Learning and teaching to code were considered nerdy jobs only performed by engineers and individuals from technical backgrounds. But with the popularity of the internet and a growing number of user-friendly coding platforms, anyone from even a non-technical background can learn and teach coding.
There is a growing popularity of coding among learners in the 21st century. But still, there is a shortage of coding teachers around the globe. In addition to this, the National Education Policy 2020 made it mandatory to integrate coding in all subjects from grade 6. Hence, coding teachers are required at every level of learning. Do you always wonder how to become a coding teacher but fail to find the right guidance? In this blog, we discuss how anyone can learn to code and become a coding teacher. So stay with us till the end!
Who is a Coding Teacher?
A coding teacher is someone who helps students learn how to code. They may work in a school or on online platforms. Coding teachers typically have a knowledge and understanding of multiple programming languages and can help students troubleshoot their code. They also often teach other computers science concepts, such as algorithms and data structures. As a coding teacher, you can either teach at senior levels in schools or colleges or you can teach block-based coding at elementary levels from grade 0-6.
What do Coding Teachers do?
Coding teachers typically work in they may also work in primary and secondary schools, as well as in corporate training and development departments. Coding teachers typically have a deep knowledge of one or more programming languages and can teach others how to code. In addition to teaching coding, they may also be responsible for developing curriculum, designing projects, and grading student work.
How to become a coding teacher?
Becoming a coding teacher has never been easier. Nowadays, even teachers from non-technical backgrounds can become coding teachers with the right certifications and training. Here’s a non-exhaustive checklist that would help you in getting closer to your goal of becoming a coding teacher. So let’s dive straight into it.
Qualification
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the required qualifications to become a coding teacher will vary depending on the specific school or program you are teaching coding for. However, in general, most coding teachers will need to have a strong knowledge and under and be able to effectively communicate their knowledge to students. They should also be patient and able to adapt their teaching methods to meet the needs of individual students. Some programs may also require teachers to have a certain amount of experience working with code before they can be hired to teach coding classes.
But as already discussed, even people from non-technical backgrounds can become coding teachers with the right training and motivation.
Decide what level you want to teach
Deciding on the level at which you want to teach coding is also important. One way to decide at what level you want to teach coding is to consider your audience. If you’re teaching coding to beginners, you’ll want to start with the basics of coding using coding apps like MIT App Inventor or Scratch and gradually introduce more complex concepts. However, if you’re teaching coding to experienced coders, you can start with more advanced material and move on to simpler concepts if needed.
Another factor to consider is the type of coding you’re teaching. Some languages are more complex than others, so you’ll need to adjust your teaching accordingly. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what level you want to teach coding, but considering your audience and the type of coding you’re teaching will help you make the best decision.
Earn Certifications
There are a few different ways that you can become a certified coding teacher. One way is to get certified through various online courses. There are many self-paced learning coding programs available online. These will generally take you through a series of lessons and might then give you a final exam to test your knowledge. Once you pass the exam, you will be able to download and print out a certificate that you can use to show potential employers that you are qualified to teach coding.
But if you are interested in learning coding in a live and interactive environment where all your doubts get answered instantly, then Coding Course for Educators by upEducators is the right program for you. The program starts with the basics of coding and helps teachers in developing coding skills to teach students.
Coding certifications for educators are the simplest way to make a career as a coding teacher. Anyone can enrol on such programs with zero experience and become a professional towards the end of the program.
Choose a Platform to Teach
Teachers can teach coding at various levels. Based on the level they prefer to teach, teachers can choose the best platforms and options available to them for teaching.
Senior level: If you want to start teaching coding at a senior level, then you can start with platforms like Unacademy and White Hat Jr. Teachers can use these platforms to teach coding and earn a lucrative salary.
Colleges and School Level: For teaching in schools and colleges, teachers usually need to be from a technical background. But these days, teachers who have completed diplomas or certificate courses in coding and have the required experience can take over as coding educators in school.
Tution classes: Based on your level of coding experience, you can start coding tuition classes. You can either teach coding to beginners or take up advanced level students in your tuition classes.
1 to 6: Coding is not a discipline meant for senior students anymore. Coding basics and elementary concepts can be learnt from elementary level. Thus, teachers who have the basics knowledge of coding can start their career as a coding teacher teaching 1-6 grade and teach block-based coding.
After gaining all the required skills and qualifications, one needs to choose a platform to teach coding. One can opt for the traditional route and teach at schools and institutes. Or one can also teach at various virtual learning platforms like Udemy, Unacademy and White Hat Jr. Coding teachers can also start their channels and earn a lot of money by using the right digital marketing strategies to grow their classes.
Coding is a very popular subject for teachers in the 21st century. With the growing demand for coding teachers, many educators can earn a lot of money by learning to code. Even schools in India are looking for teachers who can teach coding and integrate teaching in their classroom. It is one of the most trending skills in the education sector and can help teachers in building new skill sets along with landing better jobs.
Author: This article is written by Samiya Rashid for upEducators blog.