Tech companies and all digital organisations have come to the realisation that digital skills are important for an employee in the digital world. 

Companies like Google, Microsoft, Samsung and many more made it clear that they no longer hire based on college degrees. 

They are constantly in search of those that can help them make decisions, solve problems and those that have something unique to bring to the table other than just a college degree.

You might be wondering “ does that mean a college degree has no value?” Of course not, a college degree is valuable because it gives you knowledge but recently, there is a high demand for skills over degrees. 

Employers are in constant search of great talents that can take their businesses to the next level.

Most developed countries like the USA, UK etc. knows the value of STEM education, that is why they include it in their curriculum in order that every child is introduced to coding, robotics and artificial intelligence right from a young age.

The world, as well as technology, is constantly evolving, today a lot of things we do or use are based on codes, ranging from social media, ordering and buying of things online etc. 

By 2030, more than half of the jobs in the world will be STEM-based. But the question is, how prepared is Nigeria for this reality? Are students in Nigerian schools equipped to take advantage of this opportunity? The sad news is Nigerian educational system from primary to university level does not take practical STEM education seriously. Nigerian students are poorly equipped to fill this huge gap.

The world we are in is constantly evolving which is a result of the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics and many more. All these technologies are based on codes. 

Investing in your kids to learn how to code is equivalent to buying a bright future for your kid.

Coding for kids helps improve their mathematics and writing skills, it helps kids to think creatively and critically about possible solutions for problems. It helps kids to become more organized, active in their activities and focused in a world filled with so many distractions.

Coding skills go as far as increasing the opportunity of your kid landing a job in the future, whether it’s in programming or something digital or a job that is not even tied to programming because it tells recruiters that a person is not just a programmer but a problem solver, critical thinker, dynamic, loves to learn and so on. 

If learning to code can help your kid develop skills that are in high demand which can make them relevant in the future then it answers our question of “ is coding classes worth the money?”. Yes, coding classes is worth the money because it set your kids up for greatness.

At Mentortribes, we are passionate about setting your kids up for what the future holds for them. Let us help you make the plans you have for your kid a reality. All you have to do is register your kid for our coding classes by logging on to our website www.mentortribes.com

Tech companies and all digital organisations have come to the realisation that digital skills are important for an employee in the digital world.  Companies like Google, Microsoft, Samsung and many more made it clear that they no longer hire based on college degrees. 

If we want to set our children up for academic success, every child should learn to code. Coding for kids not only helps improve their mathematics and writing skills but also gives them valuable skills in life and eventually in the workforce.

“why should a child/my child learn coding?”

Well, this is why I will be sharing with you 8 Reasons why every child should learn to code

Put simply, Coding is the a method of communicating with a computer. It is using a language that a computer understands to give a computer instructions in order to perform specific functions. Coding allows us to create things such as computer software, websites, apps and video games. 

Before we get to talking about why every child should learn to code, you may have come here looking to find out HOW you can teach your child to code. It’s easy to get started teaching children to code, even if you don’t have any coding experience yourself! In fact, we’ve compiled a list of coding concepts even 5 year olds can understand here.

there are many ways to start teaching your kids coding and here are some ways out of the many ways:

You can get started coding with your kids today! It’s easy, and all you need are items you likely already have around your house. To first start learning the basics of coding, you don’t even need a computer! One of our most popular unplugged coding activities involves learning to code with a deck of cards! You can find out how to learn to code with a deck of cards here, or you can find our whole list of unplugged coding activities here.

If you’re like me, you struggle with appropriate screen time for your kids. I know that I got to the point where one more YouTube video of kids opening and reviewing toys was going to send me over the edge. We try to make our screen time as educational as possible. I even taught my son to play the piano using this app!

There are lots of amazing coding apps that can get your kids learning to code without even realizing it. Even popular games like Minecraft have an education edition that helps kids to learn to code. Our favorite coding app is this one. We have a whole list of the best coding apps for kids here.

One of the easiest ways to get a taste of programming basics for kids is with the fun and FREE hour of code activities available online. These activities are designed to take only an hour and can give kids and parents a chance to understand the importance of learning to code. We have an entire list of our favorite hour of code activities here.

Our coding worksheets will help to reinforce the basic coding concepts learned in the activities above. These worksheets are perfect for the classroom or home. Our worksheets cover the concepts of algorithms, sequencing, loops, variables, decomposition, branching and debugging.

But why is it important to learn how to code?

Why should kids learn coding? There are so many reasons to learn coding, it was hard to pick just 8 benefits of learning to code. From problem-solving skills, job opportunities, critical thinking, and creativity, there are so many reasons to learn programming. Let’s review why kids should learn to code.

Now these are 8 reasons why coding is important for kids to learn:

Programming helps children learn to problem-solve

Understanding computers and learning the basics of coding helps children to develop an appreciation of how things work. It also teaches them how software engineers use math in order to solve problems in a logical and creative way. This is an important reason that coding should be taught in schools, so children learn these skills while they are young.

The ability to solve problems is a trait that is useful in life in general. We all want our children to become excellent problem solvers so that they can overcome any adversity they face. Learning to code gives children the chance to learn this type of skill while they are young and it can help them along the way in life. This is one of the big reasons coding is important to learn.

Computer programming gives kids a challenge and helps them develop resilience

When children learn to code, they develop the ability to bounce back after failure. They learn that failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and in fact, it can often be something positive because it serves as a learning opportunity. This is one of the most important reasons why kids should code, as they will learn quickly that ‘debugging’ your code is half the fun.

When you fail and try again you can learn from your mistakes. Coding gives children the ability to try and try again until they succeed and produce the result they are looking for.

