Whether you are an entrepreneur, plan to work for a startup, or need to understand the programming aspects of the business to communicate with a technical team, coding is an incredibly empowering skill to learn. Professional web developers aren’t “better at math” or “abstract thinking” than the rest of us. Crazy jargon and intimidating user groups keep outsiders away, but here’s the truth: coding isn’t just for the chosen few. This workshop will expose all of the myths that conspire to keep you away from the discovering joy of being able to build your own web app, or quickly prototype your ideas, turning your wireframes or HTML mockups into an interactive prototypes that you and your co-workers can enjoy right away. There will be a live demonstration of how easy it is to get started building your own web app, reveal why the Ruby language is best for beginners, and provide practical, concrete things everyone can do to get started. This workshop will be led by Jeff Cohen, the Chief Instructor at the Starter League in Chicago.

Jeff Cohen Chief Instructor @ The Starter League Jeffrey Cohen is currently the Chief Instructor at The Starter League in Chicago. He teaches the beginner-focused Web Development course. He is also a Lecturer at the University of Chicago in the Computer Science Professional Program (also known as the Masters in Computer Science program). He has worked with object-oriented programming languages and application frameworks for more than 20 years. In 2008, he started Purple Workshops, conducting beginner-level workshops in Ruby, Rails, and agile software techniques. He is co-author of the book Ruby on Rails for .NET Developers published by Pragmatic Press in 2008. He speaks at a variety of technical conferences throughout the year. He is a Ruby on Rails core contributor, teacher, and writer. Jeffrey started learning computer programming in high school in the mid-1980’s by using BASIC on a Commodore PET-32. He then learned 6502 Assembly, Pascal, C, C++, Prolog, PL/1, and a variety of Microsoft architectures including MFC, ATL, and .NET for both Windows-based desktops and ASP.NET web applications. In 2005 he ventured into open source languages and communities, notably Ruby and the Rails framework. He believes in agile software strategies, project-based learning, and opening the world of computer programming to folks from all walks of life, by curating an inclusive, beginner friendly classroom culture and curriculum.