Living in a world powered by computerisation and with increasing reliance on technology, there is a need to reimagine the future of human labor. With digitalisation now becoming the option for better outcomes, how can the upcoming generation continue to stay relevant?
Liveatpc talks to Eric Ku, the Executive Director of iTrain Education Group, to discuss coding, a fundamental to digital skills that introduce life-changing opportunities, not just for career projection but also to build a better society.
What is coding?
“Coding is as a process of writing a computer program. How we instruct the computer to do certain things, is known as coding. Coding has many purposes in which each different coding language is tailored specifically to serve problems we aim to solve,” Ku says.
Three important elements that gear coding is the input, the program itself, and the output which presents the final product; devices, machine, mobile application, and more.
Coding represents a myriad ecosystem around us, ranging from automation, games, cybersecurity, web design, or development. It has inevitably been utilised in various ways and may have even been a solution for either one of our daily challenges.
Well-known coding languages are java, phyton, JavaScript, and HTML. Just as many human-based languages exist, there is an array of computer programming languages that can be used by a programmer to communicate to the computer. Web development, games, robotic, automation are examples of coding deployment.
Coding is for everyone
For beginners, the ideal requirement would be the initial level of programming which is “the C coding” as it will walk interested coders through what is needed in coding to get started.
“I first started coding with “the C programming language”, the type of coding which is widely known and mostly used for general purposes. The other languages are the continuation from C or derivative of it,” Sadani, a student of Mechatronics Engineering shares.
One also needs to understand the dictionary of coding, have strong mastery in mathematics and science because this is the core foundation which allows them to better visualise and create the abstract to code. Another way to inculcate coding skills is by making the whole process fun and enjoyable.
“At iTrain, we present coding through simple games, mobile applications, or animations to draw the kids toward coding. We encourage them to see the relevance of math and science through fun games, playing and show the real-life implementation,” Eric explains.
The first step is to build the kid’s curiosity, once they have the interest to discover further, they will gradually try to replicate, make changes or alternation, and move to form a new program.
“Our students come from various age groups, from 16 to 60 years old. The class is conducted without segregation and within few months upon completion, both have managed to run their programs. Knowledge does not discriminate and coding is for everyone to learn,” Eric adds.
He further highlights that the female and disabled should not be left behind. It is possible to train disabled people to learn to code since coding work is not labor-intensive and it is remote-friendly and does not require a lot of physical movement.
The duration to master coding depends on one’s end goal as well as their efforts put into learning. Different career goals may require different sets of training and might even take longer.
Coding enhances career opportunities
There are plenty of reasons why learning coding is now considered a necessity. It is not just lucrative but makes the youth more marketable. Eric also believes coding is a way to display their problem-solving skills ability.
“If you claim to possess a problem-solving ability, how do you prove this to the employer? With the right coding skills, you can showcase the ability through programs or projects you have initiated. The essence of coding is all about breaking a bigger problem into smaller chunks and addressing those problems,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Sadani points out that, learning coding has helped him develop a problem-solving ability, especially in building creative solutions. These capabilities are unique skills discovered through the world of programming, he says.
“Being accustomed to the coding pattern, through replicating projects and tutorials has helped me develop my thinking ability further especially to come up with creative solutions,” he explains.
“However, most programming ideas might have already existed and by only replicating them does not give much freedom to think. Now through various automation and robotics projects, my brain can process a new solution that does not exist yet. This idea and ability will be an advantage for me since employers are more likely to hire people with innovative ideas and skills,” he says.
Coding is key to digital solutions
Coding opens a wide career opportunity which ultimately makes you more flexible candidates in a rapid-shifting digital economy.
Among the in-demand jobs that require coding involves full stack, web, mobile application, blockchain, data scientist, machine learning, and Artificial Intelligent specialists, among others which currently offer very highly paid remunerations.
“At the end of the day it all boils down to coding, even if you don’t choose to work in the IT industry, in developed countries they would want a candidate equipped with coding skills,” Eric adds.
Working closely with programmers and developers or having the foundation of coding will also add more value as a member of the organisation.
In summary, we need to understand the role of tech in building a better society. The world is shifting rapidly but it requires a long process and massive human power to drive and automate for the transformation to eventually take place, especially in a developing country.
“It’s time to propel more youth into coding. The world will not be the same as it was before. It is very unnecessary to queue up for a car parking payment anymore when all that can be done digitally. With more programmers, we can build more mobile services, build a better and greener society irrespective of the world of Artificial Intelligence,” Eric concludes.
It is also critical for a parent to expose their child to the basics of coding. They must have the choice to discover coding. Treat coding as important as other skills like piano or swimming.
