Fixing Web Educaton

timbot
timbot
Jul 24, 2017 · 4 min read

A lot of people ask me what it takes to become a web developer. I think when I hear this question they are generally wondering about how much time they will need to invest. But I think they are also asking about what kind of motivation they need. The last consideration (though still important) is how much it will cost.

There is no simple answer to this question, but recently I came across an article submitted to FreeCodeCamp that provides some good grounds for estimation.

Sean Smith on FreeCodeCamp

Sean Smith started with no prior knowledge of development, and tracked his progress to his first paid position — at a San Francisco startup company, where he does front-end development in javascript.

During his quest, Sean devoted approximately 2500 hours to study.

That may be a sobering figure for many people.

Are you in a post-secondary program?

If so, chances are you spend from 2 to 4 hours in-class learning web technologies as part of a more general program including graphic design and other skills. Assuming you are learning the right things and you spend an equal amount of your own time expanding on your learning, optimistically 8 hours per week, it will take 6 years to match the example above.

However, it is more likely that with the pressures of multiple assignments you will spend less time than this, perhaps 4 to 6 hours. So closer to 10 years.

Are you in a “Bootcamp”?

If so, you may have expected to become job-ready inside 10 weeks. But even the toughest bootcamps don’t recommend coding for more than 12 hours per day, for a maximum of of 840 hours, assuming no days off and complete dedication. That is only 1/3rd of the time of our example.

And the truth is that nobody can code for 12 straight hours each day. Attempting to do so produces burnout and wasted effort. Half of your time ends up spent undoing the mistakes you have made.

Are you self-teaching?

If so, read the article! It outlines in great detail what Mr. Smith did, and you could use it to imagine whether you too could devote 50 hours per week, without fail, to studying on your own for a year or more. Could you add to this dedication the hustle he employed to dig up projects to work on?

It can be done — but not by everyone.

How To Fix It

As mentioned in my previous article, education is in a state of extremes right now when it comes to developing with web technologies. We have post-secondary options that progress at a snail’s pace, and private options that appeal to people’s desire to see results fast.

With a realistic view of what will be needed to become a modern web developer we could fix both of these options.

Fixing Post-Secondary

If the same two-year investment of time that most of the arts-programs require were followed, we could fix thing by devoting 4 hours per weekday to web development.

At 20 hours per week, the student would arrive at the same graduation in three years having put in a similar effort to our example.

Can we factor in professional instruction? Perhaps. If we assume an instructor who is actively engaged in modern development and experienced in training others we might reduce the hour requirement, since in our student example Mr. Smith was on his own. With expert direction, let’s assume (optimistically) he could have cut his time investment in half to 1200 hours.

This brings our post-secondary course, lead by an expert instructor, to 62 weeks — roughly a two-year program. That’s what we typically expect.

Students in this program would code and receive instruction on web development every weekday for a half-day. The remainder of the day can be divided among complementary skills in graphic design, photography, composition, and the other pursuits that are typically found in post-secondary web programs.

I actually think this is quite healthy. In this program the emphasis is on the web development, but other skills provide diversity, interest, and an outlet for creativity that can be brought back into the web.

Fixing the “Bootcamp”

One thing jumps out immediately — make it less expensive. Price this option with the understanding that people will likely need to repeat the experience two to three times to reach a point of competency.

Secondly, discourage the idea that there are shortcuts to becoming a developer. Break up courses into shorter modules, and increase flexibility in scheduling to increase the odds that people will be able to continue studying over time.

Personally, having asked extensively, I do not know a single honest experienced developer or technical director who believe someone can become a developer in 10 weeks.

Setting Realistic Goals

The point of these mental exercises we are doing is that succeeding in entering into web development, more than anything else, requires setting up a support system that allows you to stay on track over the long haul.

You need to be around people who care about you, and your progress. They should share your interests in the technology. People who don’t share this interest, while still an important part of your life, should not be allowed to dominate the time you need to study.

One of the best ways to stay engaged in learning, while still having a life, is to build things relevant to that life and the people around you. Use your skills in the wild, so to speak. In Sean Smith’s article, you’ll note that all of his studying did not get him his opportunity until he also showed the ability to employ that knowledge in building things for the real world.

A year is not that long, and even two years fly by when the time is filled with learning, experimentation, and fun. When spent around engaged people, sharing a flow of information and ideas, it passes all too quickly.

But with luck, time, some hard work and a plan, you can make a career of it.

If any of this strikes a chord with you, take a look at what we’re building at Leafletlearning.com.

Leaflet Learning

Education, code, and entrepreneurship.

timbot

Written by

timbot

Digital Media Artist, developer, tech-enthusiast and entrepreneur. Founder of Oddly Studios Inc. in Toronto Canada.

Leaflet Learning

Education, code, and entrepreneurship.

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