#ladies learning code

The past few weeks have seemed to coincidentally run along the same theme of life long learning for me.

I guess it began with the conversation I had with a friend about how their place of work was offering to pay for my friend to go back to school. We discussed the different options, and how this was potentially a great opportunity.

Shortly afterwards, I attended an event where people from different backgrounds discussed the way the education system seems to be evolving into non-traditional methods, and additionally how we personally included life long learning in our own lives.

With technology expanding the way it is, and student debt on the rise, the idea of exploring alternative learning methods expands beyond the bubble I speak of and has transcended across borders.

Here in Toronto, many people know of Ladies Learning Code. This non-profit organization that teaches beginner technical skills such as web design and 3d printing (hosted by Hot Pop Factory, a course I highly recommend) has expanded across Canada.

You can also read about this alternative tuition payment at a Learn-to-Code boot camp in San Francisco here:  Learn-to-Code Boot Camp

Or how about Enstitute, a New York based alternative to post-secondary school aimed at apprenticeships and "real world" skill development here: Enstitute

If you don't live in any of these areas, there's also plenty to do online. I've mentioned Skillshare and Lynda before but there are plenty more. Want to learn how to play guitar from a stranger over Skype? There's a business for that called Betterfly. Or here is another alternative learning program aimed at high school students aimed at developing employable skills at DIY.

I myself just went through a whirlwind application process for a fellowship opportunity run through the MaRS Discovery District. While I only found out about it last week, the possibilities behold while daunting also seem incredibly useful and exciting. (I will find out in a few weeks time whether I've been accepted).

Here in Toronto, an event I whole heartedly advocate called Creative Mornings explored the theme of learning through play this morning. Ilana Ben-Ari (founder of 21 Toys) spoke about some common experiences through the education system and how it could change.

All of the above, while new to me, make me really excited for the future and have caused me to reevaluate the skills I have and the skills I want to have.

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Intro/Theme Music: "Noise in my Head" by Clarknova from the album "Annexia" Voice-over bed music: "The mark has been made" by Nine Inch Nails from the album "The Fragile", Disc 2 (Right).

I first met Heather a few years ago when she worked at Drake International. She was running a job search workshop that I attended. We connected on Linked-In and now a few years later I stumbled back upon her profile. I was very excited to see what she was up to and wanted to talk to her about it.

I had arranged to meet with Heather after lunch on a weekday. It ended up falling on a day where I had alot going on at work, but I was able to depart the office just in time. I quickly made my way up town on my bike, to the building where the Ladies Learning Code office is located.

I arrived and headed upstairs to the LLC office. Heather was in there, diligently working away. She saw me, smiled and came to let me in.

We exchanged hellos and how are you doings, talked a bit about the space and other goings on. She warned me that a fringe festival was going on, on the floor below us and that we might want to record in another location in the building, so we headed downstairs. She led me to a phone booth type enclosure which was barely big enough for both of us, but it was the only thing really available. There were people at desks right on the other side of the glass, along the corridor, on phones or walking between offices. Truly open-concept.

Unfortunately I had forgotten my proper headphones and wasn't able to do a reliable sound check. I was reminded of a quote one of my old college professors told me about when she mentored some military recruiters on computers and they had no mouse-pads, one of them shouted: "improvise and adapt!" and they grabbed sheets of paper to use instead. So I used the headphones I had. There was also no room for a mic stand, so I had no choice but to hold the mic with my outstretched arm, up in the air between us, as still as I could manage. An interesting endurance test, for sure. Fortunately despite all this, the recording came out sounding good.

The interview went really well, I almost didn't even need to ask any prepared questions as Heather was very articulate and insightful. She made it very easy and I can't thank her enough. Her story is both interesting and inspiring and she gave some great advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

It was my pleasure to interview Heather and I hope the connect as many interested parties with her as possible to help make Ladies Learning Code and Hacker You a great success.

References and Links: www.ladieslearningcode.com www.girlslearningcode.com www.hackeryou.com www.hackeryou.com/blog www.twitter.com/heatherpayne www.pyladies.com