Why Coding Bootcamps and Online Learning Matter More Than Ever

In recent years, computer coding “bootcamps” in which students can get up to speed quite quickly on a particular programming language have seemed to become a hot trend.

Even so, I’m sure there are some who ask, “Are these bootcamps and online learning environments a viable option to consider alongside some of the more traditional avenues of education?”

In my opinion, the answer is an unequivocal “yes.”

Coding bootcamps deserve to be fully supported even as they may be in need of some adjustments in their mission and in terms of who they let into the program. If that can be achieved, we’ll see a higher percentage of successful graduates who go on to fully utilize what they’ve learned in the field, which should only lead to higher credibility in the eyes of hiring managers.

How do we improve upon this foundation? Part of the issue comes down to the type of people coming into the program, their ability to handle such an intense course and, if they graduate, how they apply their newfound skills successfully.

Coding Bootcamps Aren’t For Everyone.

So Why Position Them That Way?

Rather than having an open view of teaching anyone to code as many of them do, coding bootcamps need to identify more students who can withstand the rigorous agenda and are well-focused on programming or software engineering roles.

Case in point: Consider the kind of individual who typically succeeds in such development camps. Is it someone who has always had a deep interest for the subject matter for many years prior? Are they already in the field and looking to upgrade an existing set of programming languages with a new one?

Not always.

You’re frequently talking about someone who has been accepted into a leading university but studied subjects that are not the most marketable (History or Philosophy, for example). So they enter the marketplace and realize, “Hmm. Perhaps I should consider doing something else that will pay me more than what I studied.”

Now, some of these individuals who start with a blank slate will be surprisingly even better for learning new things than those who have spent years coding. Yet there is no question that the unique format of the bootcamp is not for everyone, which leads us to the other type of individuals who can often be found in such bootcamps – the ones who may ultimately find that they hate the bootcamp after a short period of time and drop out.

Let’s face it. It takes a special kind of person to thrive in a very intense accelerated learning environment. The majority of people just can’t handle it.

On the positive side, those who stick with a bootcamp program and see it through will have the ability to study certain technology-oriented subjects in just 10 weeks (or 16 weeks, 24 weeks, etc.) and be marvelously productive in the next chapter of their careers.

That’s why coding bootcamps still matter so much. Traditional learning environments are still exceptional and accept highly talented students into their programs, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that, for certain specialized subjects, bootcamps are accelerating learning for a whole new group of individuals at unprecedented levels.

Yes, bootcamps need many more of the types of individuals with the mental fortitude to push through the program to reach completion. But those who do may find the bootcamp propels their career forward in amazing ways due to how quickly they’ve learned an important new programming language.

In addition to the speed factor, there’s also the matter of the outstanding value in that coding bootcamps may present the most cost-effective educational system there is. Think about it – if one program costs $10,000 over a 10-week period and you successfully complete the program, you have excellent chance at obtaining a job that may pay you more than a four-year college degree – which, by the way, is going to cost you a lot more than $10,000.

In addition to bootcamps, there is another non-traditional route for learning that is due to go through its own transformation: Online learning.

The Next Level Of Online Learning

As we’ve watched the expansion in number of coding bootcamps, at the same time, there is also a rise in the number of online classes available through avenues like Coursera and Udemy, which are designed to have millions of students. Assuming you’re a disciplined individual, you can take all of your classes online, including your tests and pay the necessary fees for said classes and tests.

It’s a fine way to learn, but here too, there’s room for improvement in the model. Fortunately, I believe before long we’re going to see an entrepreneur or two look at the model of online learning and say, "You know what? We should have in-person classes that will be based on online material. We don't need to provide any of the material, but we will help the student beyond what they can do on their own.”

In essence, what you will have is a traditional school that’s built around an online university that still charges only $10,000 or so a year.

The more that hiring managers are willing to accept individuals who have completed an online education (just like their willingness to accept people who completed coding bootcamps), the more the value of online education will become clearer. Once the hiring manager sees that it’s not going to cost them $40,000 – $50,000 a year to hold somebody's hand in order for them to get up to speed when the material is already online for that person to learn from, online learning should be seen as an incredibly viable option.

As a result, the potential is great that both online classes and coding bootcamps can become much larger than the current states they are in – rather than say, a 10-week experience or a class, we can see both continuing to grow into highly credible brands, even more so than they’ve been before.

Some online courses feature topics that are so advanced that they’re almost impossible to have in a more traditional classroom setting, such as Machine Learning courses. Take this example of a Machine Learning course from Stanford:

https://www.class-central.com/mooc/835/coursera-machine-learning

Available through Coursera, this course shows students how to teach a computer to learn concepts using data but without explicitly programming the machine. So beyond learning about the best machine learning techniques, there is actual implementation of these techniques. Students are able to apply learning algorithms to build smart robots, text understanding, computer vision, medical informatics, database mining and more. 

All in all, when you can more easily transform more people into producers who create a lot of value for their organizations, a host of benefits can ensue.

Coding bootcamps and online learning environments haven’t outlived their usefulness by any means – just the opposite. Over time, we’re likely to see an evolution of both that demand our support to improve upon these worthy outlets more than ever.

What About Traditional Learning Environments?

Do They Still Matter?

Absolutely. Make no mistake: Just because bootcamps and online learning may grow in popularity doesn’t mean that we can or should ignore how well our traditional educational institutions tend to supply us with top name talent. Hiring managers continue to have high respect for these traditional learning environments and smart recruiters should do the same.

Therefore, it’s vital that we consider all three of these avenues – traditional classrooms, online learning and coding bootcamps – as important ways to equip candidates for long-term success. The stronger all three of them are, the more options there are for candidates and hiring managers to find an ideal fit – and for deeply experienced recruiters like Roy Talman & Associates to bring those parties together.

If you’re considering a coding bootcamp or online learning environment to upgrade your skill set but you’d like the peace of mind that you’re making a wise investment based on current industry and technological trends, talk to us at Roy Talman & Associates. With the perspective of over 30 years of experience, we can have a larger conversation with you about where you’d like to steer your career path from here and the type of adjustments that need to be made now to ensure alignment with the industry you want to thrive in for years to come.