Fun, Interactive Online Coding Classes for K-8th graders

What Type of Online Coding Classes for Kids is Best?

Online Kids Coding Classes with Live Teachers vs Self-Taught Classes

Will your child do well in an online coding class? Check out our article comparing traditional coding classes to online offerings to be sure. If you’re open to them, you might have gotten, or are bound to get, overwhelmed trying to sort through the wide array of coding classes available online. To make headway, first decide whether your child could do a self-paced course or would need live classes. Although beginner coding material doesn’t vary much, most kids respond much better to a live instructor and group setting. However, we all know a child or former child who can whiz through material alone or with little guidance and oversight.

Learning Materials

Live: One benefit of online coding classes is that students often get more attention. With low student-to-teacher ratios, the teacher can feel out their abilities and interests. Then they often cater to their audience a little. In addition to the extra fun that may entail, they may move along faster than they would in a class with more students or in a self-paced class.

Self-Taught: For children who advance quickly, or the odd programming prodigy, finding a class with comparable students might be challenging. Private classes are one option. A self-paced course can be more cost-effective if your child can work through quickly or skip ahead. Many students, however, will not end up with a thorough understanding of programming and might get too bored to finish or actually learn.

Level of Support

Live: As most people can imagine, there is a lot of new information to digest in a coding class. Questions usually abound. Teachers can address these issues when they’re live. In our lessons, teachers can access the precise cause of children’s specific problem when they share their screen. Better yet, teachers can get students over a difficult hump or fix a problem by taking control of the child’s computer.

Self-taught: Teachers are the magic-makers for children’s learning. Without them, many kids end up frustrated and give up when they’re stuck. It’s true that Google is wise nowadays. Yet many adult coders find conflicting information when trying to solve problems on programming forums. Without personal coding experience and the time to assist, they may not get past the more basic levels. If your child has talent and persistence, ensure you choose a course with online support chats.

Community Interaction

Live: Although online classes via a video platform like Zoom might seem lonely, they’re actually quite sociable. Children can still work with friends, show their work to others and hear others’ reactions. True, it’s not as interactive as a physical class. Auditory learners benefit from this type of live instruction. In our lessons, children get opportunities to talk, ask questions, help friends and hear others’ concerns and the answers, all of which help solidify their coding skills and knowledge.

Self-taught: It’s not unheard of for the number of learners in a self-paced class to be in the thousands. Inspiration, help and buddies are available through chats and project sharing. Be sure to choose a class only for kids.

Time Commitment

Live: In an increasingly virtual learning world, finding lessons that fit into your child’s schedule shouldn’t be difficult. Do plan to set up and prepare your child’s computer, or have them do so, at least ten minutes before the lessons go-time.

Self-taught: Busy families enjoy self-paced learning. While some courses have deadlines, most offer a lot of flexibility. However, without someone to enforce the lesson plans and learning schedules, all but the most motivated often drop off.

Cost

Live: Live lessons are typically more expensive, but usually offer a better return on investment. That’s because they offer small class sizes and the accompanying attention. One benefit is that if you have two kids near the same age, they can share a screen.

Self-taught: Some drawbacks do result from a lower price, including a lack of quality. However, some great learning platforms like Khan Academy and Scratch are free. A combination that often works is to have them take free online courses and purchase live classes when possible.

Other Important Considerations

Live: Our teachers are like super-hero motivators and inspirers. They transmit enthusiasm for coding, instead of just relaying information, monitoring or worse yet, scolding.

Self-Taught: While many great untimed coding classes exist online, most aren’t geared for children. Be sure to investigate how the information is portrayed and how complex it is so you know that it has been designed for your kid’s age.