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blog Innovation | 5min Read

Why Students Need to Code

Published on September 17, 2020

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Why Students Need to Code

We hear a lot about coding these days, but what is it?  And why is it so important?  Coding is computer programming. It is becoming more critical for you to learn some of these skills to be successful in many different modern industries.  Learning to code does not necessarily mean you have to go into a computer science-related field; it is a skill that will carry over into many different occupations.

A Head Start

Children as young as five-years-old can start learning to code.  Young children learn how to code through gamified experiences.  Starting to code is vital for more than just preparing you for careers.  Computer language is in many facets of our lives.  You will find it in education, social media, shopping, banking, and in your home.  Computers on a network can control our lighting, thermostats, and entertainment.

Learning how computers work and how we engage with them is essential.  Since such young children can learn to code, if you have not started yet, it is the time!

Develop Problem Solving And Computational Thinking Skills

You will learn new ways of thinking and be at the forefront when it comes to problem-solving.  Even if you do not understand the terms used to describe what you are doing, you will understand the concept.

When you are learning to code, you are learning the best way to solve problems.  It is crucial to have a framework from which to work.  Here is a simple one that you can follow:

  • Understand – It seems simple, but many people struggle with problems because they do not understand what the problem is.

To determine if you understand what the problem is and what kind of answer you seek, you must be able to pose the question in plain English.  If you can explain what the question asks, you know what you are looking for in terms of a solution.

  • Plan – It is essential to make a plan that will help you come up with the solution.  Write down the steps you will take and follow them in a logical order.  Making a plan gives you time to allow your brain to analyse and process before setting to work.

  • Divide – A big problem can seem like a daunting task.  Divide your problem into smaller ones to complete.  Solving the smaller problems and putting all of the pieces together will get you to the end goal.

Coding Is Fun

Aside from providing practical skills, coding is also a lot of fun.  It is used to create games and animations.  You will enjoy these learning experiences and gain important skills at the same time.

When you learn a computer language and see it work, it is neat to see your capabilities.  You enter a line of code, see something specific happen in the console, and know that the computer did what you asked it to do.

Develop Resilience

Another vital skill that comes from learning to code is the development of resiliency.  It is not often that your code will work the first time.  Half the fun of coding is going back and figuring out where the error is and how to fix it.

Developing resiliency means that when you encounter a difficult problem, you will go back to your skillset and figure out how to solve it.  Finding the errors and correcting them so that the code works is part of the fun.

It teaches you to learn from your mistakes and take time to figure out what mistake was made.  Learning from mistakes is an important life skill – not just one used in computer programming.

Thinking Outside The Box

Learning to code helps to teach you how to think differently.  It teaches you to take large problems and break them down into smaller, more manageable ones.  Computational thinking skills are highly sought after in the work field.

Coding helps teach you to take an idea that may seem vague, add some creative flair, and turn it into something practical.  You also learn that if the first idea does not work, you need to try something else.

Expand Creativity

Learning to think like a computer programmer helps to make you more creative.  You are always seeking innovative solutions to problems and seeing which one will work.  It encourages experimentation and helps to gain confidence.

It is vital to feel motivated when you are learning new skills.  When you are coding, you can see the results of your work along the way, encouraging you to keep going!  These are skills that are sought after in the workforce.

The Software Industry Needs Skilled Workers

Computer programming is not the only reason you should learn to code though there is a need for skilled workers in the software industry.  Experienced programmers are in demand. Learning even a little bit of coding will give you an edge when it comes to employment opportunities.

Because there is a demand for software engineers, the salary is usually substantial for those prepared to work in the field.

Have Fun With Math

You may find math and working with numbers boring.  Learning to code can make math fun for even the most reluctant learner.  You can improve math skills when you learn to code, and you will be having so much fun you won’t even realize that you are learning.

Coding requires the use of logic and calculation skills.  You will be using these skills to create something of your own.

 

What Employers Seek

Coding teaches more than just the basics of computer programming.  It enhances the kinds of skills you need to be successful in the workforce.  Employers seek people with specific skills. Some of these skills are further developed when you learn to code.

