Coding can benefit everyone, so why doesn't everyone learn to code?

Coding is the art of writing instructions for computers to follow. It is not just for professional software engineers but can be a valuable skill for anyone, regardless of age or career.

Unfortunately, only some people benefit from learning to code. Let’s explore the reasons behind this and how we can overcome these challenges to make coding accessible to everyone.

What barriers and reasons lead to children and adults not learning to code?

Children

Computer science is mandatory in schools in the UK. However, interest drops at the start of secondary school. Students find the subject less creative, less compelling, and more complex. The National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 uses complicated language like "computational abstractions" and "algorithms", which immediately acts as a barrier. In addition, in the GCSE Computer Science exam, students must write code in pen, which feels outdated and discouraging.

Adults

For adults, there are different barriers, some of the most common being:
1. The perception that coding is too complex. While training to be a software developer can be challenging, writing code just for yourself doesn't need to be.
2. Lack of interest based on their current understanding of coding and how it can benefit them.
3. Busy schedules with work, family, and other commitments make it difficult to devote enough time to learning a new skill like coding.

How can children and adults overcome these barriers?

Step 1 - Question your current beliefs and give coding a chance.

It is essential to approach coding with an open mind and understand that it is a skill anyone can learn. Also, think of coding as a tool to help you do things with your hobbies or goals that you've not been able to do before.

Step 2 - Set your goals.

Everyone will have different goals to achieve, so you need to decide what you want to get out of learning to code. Your goals could be anywhere between working towards a career as a software developer and something new to try as a hobby.

Step 3 - Pick a small but real problem or something fun to build.

Coding can be a powerful tool to help you solve your real-world problems. Here are a few examples:
1. Build something in the real world that you can use. There are some excellent home automation kits that you can buy, like the M5Stack, which allows you to switch between coding using blocks to Python.
2. Use or connect one or more of the many brilliant public application programming interfaces (APIs). There are thousands of public APIs on the RapidAPI hub.
3. Get time back by automating your boring tasks. If you're constantly transferring data from one file to another, you can make a program to automate the process, freeing up your time to do other things.
4. You can even use coding to help you decide which investments to put in your portfolio!

Solving a real problem also allows you to be creative. It's rare to find a single solution to a problem.

Step 4 - Break it down into small tasks, learning just enough of the basics first.

Once you have set the problem you want to solve, start breaking this down into smaller ones so you can see constant progress. Early tasks might involve learning the basics of a programming language, but you will want to move on quickly to using it to keep it interesting.

To make learning the basics easier, consider taking an online course. Try the introduction course for the programming language on Codecademy. Codecademy provides a great interactive learning environment that lets you practice as you learn. If you do not like your first choice, try something else.

Step 5 - Get help.

There are many ways you can get help coding. Here are just a few:
1. We are starting to use AI coding assistants at AJ Bell. Most of the new coding assistants are for experienced programmers, but some are great if you're new to coding. Replit has an AI assistant called Ghostwriter; it has some great features for beginners, including a chat-based assistant that can help you write code and explain how a snippet of code works.
2. Coding doesn't need to be a solo activity. CoderDojo is a global network of free coding clubs for anyone aged 7 to 17. It is an excellent way for kids to learn to code in a fun and supportive environment. I am still looking for an equivalent for adults, but many independent meetups on Eventbrite and Meetup exist.
3. A significant advantage of breaking your problem down into tiny activities is that there's a good chance someone has already solved it. People have asked over 24 million questions on Stack Overflow, so you'll likely find an answer to your question there.

Coding can be a valuable skill for everyone, regardless of age or career. While there are barriers to learning to code, there are also ways to overcome them. Hopefully even more people will start coding to unleash their creativity and problem-solving skills.

By Richard, Head of IT Strategy & Architecture