Youngsters learn code to success
CHILDREN as young as seven are being introduced to the basics of computer coding at Geelong’s first coding studio for kids.
The iCode School is geared towards arming children with skills they will need in the future.
While there is an emphasis on “edutainment,” owner Shannon Curtis said children can learn the basics of coding and how to apply these skills to create games, apps, websites and even program robots, drones and lights in the studio.
“Coding is an ideal way to take a child’s love of gaming and use this to start them creating games rather than just playing them.” he said.
A primary school teacher, Mr Curtis moved into the Belmont studio at the start of the school year after previously running programs out of a space in the CBD.
The studio led to a doubling of enrolments to 30 in the first term and he is hopeful of doubling that figure again in the next.
The iCode School runs a structured curriculum from beginner to intermediate, advanced and elite with age groupings catering from ages 7 to 16.
While coding schools are common in Asia and the US, the impetus to create the iCode School came from much closer to home.
“My inspiration came from having three kids of my own,” Mr Curtis said.
“I knew the workforce was changing and I was genuinely concerned with having my kids future ready.”
Coding is the fundamental skill for jobs such as software development but the problem-solving skills apply to a raft of potential applications.
The iCode School is offering free trial coding classes, starting later this month. For more details go to www.icodeschool.com.au.