·       Problem-solving ability

·       Motivation to solve a problem

·       Higher-level mathematical thinking

·       Computer skills

·       Ability to work alone or on a team

·       Critical Thinking

·       Self-esteem and confidence while doing the job

·       Creative thinking

·       Increased resilience when face with challenges

·       Better reasoning, organisation, and planning skills

·       Ability to seek and find information

Learning to code provides you with the skill set you will need to succeed in the ever-changing and advancing world.

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blog Entrepreneurship | 4min Read

The Importance of Entrepreneurship

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The Importance of Entrepreneurship

Learning entrepreneurship gives you the knowledge you need to start companies and the skills to think creatively and ambitiously.  We need the current generation of learners to create companies that will help to provide jobs.

The current jobs on the market may become obsolete as the population ages and technology advances.  We will need new, more advanced, and innovative roles for you as you leave your formal education.  Learning entrepreneurial skills will ensure that you gain skills in critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, which will help you invent new careers for yourself and future generations.

Teaching you entrepreneurship will help you to stimulate the economy.

How It Helps You If You Are A Minority Or At-Risk Learner

Entrepreneurship is something that can help tap into your creativity.  It is about creating an opportunity based on your interests and talents.  Anyone with an idea and the drive to see it come to fruition can be successful.

Entrepreneurship programs can help students of all races and socio-economic backgrounds become successful.  Helping to recognise your interests and talents can give you the drive that is needed to turn their ideas into reality.

You learn how to take risks.  Taking risks and learning from mistakes helps to cultivate ingenuity.  Risk-taking helps to teach you that it is okay if you fail the first time.  It teaches you to persist.  you will learn to be creative, innovative, and inventive to see success.

Results Of Entrepreneurship In Education

·       Economic growth

·       Job creation

·       Social resilience

·       Individual growth

·       Increased engagement

·       Improved quality of work

Educators are tasked with teaching you to build your version of success.  Each student has his skills and talents, which need to be cultivated and honed.

Entrepreneurship education prepares you for challenging opportunities that you will need to be ready for in the workplace.

Teaching Entrepreneurs

Learning how to be an entrepreneur can be done through scaffolding skills.  Being an entrepreneur means that you can use your imagination to envision things that may not yet exist.

You will use creativity and imagination to solve the challenges that you encounter.  You will be able to come up with unique solutions when you apply your creativity to the problems.

Learning entrepreneurship means that you are learning to engage with your surroundings and experiment with creative solutions for problems.  If a problem is complicated, you are taught to reframe it to see other options to make it solvable.

Entrepreneurial skills can be learned in the classroom and through involvement in extracurricular activities that encourage creative problem-solving.

Entrepreneurship teaches you to see opportunities, create opportunities, and then act on them.

The Mindset

There is a certain mindset in schools that needs to change to teach entrepreneurs properly.

We are so used to being taught that there is a right answer and a wrong answer.  If we don’t get the correct answer, we have failed.

Entrepreneurship teaches that there are several possible answers and several ways to find the solution.  If we do not get something right the first time, we have not failed.  We need to come up with a different answer.  That is the kind of thinking that needs to be fostered in you, our young learners.

The Benefit Of Entrepreneurship

Though entrepreneurial skills help people learn to start and run a company, there are other benefits to learning these skills.  You do not have to have your own business – you can be innovative and creative in your role within a company.

Learning soft skills will help you learn to think outside the box.  This is a skill needed to move any company forward.

Ways To Encourage Entrepreneurial Thinking

·       Teach financial literacy

·       Let kids work

·       Help them to set goals

Many kids grow up without knowing or understanding the value of money.  Learning financial literacy will help you to become an adult who is financially aware and capable.

Financial literacy for students can be taught in schools to some degree, but it is a skill that also needs to be addressed at home.  You need incentives to save money.  One way to do this is to save your own money for items you wish to purchase instead of asking parents to buy things for you.  This will teach you that you need to work to save money for the things you want.

You can also go to the store with your parents and help with the transactions.  Having some buying power at the grocery store so that they are managing small amounts of money will start you off in the right direction.

You can be taught the value of money by having to work for it.  If you are not old enough for a part-time job, you can ask to be paid for helping with small chores around the house.  If you are older, you can earn money babysitting or helping younger siblings with homework.

When you are old enough to work outside the home, you can get a job that will expose you to different things.  This exposure will help you to develop interpersonal skills.  You will learn how to deal with people from various backgrounds and cultures.

