When COVID-19 first made in-person gatherings impossible, people adjusted by meeting on platforms like Zoom. Digital technology gave people an alternative that was extremely useful.
Colleagues could stay connected and friends and family could chat, all from the comfort of their home. But let’s face it: it was awkward. Connection and audio issues plagued the starts of conversations, and it took a few minutes before people were ready to chat. Some professionals faced bizarre, hilarious problems, such as the Texas attorney who accidentally selected a cat filter, and had to affirm to colleagues that he wasn’t a cat.
We’ve come a long way since March 2020. RP4K is now proud to offer online coding classes that we think are not just more convenient than in-person classes, but superior.
Let’s check out why our classes work so well.
Even the slickest, most advanced digital technology keeping people connected wouldn’t work well if there were too many people. We make learning to code online easy for kids because our sessions are always small, with a maximum of four students per class.
At most, there will be your child and three others. If your child is the only student in the class, it will still run as scheduled. There’s no mandatory minimum.
Keeping a low teacher-student ratio is important in every teaching environment. Online classes are no different. Teachers should be spending their time focusing on the course material, rather than classroom management problems.
Students have a way of getting lost in the shuffle if there are too many per session, especially the quieter, timid ones. Our experienced coding instructors will get to know your child and how they learn and think in a small classroom environment.
We’ve hand-picked our instructors for their expertise and first-hand experiences. They will teach your child how to code and design video games and, because they also grew up playing games on their computers, their passion for gaming will be contagious! These dynamics in a small classroom have been a proven recipe for success.
When RP4K pivoted to online classes only, we didn’t just rely on the everyday technology people used in day-to-day life. RP4K purchased a state-of-the-art Learning Management System and we used screen sharing software during the pandemic.
The technology in our current classroom environment facilitates the same small classroom experience you’d get from in-class sessions. Teachers can effortlessly speak and see their students and their work.
With our investment in technology designed specifically to boost online classes, it’s a very different experience than an ordinary Zoom call.
Students need to be comfortable and at ease when they learn. Naturally, they can feel relaxed at home, but they should make it a point to organize the space where they take coding classes to make it a little more conducive to learning.
A coding-friendly environment at home can only help students and make learning easier. Ideally, students should have an ergonomic chair that is comfortable to sit in for long periods. They need support, and suitable furniture can prevent cramping.
Using a proper monitor stand and even a keyboard tray can help students feel comfortable for long stretches at work. The monitor stand helps align the screen at eye level so it’s at a comfortable height, so coders don’t strain their neck. The keyboard tray can prevent wrist injuries.
When you use a computer for brief periods, you may notice or feel these types of concerns. But once you spend hours, weeks, and months, they become more apparent, and by then, it could be too late. Another good idea is remove any distractions from the space, so kids can keep focusing on what matters most.
There is much less staff turnover in the online RP4K program compared to our pre-covid, in-person program. This means the online instructors tend to stay with RP4K for at least the entire season and even continue for subsequent seasons.
As a result, our online coding instructors are more likely to be very experienced instructors. The online instructor tends to be a happier employee. Happy employees tend to make better instructors!
Unlike in-person classes, it’s easy for students to re-watch online classes so they can review the material and any concepts they may not have fully absorbed the first time around. All our classes are recorded.
Our instructors excel at making math and coding concepts digestible for students of all skill and experience levels. Still, it’s helpful to be able to re-watch the lessons if they’re stuck on something or could benefit from a review. Students are free to re-watch the classes as many times as they’d like. This enables them to jump into their next session on a better footing.
Plus, online lessons make it easy for parents to audit the first class to see what they’re like. We recommend that parents supervise the first class and provide any assistance if the need arises. Young children could need help with things like moving the mouse or other basic computer skills. However, we ask that parents don’t get involved in the class itself. They should simply be there to quietly support their children and get a sense of what sessions are like.
Students can take a free 45-minute sample class to test the waters and make sure coding classes are something they’ll enjoy. It also helps them understand if the class they’re in is right for them or if they need to move up or down a level.
Between commuting to work and shuttling kids to play dates, sports, appointments, or whatever else, parents probably have enough on their plates. Online classes save them valuable time and hassles. Students also have busy lives and appreciate shaving time off of an activity.
If a class is 45 minutes, that means it takes up exactly 45 minutes, not a half hour extra on either side getting to and from the classroom. With traffic worsening in many cities, parents and students alike will probably appreciate one less thing to drive to.
COVID-19 restrictions concerning in-person gatherings ended long ago, but some of the adjustments we made during this time have proven valuable and worth carrying forward. RP4K gets a lot of mileage out of our online classes, and the technology we use to ensure they’re smooth and effective makes them superior to in-class sessions in many ways.