Monday, March 18, 2024

Coding boot camps: skills for today and tomorrow

By Ben Lashar

WHETHER YOU’RE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT trying to determine your next move, an adult looking to change careers, or you want to update your skills — or you’re a parent who wants to prepare your student for the future job market — coding boot camps teach skills such as coding, web development and working with databases that can create job opportunities. 

Coding boot camps cost less and take less time than a traditional four-year college. Many even offer deferred tuition or income-sharing agreements, allowing for students to pay tuition out of their new paycheck after they completed the course. According to Course Report, coding boot camp graduates earn $70,698 on average during their first job after the camp, so the camps are an option for those struggling to find a high paying job.

Nucamp, Indianapolis, Carmel and Fort Wayne 

Nucamp specializes in making coding instruction available to a wide variety of people. Students dedicate eight to 14 hours a week to online coursework and then meet in person once a week on Saturdays. In addition, classes cost less than $2,000. The low cost and flexible times expand accessibility to those who want to learn computer science but cannot afford to quit their jobs. At the end of the course, Nucamp students create a portfolio project to share with employers. 

Coder Dojo, multiple cities

Many coding boot camps foster talent in children. For example, Coder Dojo teaches children from age 7 to 17. The dojo begins exposing children to Scratch, a coding program designed for children. Then students move to more complex projects as their skills grow. Indiana has more Coder Dojo locations than any other state, with locations including but not limited to Indianapolis, Evansville, Kokomo and Columbus.

Kenzie Academy, Indianapolis

Kenzie Academy resembles a combination of coding boot camps and traditional colleges. Students spend two years learning skills such as software engineering and digital marketing. Kenzie is initially free to join because students pay Kenzie out of their paychecks from their new tech job, which the school guarantees to be at least $40,000 or students don’t have to pay. In addition, Kenzie offers earn and learn programs that allow students to make a living while attending classes.

Code Ninjas, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, West Lafayette and Zionsville 

Coder Ninjas take advantage of children’s natural love for gaming, using games to teach children age 7 to 14 coding skills. Children can enroll in camps, individual lessons and even coding-themed birthday parties. Classes range from JavaScript to Minecraft and teach students math, teamwork, digital literacy and more. 

New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Indianapolis 

New Horizons has more than 250 locations internationally, including one in Indianapolis. It offers education in Adobe, Salesforce and Microsoft, providing more than 40 percent of all authorized Microsoft training. Classes can be either in person or online, and prices vary depending on the program. 

South Bend Code School, Bloomington, Elkhart, Fort Wayne and South Bend

South Bend Code School offers two different programs depending on age. Children ages 7 to 12 learn the basics of coding while building games and websites in a collaborative environment. Teenagers ages 13 to 18 gain real life experience working with professional level tools in order to create a portfolio.

Eleven Fifty, Fishers

Eleven Fifty teaches a variety of courses, and is Indiana’s first registered apprenticeship program, which means it guarantees apprenticeships with partner companies. For $13,500 students can take courses full time for 12 weeks or part time for 24 weeks. Eleven Fifty offers several scholarships and opportunities to make tuition more affordable. The Academy G.I. Bill Fund allows veterans to attend for free.

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