
I know, you’re thinking “IRC, what is that!?!?” IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat and it’s really just
an earlier version of AIM, Google Chat, etc. The WordPress IRC channels are a great way to get
help quickly and also a place to hang out and get to know the community. This is also an
acceptable place to lurk.
http://codex.wordpress.org/IRC
51. RESOURCES – LEARNING
The Codex
This is the official documentation for WordPress.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Getting_Started_with_WordPress
WordPress TV
This is a collection of videos at all levels from past WordCamps.
http://wordpress.tv/
WordPress Blogosphere Favorites
tuts+ - http://code.tutsplus.com/categories/wordpress
WP Tavern - http://wptavern.com
WP Beginner - http://www.wpbeginner.com/
Take a Course
Code Academy - http://www.codecademy.com
Coursera - https://www.coursera.org
Stanford University Online - https://class.stanford.edu/
MIT OpenCourseWare - http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
CreativeLive - https://www.creativelive.com/
52. QUOTES WE LIKE
“Writing code for a living isn't like being a Navy SEAL sharpshooter. Programming is seriously not
that demanding, so you shouldn't need to be a tough-as-nails superhero to enter this profession.”
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/programmer_privilege_as_an_as
ian_male_computer_science_major_everyone_gave.2.html
“technical entitlement: It discourages diversity.”
https://medium.com/tales-from-the-front/on-technical-entitlement-cc9ed433ec3c
“Getting into IT without a degree isn't necessarily common or uncommon. It's a thing that
happens, the way that life happens.”
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/do-programmers-still-need-a-computer-science-degree-to-
land-a-great-job/
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to
look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
“Leaders don’t create more followers, they create more leaders.”
Tom Peters
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”
Bill Gates
Notes de l'éditeur
C: I am a fraud. One day someone will find me out.
C: Imposter Syndrome describes a situation where someone feels like an impostor or fraud because they think that their accomplishments are nowhere near as good as those of the people around them.
Please take out your worksheet. If you didn’t get one, Beth is passing them out - fill it out AFTER you leave.
B: You are AWESOME!
C: The first time i filled out this form i was concerned that the values i was picking might be the wrong ones or that someone might see it and think I was silly, unintelligent, boastful, or pathetic. THAT is imposter syndrome. We have resources about imposter syndrome at the end (obviously).
C: Your friends think you are AWESOME!
B: When I’m having an insecure moment - or day - I have been known to email Courtney things like “I feel like I can’t compete today. It’s just not possible to keep up.” And then she reminds me that i am actually AWESOME!
C: Did I mention I don’t look like anyone here?
C: Maybe I don’t belong here.
B: You are NOT imagining things.
B: Whatever the “official numbers” it’s clear from working in the industry that there are disparities - big ones.
C: So you don’t look like everyone else. So What! You BELONG here. It shouldn’t be like that, but it is. Sometimes you are the unicorn in the room and everyone wants to talk to you. Sometimes you are the invisible man and no one acknowledges your existence. Don’t leave. Unicorn Problems? Invite more unicorns to join you! Invisibility problems? Make some noise! Shy? Ask your unicorn friend to make some noise next to you!
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I know I am a White or Asian male.
(cofounders of pinterest)
B: How do you promote diversity if you are part of the majority?
B: Recognize your privilege and then do what you can to build other people up, encourage them, and make sure that they don’t get so frustrated they quit. We’ve linked to an article if you want to know more about this
C: Be Aaron Jorbin.
C: Take someone with you! Once you feel comfortable in the tech community, remember to help others make the transition into the tech community. Diversity happens one person at a time.