Many people believe that coding is a skill they cannot learn. Within and outside of STEM, this perception often prevents people from learning more about computers and technology.
Relatedly, there are a number of coding bootcamp myths that keep students away from learning how to code. Aspiring coders frequently believe that they do not have the experience or aptitude to complete a coding bootcamp. However, learning how to code is not as hard as you might think.
Despite popular belief, bootcamps are offered for students of all experience levels and backgrounds. Some camps are designed for beginners with no coding background. For students who believe coding bootcamps are complicated or too difficult for them, a beginner bootcamp is an excellent option. Students familiar with bootcamps or who already work as professional programmers can take intermediate or advanced courses.
Are Coding Bootcamps Difficult for Beginners?
Whether or not coding is a difficult skill to learn is a widely debated topic. Coding is commonly viewed as challenging, similar to chemistry, physics, and any understanding of the hard sciences. Dozens, if not hundreds, of articles reference how hard coding bootcamps are by listing the many reasons why learning to code should not be described as "easy." Although it is essential to note that coding or computer programming is a difficult skill for some people to learn, few researched findings support the objectivity of this view.
In an article from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Professor Brett A. Becker begins by stating that "the commonly held belief that programming is inherently hard lacks sufficient evidence." The article goes on to unpack who benefits from the notion that programming is complex. This misconception creates a negative reputation around programming that educators and academic researchers reproduce while being harmful to students.
Despite the many think-pieces and perspectives on the topic, coding beginners should not immediately assume that coding will be too hard. Instead, they should recognize that myths about science and technology influence who learns these skills and how they learn them. Coding bootcamps allow beginners to learn more about programming and engineering in a space inclusive of a more diverse group of learners.
Understanding the Different Levels of Coding Bootcamps
Coding bootcamps work to include students from different backgrounds by offering different levels of classes and workshops. By offering courses from beginner to intermediate, students can choose which bootcamp relates to their understanding. These levels are also helpful when developing a resume or during a job interview since you can clearly articulate your skill level to a prospective client or employer. The following list outlines the different levels of coding bootcamps and how they correspond to the program's difficulty and the student's experience.
Beginner Bootcamp
As the introductory level of coding bootcamp, beginner bootcamps are geared toward students with little to no experience in coding. These bootcamps usually focus on the fundamentals of a programming language or tool for students new to the field. Therefore, these bootcamps are helpful for beginner students and act as the start of their bootcamp training. Students who take a beginner bootcamp usually take additional bootcamps as they advance in their skills. Many of these bootcamps also include professional development training, which helps students learn how to use their bootcamp knowledge to get a job or improve job materials. Beginner bootcamps are also ideal for students who need a refresher course or want an overview of how to code in a specific language.
Intermediate Bootcamp
As a step above beginner bootcamps, the intermediate coding bootcamp is geared toward students with some coding experience. Experience can come from a professional setting, like an internship or career, self-teaching, or a more formal educational background. Intermediate students can usually work independently on coding projects and solve problems using real-world examples. Intermediate bootcamps are suitable for students who already know the basics of coding but want more experience with a specific technique or method.
Advanced Bootcamp
After the intermediate level, advanced bootcamps are the most difficult bootcamps for students. Most advanced bootcamps have prerequisites, which means that intermediate students have taken specific classes or bootcamps before taking an advanced bootcamp to understand various methods, tools, or programming languages. Coding bootcamps for advanced students are geared toward industry professionals and programmers instead of students new to coding. These students have advanced to a level of knowledge where they are interested in using bootcamps to make a career transition or level up in their career. Students taking advanced bootcamps should be confident in their coding skills.
How to Choose a Coding Bootcamp
Understanding the different levels of available bootcamps makes it easier to choose a coding bootcamp that corresponds to your experience and ability. For beginner students, coding bootcamp preparation should also ease any concerns about how hard it is to code. Research the coding bootcamp you want to take and check out the curriculum before signing up for a course.
Find the Right Coding Bootcamp for You
It’s crucial to find a coding bootcamp that teaches the skills you want to learn and suits your experience level and background. While beginner bootcamps are great for students without a background in coding, professionals in the field should select more advanced bootcamps. Noble Desktop's coding bootcamps cater to students of all experience levels. Whether you are interested in a beginner coding bootcamp or more advanced learning, there are plenty of in-person coding bootcamps and live online coding bootcamps to choose from.