Whether in-person or live online, coding bootcamps are one of the easiest ways to learn how to code and build a career in the tech industry. Developed for students with tons of time to learn and the busy professional who can only take classes during nights and weekends, coding bootcamps are offered in several formats to fit your schedule.
In-person and virtual coding bootcamps are two formats that respond to a diverse student population. Choosing the right program for you means discovering the difference between in-person vs. live online coding bootcamps and the costs and benefits of each difference.
In-Person vs. Live Online Bootcamps: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between in-person and live online coding bootcamps is that in-person bootcamps are taught at a training school or university. In contrast, live online bootcamps are taught in a remote virtual classroom. Although the primary difference between in-person and live-online bootcamps is location, students should consider some less apparent differences between the two styles. You can compare in-person vs. live-online coding bootcamps based on differences in accessibility and interactivity, technological need, and tuition cost.
Accessibility and Interactivity
The first difference between in-person and live online coding bootcamps is a difference in accessibility and interactivity. Accessibility pertains to how easy it is for different people to engage within a space or use a service, while interactivity focuses on engagement quality. In terms of accessibility, live online courses are taken in a virtual environment. At the same time, in-person classes are taught at a training school. Live online courses are more accessible to a greater community of individuals.
Depending on your ability (mobility, hearing, and other traits), live online coding bootcamps offer diverse options for engaging with the material and interacting with the instructor, such as having lessons recorded, typing to communicate, and allowing students to take the courses from any location. At the same time, other students may find it more challenging to pay attention or learn the material in a virtual environment. In those cases, students that require greater engagement and interactivity with fellow students and instructors would benefit more from in-person coding bootcamps.
Technological Need
The technological need of students is another critical difference between in-person and live online coding bootcamps. Although both in-person and virtual courses require students to use a computer, there is a greater technological need for students taking a live online bootcamp. This is because most coding bootcamps require students to listen to instructions while working through exercises and taking notes. And while only one computer is required to work through exercises and engage with the instructor, virtual students will need a computer that can efficiently run multiple programs simultaneously.
Prospective students should assess their technological needs related to the coding bootcamp. If you have a hard time using computers or troubleshooting technical difficulties on your own, you may not be suited for a live online bootcamp. That said, in-person coding bootcamps may feel slower for a student who works quickly through problems on the computer.
Choosing a bootcamp involves researching the type of software required for in-person coursework vs. live online coursework and whether or not your current computer is capable of navigating between multiple programs without crashing. Then you can make a more informed decision about the difference between taking an in-person vs. live online coding bootcamp.
Tuition and Expenses
The cost of coding bootcamp also differs depending on whether the courses are offered in-person or live online. Depending on the training school, the cost of tuition for a coding bootcamp differs for different students. This difference in cost is partly due to student needs, such as the course's technological expenses. Differing costs are also due to variations in bootcamp structure. While tuition for full-time vs. part-time instruction tends to be the same, tuition for in-person coding bootcamps can be higher than the cost of attending a live online bootcamp.
Generally, in-person coding bootcamps are more expensive than virtual course offerings. Unlike live online bootcamps, in-person coding bootcamps also come with additional expenses. For example, in-person students pay for bootcamp tuition and the cost of traveling to and from the training school, and any potential living expenses. In contrast, live online coding bootcamps can be taken from home, which can either remove or reduce any additional expenses for the course.
Choosing Between In-Person & Live Online Coding Bootcamps
When choosing between an in-person and a live-online coding bootcamp, there are multiple factors that students need to consider. Learning styles, student needs, and the format and flexibility of the bootcamp are essential to evaluating the differences between these two styles. In addition, all prospective students should consider these differences when choosing between in-person and live online coding bootcamps.
Learning Style
Learning style is a difference between in-person and live online coding bootcamps that also reflects the wants and needs of individual students. Every student has a learning style that responds to specific types of instruction. While some students respond well to reading and writing, others respond more to moving and making. When taking an in-person coding bootcamp, students are placed in a traditional classroom environment with other students and an instructor. For live online coding bootcamps, students are working on their computers without the physical component of the classroom.
Thinking about learning style, independent or self-directed learners will thrive in the virtual environment of the live online bootcamp. Conversely, the in-person coding bootcamp is better for students who require the classroom's visual and physical structure to stay on task and absorb information. Every student should identify how their unique learning style will affect their ability to learn the course material.
Format and Flexibility
The format and flexibility of the course schedule are factors that prospective students must consider when choosing between in-person and live online coding bootcamps. Most in-person coding bootcamps operate using a highly structured format and schedule similar to taking a full day of classes. For full-time courses, in-person instruction can last up to eight hours a day, with an instructor covering multiple topics and exercises. Students who take in-person bootcamps devote time to showing up to the course and agree to take their coursework in the order constructed by the training school.
However, many students do not have large blocks of time in their schedule to travel to a training school and attend an in-person class. Live online coding bootcamps typically operate on a more flexible schedule with shorter blocks of time spent on instruction. This flexibility makes it easier for students with busy schedules and jobs to take part in a coding bootcamp on their own time.
Before choosing between an in-person and live online coding bootcamp, prospective students should determine whether the format and flexibility of the course match up with their daily schedule.
Want to Find a Coding Bootcamp?
With plenty of in-person and virtual options to choose from, it is much easier for students to find a bootcamp that suits their needs. Students that want to find a program should consult Noble Desktop’s coding bootcamps for a list of options. Including both in-person coding bootcamps and live online coding bootcamps, these courses, and certificate programs make learning how to code accessible and affordable to students of all experiences and backgrounds.