Let’s look at some of the key events that helped mold the tech industry as we know it. The first computer was invented in 1946, personal computers didn’t become popular until the 1970s, the Apple Macintosh was introduced in 1984 (if you haven’t seen the iconic Superbowl ad, watch it) and the World Wide Web was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. That’s a series of incredible and high-impact events, but the reality is they’re all pretty recent.
With that in mind, it’s not surprising that for a new industry, traditional education and learning styles aren’t necessarily the only – or best – ways to prepare yourself for a tech career. An added benefit of how far technology has come, is that it opened up the opportunity for people to learn remotely, online. Computer programming is a universal language and should be available for everyone to learn, regardless of location, age, gender, ethnicity or educational background. That’s why at Treehouse we ensure our curriculum is approachable and accessible to anyone with the drive and determination to learn.
One of the reasons learning to code online can be more effective than obtaining a traditional education is its flexibility (in more ways than one). It can fit into everyday life, meet your specific goals, allows you to learn at own pace, offers a unique learning experience and all in a flexible learning environment.
1. Schedule
Although students end goals might be the same, how they incorporate learning into their everyday life can vary for each person. Like many of our students preparing for a career transition, you may need to fit learning around your work schedule. With no time constraints for when you can access your work and pick up where you left off, learning online means you can learn at the best time that suits you. Whether that’s in the mornings, at lunchtimes, in the evening, on weekends or even on-the-go, it accommodates your schedule
2. Topic
Then there’s the flexibility in what you actually learn. With a guided online curriculum, you choose the specific topic that you are most interested in and that becomes your focus. All courses and content you learn will support that chosen topic (no elective credits needed). There’s also the added benefit of being able to switch topics if your learning goals change.
3. Format
The teaching format of online learning is also unique. With video tutorials, quizzes and code challenges, variety keeps students engaged, interested and focused. For learning to code in particular, interactive code challenges are a valuable learning technique as they encourage a student to apply and retain the skills they’re learning.
4. Pace
Learning online also enables flexibility in the pace at which you learn. There’s a guided curriculum to follow, but setting and adjusting your own schedule means you can dedicate as many hours as your life allows for. You may want to accelerate your learning and study full-time, but if you can only dedicate an hour a day, that’s totally fine. It’s learning at your own pace.
5. Environment
There’s also the freedom of a flexible environment for students who choose to learn online. All you need is a computer and the internet to access your virtual classroom and progress with your work. This empowers you to create a learning environment to help you find focus and freeing you from distractions. Community and virtual chat features also add to the unique learning environment for students online, allowing them to engage with their peers both in close proximity and on the other side of the world.
If you’re interested in learning to code and want a flexible learning experience you can adapt to suit your needs, then check out the Treehouse Techdegree program and see all that it has to offer.
Start learning to code today with a free trial on Treehouse!