The Fourth R
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Foundational Skills - The R's
For generations, education centered on three foundational literacies, The Three R's:
- Reading - To consume and understand information
- wRiting - To communicate ideas and reasoning
- aRithmetic - To solve practical problems with numbers
Just as reading, writing, and arithmetic were literacy for Industrial Age ...
Computational thinking, or pRogramming (The Fourth R) is the literacy for Digital Age.
The Three R's ... and now the Fourth ... are not optional. They are essential for citizenship and opportunity.
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What is Programming Literacy
With Reading Literacy everyone learns to read, but not everyone becomes a professional writer. Reading enables informed participation in society.
With Programming Literacy everyone learns computational thinking, but not everyone becomes a software engineer. Programming enables informed participation in digital society.
Programming Literacy teaches us to:
- Decompose complex problems
- Design algorithmic solutions
- Evaluate systems and AI tools
- Collaborate professionally
- Document their work clearly
- Understand technology
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What Programming Literacy Means
Programming Literacy enables individuals to understand how automated systems make decisions, participate in technology policy as informed citizens, and access opportunities across ALL careers.
Children without programming literacy in 2030 will be like adults without reading literacy in 1930.
- Dependent on others to interpret the world
- Vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation
- Locked out of economic opportunities
- Unable to advocate for themselves effectively
For children with Programming Literacy, the sky is the limit.
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Who Needs Programming Literacy?
The traditional view is that "Only people pursuing tech careers" need Programming Literacy.
In the reality of 2025, folks who need Programming Literacy are:
- Medical professionals understanding diagnostic AI systems
- Business Leaders evaluating automated systems and data analytics
- Creative professionals working effectively with AI tools
- Citizens understanding algorithmic decision-making in democracy that shape the republic
- Parents helping their children navigate digital world safely
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Programming Literacy in Everyday Life
In every-day life, Programming Literacy helps you understand:
- Why did the algorithm deny my loan?
- How does medical AI make diagnoses?
- Is this social media recommendation manipulative?
- What can AI do well?* What can't it do?
- How do I prompt AI effectively for my needs?
- When should I trust automation vs. human judgment?
These questions affect everyone. Not just programmers.
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Python for Programming Literacy
Programming Literacy isn't about creating technology. It's about not being controlled by it. The best way to gain Programming Literacy is by learning Python programming.
Some statistics about Python that will mean absolutely nothing to you:
- Most popular programming language
- Leading market share
- Most developers
- Used by almost all Fortune 500
- Plentiful opportunities
However, the telling statistic, is that 50% of Python coders have been doing so for less than two years ... which makes Python remarkably beginner-friendly.
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The Opportunity Before You
For Parents: Provide your child what they need for their world, not yours.
For Educators: Prepare students for the reality they'll face, not the past. we remember.
For Students: Learn the language of the systems that increasingly shape your life, opportunities, and future.
This is not about becoming a programmer. This is not about employment.
This is about understanding how the world works and being an informed participant in a digital society. This is about empowerment.