Working a part-time job also teaches you how to be resilient.  It can be stressful working with the public.  You will learn how to face challenges and persevere to earn your paycheque.

Entrepreneurial thinking requires the skill of goal-setting.  You will learn how to plan ways to reach your goals, which will make you a successful entrepreneur.  Students who can set goals and make a plan for achieving them are creating their path to success.

Start creating your own path today! Sign up for our entrepreneur workshop today.

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blog Internship | 4min Read

How Internship Can Help Your Future

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How Internship Can Help Your Future

Think about starting a new job without knowing the first thing about what you will be doing.  Now imagine a position where you have had an opportunity to work in the field and gain firsthand knowledge.  That is what an internship can do for you.

Finding an internship means that you will get to work in the field and learn on the job from someone who already has experience.

Real-Life Experience

An internship means that you can get some real-life experience in your chosen field.  Gaining this experience gives you a chance to build your skill set, gain knowledge, and use the theoretical practice you have been studying.  Education and knowledge are two different things.  In essence, you get an education to go out into the work world, and once out in the work world, you gain your knowledge.

An internship can give you a feel for what a particular job is like and whether you enjoy it.  It allows you to work in an industry or at a company to get a sense of whether it is a good fit for you.

If it does not turn out to be a fit, you have still gained experience doing something new, which is beneficial.  It is even more useful if you can get an internship in a new environment.  Moving to a new community means that you will be gaining exposure to new people and possibly new surroundings.

An internship will give you some experience in the professional world without the same stress and pressure associated with a full-time career.

Opportunity For Self-Introspection

Doing something out of your everyday routine will also give you the chance to learn more about yourself.  Working in a new environment will enable you to learn about your goals and ambitions and reach them.

An internship also helps you to determine if you are on the right career path.  Sometimes you may have an idea in mind of what you want to do, but when you get there, your expectations are not met.

Doing an internship allows you to decide if you have made the right career choice or if there may be something more suited to your abilities and interests.

Develop Your Professional Network

Maybe you will love your internship and be happy with the choices you have made.  Even before you finish school, working in the field will help you build your network and mingle with others in the profession.

Networking is an essential step in the career world.  When you do an internship, try to meet as many people as possible and always act professionally.  You never know who you may encounter and how it could help to advance your future career. 

Make Your Name Known

When you have the opportunity to do an internship, it is putting your name out there.  Having your name known is an excellent way to ensure that you get past the first step when applying for jobs in the future.

When a company receives resumes for a posting, they need a process to weed them out and only look at the best.  If you have an opportunity to make your name known ahead of time, this will help when it is time to submit applications for jobs.

Often, the person who is screening the resumes will look to experience to see what you have to offer in the field and how much practical experience you have.  Even if you are new to the job search, if you have had an internship, it means you have experience!

 You can highlight what tasks and projects you did as an intern and how you can offer value to the company on your resume.

The Transition

It can be hard to gain employment immediately, but being an intern gives you a head start.  Companies will often hire interns in the future for full-time postings.

The company has already invested in you, so if you show that you are capable and indispensable, you may get a permanent job following the internship.

Professional Feedback

Doing an internship is also a great way to gain some feedback on your performance.  Though you will learn theory in the classroom, it is different than applying it to real-life situations.

Take constructive criticism and learn from it so that you can improve your skills for your current and future endeavours.  If you are open and willing to learn, you will gain a lot from participating in an internship.

You will gain experience in the industry, and you will learn how to be better.  Working gives you an advantage over people who have not taken part in an internship opportunity.

The Impact

Having an internship will have a significant impact on your future career.  If it is not a paid internship, you still get the experience and other benefits.  If paid, it allows you to use the money to further your learning through professional development opportunities.

Do not discount an internship if it does not pay; the long term payoff is what you seek.  And any experience that you can get will look great on your resume.

The India Skills Report 2019 states, “Internship is not the only factor that determines employability, but it is a critical factor.”

The report discusses the importance of being able to unlearn some things and then re-learn them.  It will be an essential skill to keep updated on the latest developments in the chosen field.  Being an intern can help to teach this skill much more effectively than classroom learning.

The Bottom Line

Taking an internship will help you to achieve your goals and reach your highest potential!

