While the world economy is grinding to a halt, an important sector that seems to be taking a hit is the education sector. Students worldwide are confined at home and are starting to adapt themselves to various forms of home-schooling. If you’re a student wanting to dip your toes in the world of coding and programming, now is your chance to do so. With only a computer and an internet connection, you can be well on your way to becoming a coder.
With the COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, pandemic, the whole world has come to a standstill. From malls and supermarkets being shut down in most countries for at least the foreseeable future to offices enforcing work from home policies for most of their staff, it feels like the global population is learning to adapt to a different kind of lifestyle. While the economy has impacted all of the industries, education has taken the hardest hit. Schools and institutes were the first to shut down, sending dorm kids back home for an indefinite period of time.
According to UNESCO, 91% of the student population across the globe has been impacted by the lockdowns that countries are observing since the middle of March. With the pandemic rapidly spreading across Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East, students are learning to practice a new form of home-schooling, in some cases studying from notes sent by the school and in others, attending online classes held on video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom and Skype.
The culture of e-learning is slowly becoming the new norm since at least a month now, if not more and students are slowly adjusting to getting their daily dose of the prescribed syllabus through the internet. While these virtual classrooms might not provide the same level of communication that can be offered in a physical classroom, UNESCO is encouraging communities to enhance their level of interaction between students, teachers and parents to better address the inevitable sense of isolation that will most-likely surface soon and also be equipped to cope with mental health issues, such as loneliness and a foreboding sense of failure.
Although e-learning might be new and confusing for some, especially in light of the bleak situation that has created the demand for it, it may actually usher in a new age of education. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the time to bring innovation to education is now.
Schools in some parts of the world have already begun using interactive applications to stay in touch with students and are also broadcasting lectures, live. With the time to commute cut down to nothing, students are now finding more time on their hands to indulge in what catches their fancy. The state of alarm imposed by the nations can really bring out the best in students; this is the time they can use to hone and polish their skills, or even better, engage themselves and learn a whole new skill.
Are you looking for an online course?
In the spirit of spreading knowledge, Harvard University is offering 67 online courses ranging from programming, humanities, social science, computer science, business and more for free. Several education institutes are following suite and online platforms are quickly filling up with free courses that are being offered by them. Some of the most widely offered courses during the pandemic are those on programming.
Even Coding Ninjas, India’s leading online school of technology, offered a 21-days coding challenge for programming languages like Java, Python, C++ and Front-End Web Development.
If you are studying technology or want to pursue a career in coding, now is the time to take advantage of all these offers and put your idle time to good use. Even if you are working in the IT sector and are looking to upgrade your skills for future perks, you should look into these courses and add to your existing skillset.
Why is programming an important skill?
With social distancing mandated worldwide, it’s safe to assume that, even when the pandemic has died down, people are not going to be in a hurry to leave their home havens and venture out in the open without care. It will not be wrong to say that, for at least the foreseeable future, the demand for everything online is going to boom.
From streaming entertainment on media platforms to ordering meals and groceries online, everyone expects to get things done with a single tap on their phones. The digital market is rising and will continue to rise and with it, the demand for people who can code. Which is why coding is a nice skill to have, even if you are a professional in a different field. And it doesn’t take more than a computer and access to the internet to be able to learn to programme.
To get you started, there are tons of free online courses available. Yes, you always had these, but maybe what you needed was time? With the pandemic going on, you no longer have that excuse! Make most of the gift of time by learning how to code and by the time the world has restored, you will be ready to sell your skills for a cushy job in the IT industry.
Not just that, there are several coding marathons happening on various platforms across the globe. Coders worldwide are coming up with innovative solutions to battle COVID-19. From apps mapping COVID-infected patients to 3D printed ventilators, coders are coming together to keep the spirit of coding alive.
As a plus, it is helping them build their skills and tutor those who need them. With the help of online forums and developer communities, coders and programmers are coming together to build and strengthen a digital world, which is quick as well as safe.
Do programmers have a better chance at scoring jobs?
Even in times of economic trouble, the tech industry has been predicted to be one of the most resilient ones. Recruiters want to scout programmers who can develop intelligent websites and mobile applications that will cater to the digital demands of the global population.
As the world gradually shifts into a virtual landscape, with fewer people willing to leave their homes, giant corporations such as Amazon, Netflix, Apple and Google will secure their funds to expand their task force. Online learning might be the need of the day now, but it is on its way to quickly become a more viable option for most.
With plenty of resources available on the Internet, students might be able to up-skill themselves without actually having to leave their homes. Learning online also means more flexibility and learning at your own pace. Without the pressure of keeping up with their peers, students can actually take their time to process and understand subjects at a speed that suits them best.
To read more about programming during COVID-19, click here.
