Sunday, November 17, 2024

How to Recognize the Best Virtual Coding Programs

As you may have learned by now, online learning can vary in quality. When COVID-19 forced schools to close in-person classes, they suddenly pivoted to remote learning. Results were mixed.

Many parents are looking for ways to keep their children’s STEM skills from getting rusty after so many disruptions to life and learning, but the last thing they want is to prevent much-needed summer fun. Here are some handy tips to help parents identify online coding programs that deliver both.

Code to Create Video Games

If you think children enjoy playing video games, just see how much fun they have building them! Now, anybody can learn to code virtually from their home, and online programming lessons are framed around building video games.

Kids need the motivation to learn, but you won’t have to ask them twice to do their homework when programming a video game is the goal.

Coding Languages the Pros Use

Some coding programs teach kids basic coding languages like Scratch, which are designed more to give novice students a sense of what coding is like. Scratch may be a good gateway to learning coding, but you’ll never find a professional coder using it.

Instead, look for a program that teaches kids the languages they’ll encounter professionally should they decide to pursue coding. A list of such programming languages includes:

  • Python
  • Java
  • JavaScript
  • C#
  • C++
  • Unity

Some of the above coding languages power programs, apps, and video games used by millions of people every day. It may be surprising to learn that children can code using the same languages underlying Angry Birds or Netflix, but they can!

Students Need Close Support

Any time people are learning a new subject, they need close support, especially when the topic is quite different than anything they’ve learned before and they’re learning remotely. Don’t sign up for an online coding course unless there’s a maximum of four students for every teacher.

It’s hard enough to fight for the teacher’s attention when everyone is in the same room. When teachers have fewer pupils, classroom management is more straightforward, and students have a much better learning environment.

Watch, but From a Distance

 Finally, if you’re curious to see what the sessions are like, observe the first class! Watching from afar lets you witness and better understand your child’s experience. You can also help sort out any technical issues that may arise.

Some programs offer a free trial class, so you can dip a toe in the water and see if it’s for you before committing long-term. Few parents grew up knowing how to code, so it’s very likely that your child is doing something you did not: check out the first class but be aloof and let your kid direct their experience.

Parents can usually tell the difference between education that is designed for online learning and remote learning done out of necessity. Look for a coding program that has been in operation for years and keep the above tips in mind, and your kid will build a whole new repertoire of STEM skills without even realizing how much fun they’re having.