Disclosure: I received one of MYTEK LAB‘s, a technology education provider, coding classes for free, and was compensated for my time. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are 100% my own.
What Homeschoolers Should Know About online technology Education
So your homeschooler wants to learn computer programming. They’re SUPER interested and begging you to take a couple of online technology education classes. They’ve made a good choice. Now it’s time to help them navigate the ocean of resources to find the learning path that suits their passions. Computer programming and online technology are very exciting fields of study. It is one of the few disciplines that experts say will survive for the next couple of centuries. It’s dynamic, very challenging, and quite rewarding either as a job or as a personal pursuit. If learning computer programming is your homeschooler’s passion, here are some things you need to know about this career path.
Technology Education wears a lot of hats.
The words’ Online Technology’ can mean lots of different things. In fact, the word programming is sometimes alternated with coding. Quite simply, it is a job that requires writing the source code used by computer programs. To become a computer programmer, you must learn the techniques on how to write this code. Since computer programs vary in design and function, so will the manner with which their source codes are written. Learning everything you can in a coding class via online education is perfect for homeschoolers. Help your keen homeschooler to have a career in computer programing of any kind.
Understandably, this is why computer programming cannot be used to refer to a single computer language. It is, in fact, a term that refers to many different computer languages. If you want to learn computer programming, take a pick among languages such as:
- COBOL (old but still reliable),
- FORTRAN (still used in many engineering applications),
- Java,
- HTML/XML,
- Visual Basic,
- C/C++,
- PHP,
- Perl, and
- Python, among others.
What you’ll be learning
It would help if your homeschooler has a basic knowledge of computer operation just before signing up for classes. However, there are many introductory courses on computer coding where students are not required to have a background in computers. The only drawback is that you’ll start from step 1, literally. So, for the best success, help your homeschooler become familiar with computers first. Then, taking a beginner class in computer programming will make sense.
Your first courses in technology education for junior high and high school students will usually consist of an overview of the computer programming industry – its history, pioneers, groundbreaking developments, etc. You will then be introduced to the fundamentals of the discipline, including its theories, definitions, and basic concepts. This is done to ensure that you have a good foundation in the computer language you will be specializing in.
Once that’s done, your instructor will begin teaching coding and programming. They will likely use activities such as how to write commands and queries. As they learn more and more, your homeschooler’s ultimate goal as a computer programmer is mainly to write a series of very detailed instructions using a language that a computer can understand and execute. During the course of your homeschooler’s learning, this is exactly what the instructor will teach.
Where to learn
You shouldn’t have any problems locating a school that teaches computer programming or coding. Depending on the type, of course, you enroll in, classes will usually meet at least once a week. Advanced classes may meet as much as 4 times a week. Learning online is an excellent way to join computer coding classes that fit your schedule and learning style.
Personal characteristics for learning Success in Technology Education
It is said that the best learning happens when you take your temperament and personality into consideration. When you want to dabble or become an expert in computer programming, it’s no different. There are certain characteristics that successful computer programmers exhibit. Learning computer programming entails plenty of mathematics and logic. This means your homeschooler will need to have a good amount of self-discipline and patience during class and especially during practical applications. You’ll also have to be creative and imaginative, so you can approach a problem in more ways than one.
Our Homeschool Journey for FUN coding Classes
When my son decided he really wanted to pursue computer programming, the search was on! I began to search for computer coding classes that would find his passions, curiosity level, and academic abilities. Along the way, we have learned so much about the variety of computer programming courses there are to choose from for homeschoolers.
I asked my son to share a few things that he has learned along the way that encouraged (or even surprised him) as he has jumped in and started pursuing coding as a career path.
There’s so much information!
Computer coding classes have introduced me to the wonders of the internet, and how easy it is to use its resources and programming tools to my advantage, for example, A-frame, an HTML-based framework that allows you to create 3D Virtual Reality effortlessly.
Future-proofing my education.
By learning to program computers, I’m learning about present and future technologies, like Augmented reality, the Blockchain, and so much more. These are solid foundations for wherever the field of computer programming and technology may lead.
Connections
Participating in an online computer programming community has allowed me to find like-minded friends with whom I can “nerd out” all the time and work on silly projects together (Rest in peace Mr. Gorgeous.).
Branches of resources
A solid well-balanced computer programing resource should cover many avenues of Technology, from pixel art, to simple programming, to Server-side and SQL, all the way over to robotics. Not all schools/instructors have a wide variety, but those that do will set your student up with a solid environment of continued learning for years to come.
Community
The perfect computer learning community should be a friendly and welcoming environment, with fun challenges and projects. If it’s a place that can make you laugh and has excellent teachers who are ready and willing to guide students down the computer programming career path, it’s an excellent choice.
Playground
Instead of just teaching you how to use the tools, a top-notch computer programing course should provide the tools and resources (such as a Linux emulator, a code editor with certain frameworks built-in, like Bootstrap, Materialise, p5, A-frame, etc., BeepBox integration for chiptune music) to allow students to make their own websites and games if they so wish. It’s a techy playground where learning is hands-on and fun!
Teaching Technology Education in your homeschool.
The homeschool journey for teaching technology education is as unique as each homeschool family. Computer programming can be successfully taught in your homeschool. Finding the resources that fit your student’s personality, strengths, and career path can be hard. Make the choice to find a single, solid computer programming school geared that fits our flexible learning style and let the computer coding and learning begin today.
