Why the "Mary Poppins of Computing" Says We Must Change the Way We Teach Tech | Linda Liukas (Author of "Hello Ruby")

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Linda Liukas is a programmer, children’s book author, and the creator of Hello Ruby, a whimsical series that teaches computing concepts through stories and play. She’s also the force behind a one-of-a-kind playground in Helsinki—designed to teach kids how computers work without them ever touching a screen.

In this episode, Linda shares why, especially with the rise of AI and code-writing copilots, we need to rethink the way we teach tech.

Linda, a.k.a. the “Mary Poppins of Computing”, is on a mission to bring more whimsy, creativity, and fearlessness to kids and grown-ups alike. Enjoy this very fun episode!

You’ll learn:

Why physical play helps us grasp abstract computing concepts
How software makers can benefit from thinking like educators
What “unplugged computing” looks like—and why it works
How to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and fearlessness in tech teams
Why learning through play isn’t just for kids
What Linda’s AI experiments with tiny personal datasets reveal about the future of learning

Chapters

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:42) - What it means to be the “Mary Poppins of Computing”
(02:18) - Designing the Computer Playground
(05:43) - Why play is an ideal way to teach programming
(09:26) - Why software organizations should embrace play
(13:19) - AI and play
(14:47) - Learn to code vs. learn to program; how to become future-proof
(21:20) - Hello Ruby: how Linda accidentally became a children’s book author
(25:35) - Building more playgrounds and more fun ideas on teaching through play

Links & Resources

Linda’s website
Linda’s Newsletter
Hello Ruby – Linda’s book series and learning platform
The Computer Playground in Helsinki

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