Free Classes Make Tech World Accessible

Free classes demystifying the world of technology began Thursday evening in the Flatiron District.
Free Classes Make Tech World Accessible
Anna C. Lindow, General Assembly's general manager of research and development, on Thursday teaches a free outdoor class, Introduction to the NYC Startup Community, on a Public Plaza in the Flatiron District. (Zachary Stieber/The Epoch Times)
Zachary Stieber
6/17/2012
Updated:
9/11/2012
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Stieber_Lindow111+_061412.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-253470" title="Stieber_Lindow111+_061412" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Stieber_Lindow111+_061412-539x450.jpg" alt="Anna C. Lindow, General Assembly's general manager of research and development" width="350" height="292"/></a>
Anna C. Lindow, General Assembly's general manager of research and development

NEW YORK—Free classes demystifying the world of technology began Thursday evening in the Flatiron District.

On Flatiron Public Plaza South near Madison Square Park, General Assembly’s general manager of research and development, Anna C. Lindow, taught a session meant as a bridge between the tech world and those not versed in its lingo.

The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District and General Assembly, a Flatiron-based firm focused on technology, design, and entrepreneurial education, are teaming up for a trio of classes.

The first class excited one attendee, publicist Kahshanna Evans. “It was pretty useful, and really completely gorgeous, and luxurious to come out in the middle of Manhattan and have a free class,” she said. “That’s pretty special.”

Lindow told the attendees how the technology sector has been growing in New York City, showing them a list of firms born in the city, including Kickstarter, NY Tech Meetup, and foursquare.

“Now more and more people are saying ‘I’m going to stay in New York,’ because there’s already sort of an ecosystem that supports it,” she said. “Or they leave [New York] and they get off the ground, and then they come back [to New York].”

Startups aren’t limited to the tech world. They include sectors such as real estate and finance. Experts from many sectors could consider playing guidance roles for startups, Lindow said, telling the crowd about a friend who created a lot of famous nightclubs in the city. Her friend later became an adviser for startups related to the nightclub scene, including one developer who envisioned an app to help people search for the best nightclubs.

“I would encourage people who are experts—there’s nothing more invigorating than talking with somebody who has a great idea and being able to help them realize it,” Lindow said.

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Stieber_Lamkin+Flatiron+BID+_061412.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-253475" title="Stieber_Lamkin+Flatiron+BID+_061412" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Stieber_Lamkin+Flatiron+BID+_061412-600x450.jpg" alt="Scott Lamkin, program manager for the Flatiron Business Improvement District" width="350" height="262"/></a>
Scott Lamkin, program manager for the Flatiron Business Improvement District

Meanwhile, many people in the city’s tech community have encountered challenges finding talent, especially software talent. During her talk, Lindow explained various ways one can find an entrance into the tech community.

Besides numerous meetups, happy hours, panels, and classes, “hackathons” can be a unique and conducive experience, she said.

“You meet up with a group of people and you kind of break into teams and then you sort of eat a lot of pizza and don’t really leave a room for 72 hours,” said Lindow. “And by the end of the time you’ve built something.”

All these events are a fine beginning for those who don’t know anyone in, or much of anything about, the tech community in the city.

As far as gaining technological skills, one can teach oneself or pay for classes.

“I always say with learning something, it’s good, cheap, fast. Pick two. So if you want something really good quality and really cheap, it’s probably going to take you a while to teach yourself online. If you want something that’s really fast and really good, it’s not going to be cheap,” said Lindow.

A good way to become involved with the tech industry is to work for new companies for lower pay. Lindow started out like this, after leaving the media sector.

Her current job at General Assembly often changes—she doesn’t know what her job will be in six months.

“I like that and it’s a little crazy. But it’s part of what draws me to this industry, because it doesn’t get boring,” she said.

General Assembly’s classes are a way to learn more about the tech industry, business, and design, Lindow said. Upcoming classes include Marketing and Selling to Large Enterprises, Introduction to Design for 3-D Printing, and Getting Started with WordPress.

Program manager for the Flatiron Business Improvement District Scott Lamkin said the first outdoor class offered in the area went great.

“[In the Flatiron District] the hub of tech in New York City, we have these beautiful public spaces, so how do you marry the two ideas? Do a tech event on public space,” Lamkin said. “We'll see how this goes, and see if these turn into bigger events. I don’t know, but until you put it out there you don’t really know.”
The next two free outdoor classes on the Flatiron Public Plaza South are scheduled for July 12 (Programming for Non-Programmers) and Aug. 9 (Business Development Tactics: Strategies and Basics). The plaza is housed between 22nd and 23rd streets on Broadway.

Email [email protected] to register, or check generalassemb.ly/education for detailed class descriptions.

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