If you have scrolled through the news lately, it can sound like coding is over.  Big tech companies now use artificial intelligence to generate huge chunks of code.  Some businesses are already replacing certain office jobs with AI tools.  Writers, designers, and even programmers are told that a chatbot can do their work faster and cheaper.  Recently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked computer programming among the top 10 hardest-hit occupations.

So why bother learning to code at all?  The fundamentals of AI are still rooted in computer science.  Behind every “smart” assistant are people who understand algorithms, data information, and how complex systems work.  AI can automate some tasks, but it still needs human assistance to decide when and how to proceed with any given task.

“AI isn’t perfect; it can still make mistakes.  If you understand how to code, you can debug and correct those mistakes,” said senior Sayuki Toyama.

Economists sometimes distinguish between automation and augmentation.  Automation is when a system takes over a task completely, such as when ATMs replaced tellers, robots replaced factory workers, or self-checkout machines replaced checkout clerks.  Augmentation, on the other hand, is when technology helps humans to do their job better.  

For most students right now, AI is an augmentation tool: it can help debug code, brainstorm ideas, or explain a complicated concept.  However, both automation and augmentation require an understanding of how coding actually works.  That is why the Coding Club is more relevant today than ever before. 

Coding Club, advised by math teacher Ms. Samantha Cusano, provides students with a place to build real programming skills, try fun projects, and learn to use new tools creatively.  This school year, club members are working through CMS CS Academy, a free, online, graphics-based computer science curriculum created by Carnegie Mellon University and taught in Python.  Students are designing winter-themed graphics and animations, then sharing their finished projects on the CS Academy platform.

“The winter coding project is having club members work on the CMU CS Academy to create fun winter graphics.  In the future, we hope to create websites for other clubs here at Schreiber and to participate in some upcoming hackathons,” said Ms. Cusano.

Hackathons are another big part of the club’s future plans.  A hackathon is a short, high-intensity event that often lasts 24-48 hours, where students work alone or in teams to build something functional by the end: a website, an app, or a game that solves a specific problem.  They are fast-paced and intense.  Students practice coding under pressure, collaborating with others, and seeing how different teams attack the same challenge.

Experiences like that do not just look good on college applications.  These challenges also show something AI cannot replicate: your ability to work with others, make real-time decisions, and keep going even when the code doesn’t work on the first try.

“I think teaching coding is still important even though AI is getting better and better. You’re always going to need people to work on advancing AI and potentially keep it in check,” said senior Vivian Leung.

For the 2025–2026 school year, the Coding Club officers include junior and senior Co-Presidents Christiana Kent and Alice Tropp, senior Vice President Julia Corra, junior Secretary Ian Golden-Appleton, and sophomore Co-Treasurers Yerin Park and Tristan Carswell.  In addition to the executive board, the club has seventeen active members.

In a world where AI is becoming omnipresent, the Coding Club still focuses on the importance of learning to code. By practicing Python, building projects, and exploring opportunities such as hackathons and web development for other Schreiber clubs, students are preparing for a world where human intervention still matters.

For students who are curious about coding, whether they have never written a line of code before or have years of experience, the Coding Club welcomes everyone at all levels.  The club meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. in Room 12.