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blog Trending | 4min Read

Growth Year – Benefits of Gap Year After High School

Published on September 1, 2020

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Growth Year – Benefits of Gap Year After High School

“17 is too young to go to college,” my theology and philosophy professor once told me in our after class discussions at Cornell.

I was contemplating taking a year off from Cornell to pursue an internship with a member of Parliament back in India and wanted to get some guidance from numerous professors at Cornell. I had already taken one year after high school to go to an American boarding school called Phillips Academy for a post graduate program (popularly known as a PG year)

Taking break from the academic life after high school and in the middle of my college education were some of the best and critical decisions that I took in my life. US colleges have had a long tradition of a “deferment” and many students avail this opportunity. I hope that all children figuring out that way forward in their personal or academic life should contemplate taking a gap year or I like to call it: “The Growth year.”

I would like to highlight some of the ways the two “growth years” in life helped me before and during my academic life in the US:

1. Academic Standing:

Being from a traditional British boarding school in India, Mayo College, I was exposed to a basic CBSE education. While I performed well in my classes, we had no exposure on research papers, citations and critical writing. At Phillips Academy, I enrolled in courses like Sports Philosophy, reading music (a mandatory requirement at the school) and even took African drumming. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed but gradually understood the importance of a core curriculum. My English classes helped me score higher on the SAT and most importantly, improved my critical thinking and writing skills. I also give the credit for getting straight A’s in college to my rigorous training at Phillips Academy.

2. Athletics:

As a national squash player, I was also looking at avenues to get better at a sport that I had consumed much of my middle and high school commitments. Initial months after completing my board examinations and during my year at Phillips Academy, I got an opportunity to train and compete with the best coaches and student athletes from around the world. I competed in the US national squash circuit and the high school nationals and met Ivy league coaches looking to recruit students.

3. Work Opportunity:

Internships are critical to our growth. I am relieved that the new education policy in India mandates every high schooler to avail this opportunity. Looking at my peers at Phillips academy motivated to me to look at internships a lot more seriously. I was tired of telling people that I was just going to play squash over the summer compared to their “volunteering work in West Africa for endangered species” or “interning at the NY trading center.” Yes, these are all high school internships. After countless emails, I interned with two companies even before I embarked on my collegiate journey. I worked in the “International procurement” division at Godrej and Boyce (a conglomerate in India) and at a German consulting firm in Bangalore on bringing best sustainability resources to India. I believe that internships tell you “what you do not like to do” a lot more than “what you love to do.” These experiences give you better insight into the social and corporate structures of the world and give valuable life lessons that can be leveraged in college.

4. Do something you love:

For me, that love was squash. As mentioned before, during my “growth year,” I tried to become the best squash player I could ever be. I travelled around the world, attended a Harvard squash camp and made sure to love every single moment. After grueling 4 years of competitive academic journey, playing squash and living a healthy life was a much needed respite from the real world. I urge all the students to seek for what they truly love, travel to uncharted territories, take a music lesson and work for your community. The emotional maturity and social skills that you will acquire during these years will remain with you forever.

Contrary to popular belief, or what I like to call “Aunt/Uncle” belief in India, students are constantly told not to take a year off in their life whether that is after high school, college or while one is engrossed in their professional life. From personal experience, the “growth year” will not only help you to lead a more fulfilling and fruitful life, but will also give you a much needed pause to reflect, battle your fears and get into college or in life with a “growth mindset.”

Big Red Education and our Ivy Early Entrepreneur Program

In our entrepreneurial workshop – Ivy Early Entrepreneur, students go through the process of business development and leave the entrepreneur program having completed a business model canvas, competitive analysis, financial model, minimum viable product, and a pitch deck.

Students get an opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs who are alumni of reputed universities and are experts in their respective industries.

These experts serve as coaches guiding students through the processes of developing a business concept. Risk-Taking, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication &

Storytelling, Design Thinking & Innovation, and Opportunity Recognition are a few of the key learning areas of our program.

On successfully completing the entrepreneur workshop, the guaranteed internship will be extended to all the students within our partner firms and with most of the mentors teaching the program. Students will be provided with a certificate of participation by Big Red Education. This certificate can be used for your college portfolio.

Ivy Early Entrepreneur

11th – 17th Jan 2022

Idea Generation | Market Research | Design Thinking | Pitching

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