“ A computer is a bicycle for your mind” – Steve Jobs

Learning to code teaches children how to think. Computer programming isn’t just about teaching how to type lines of code. It is more about teaching children how to think differently. Being able to code effectively, a programmer needs to use logical thinking. They need to be able to see a large problem and break it down into smaller pieces in order to solve it in an effective manner. This is called decomposition and is one of the key features of computational thinking.

Children learning code will need to take a vague idea and use their creativity to turn it something effective. If the first solution doesn’t work, they try another one. If that one doesn’t work, they try again until the problem is solved. Coding helps to develop this way of thinking and these types of thinking skills are highly sought after.

A child expands their creativity when they learn how to code

Coding is important to learn because computer programming teaches children to experiment and gives them the confidence to be creative. They will have the chance to design something that is entirely their own. Children thrive off of the feedback they get from creating something they love. Just like learning a language, or to play a musical instrument, children need motivation. Usually seeing results along the way is enough to cultivate this, and this is what happens when children learn to code.

Because coding is easy to pick up, for children especially, confidence comes easily. When children learn how to code it gives them the opportunity to be confident and create something in a fun and exciting way. 

Why is learning to code so important? For us, creativity tops the list! We love the creative games and activities our kids can create with coding. Coding doesn’t have to be boring, in fact, coding can be fun! We show you how to make coding fun for your kids in this post.

Because coding is easy to pick up, for children especially, confidence comes easily.

When children learn how to code it gives them the opportunity to be confident and create something in a fun and exciting way.

Why is learning to code so important? For us, creativity tops the list! We love the creative games and activities our kids can create with coding. Coding doesn’t have to be boring, in fact, coding can be fun! We show you how to make coding fun for your kids in this post.

When you look at how the world is developing, coding is an extremely useful skill to possess. There are an increasing number of businesses who rely on computer code, not just those in the technology sector.

A child who learns how to code will have the advantage in life with more employment opportunities available to them in the future, no matter which industry they decide to enter whether it be in the technology sector, finance, retail, health or other. This is an important reason why coding should be taught in schools.

There is a lack of skills in the software industry

Experienced computer programmers are in demand and with the advancement of technology, there are increasing career opportunities arising every day. Employees who can code are the future and are highly sought after in any industry.

Because qualified computer programmers are hard to come by, their salaries can be at a high level. If children learn to code at a young age, their experience starts young and they are more likely to grow up with an interest in the software industry, therefore contributing to our future.

Coding helps children learn how to have fun with math

Coding is the language of maths. Imagine coding being taught in every school? Learning to program involves many skills including organizing and analyzing data. Children can grow their math skills while coding, without even realizing it. Using their logic and calculation skills while creating something of their own can make maths more engaging and fun. Another big reason coding should be taught in schools.

If you want to give your child something enjoyable to do which will also be educational and help them to learn, learning to code is the perfect gift. You can read about the reasons why coding is important, but one of the best is to give them a challenge while having fun!
Children will learn various skills and with practice, gain some important skills that can help them through all ways of life, and if they can do all of this while having fun, why not?

We have gone through some great reasons why coding is important to learn for not only children but anyone. If you have a child, giving them the opportunity to learn about technology and the way computers work will surely give them an advantage in life. Learning to code while they are young will set them up for a successful future. 

It is on this note, ithat will like to share this important information with you;

we at mentortribes make  learning easier especially when it comes to coding. we are having a three weeks programme on coding for kids, give them value when you can, lets make this journey very easy for you and your kids!

please visit our website for more information and registration👇 

8 Reasons Why Every Child Should learn To Code

The emergence of covid 19 has changed the way people work and do things. This has increased the risk of stress, anxiety, depression, isolation and burnout.

Mental health is one of those subjects given the least priority in the workplace and society. But it is an essential subject that if neglected can affect the well-being and productivity level of people.

The technology industry has always been known to be a fast-paced industry that requires hard work and genuine commitment. Today, a lot of these tech jobs are done remotely where tech professionals have to work and complete tasks in isolation. 

A report from AppDynamics stated that 8 out of 10 tech professionals indicated that their jobs have become more complex since the pandemic. In the same report, 89% of tech professionals reported that they feel immense pressure at work and 84% found difficulty switching off from work. 

What this means is that tech professionals have the tendency of working extra hours. The implication is that there is a reduction in the time they should use to rest or socialise. But sadly, this can increase the risk of mental health disorders.

51% of tech professionals have been diagnosed with a mental health condition 

71% of tech workers said their productivity is affected by a mental health issue

57% of tech industry employees reported burnout


This is why the subject of mental health in the tech industry should not be ignored. I will be sharing with you ways to tackle mental health problems in the tech industry.

3 Effective Ways to Tackle Mental Health Problems in the Tech Industry

If not handled properly, mental health issues can lead to lack of productivity, stress and burnout. Here are some effective ways to handle mental health issues in the tech environment.

It is important for tech companies and organisations to make work-life balance a priority in the work environment.

According to the Coping after Covid from Westfield Health report, 30% of tech professionals want more mental health support and long-term changes in the way they work. However, 59% of human resources leaders said they would like to be able to do more in terms of wellbeing, but company culture prevents it.

Since most of these tech employees are working remotely, the organisation can promote the employee's mental well-being by registering these employees in gyms that are close to where they reside. 

A study from the University of Bristol found that those who exercise daily were more likely to be more energised and have a more positive countenance compared to those who don’t exercise. And guess what, exercise helps to reduce the risk of mental health disorders.

Employees should also be encouraged to get enough rest. One of the major problems with a lot of tech professionals is that they barely have time to rest. Most of those I’ve conversed with said they have problems sleeping even at night. So you see these guys working in the daytime as well as at night. With this, they are able to complete more tasks but this can be harmful to their mental health. But it’s important to allow yourself to relax by taking a nap, you’d be surprised how good you’d feel mentally and physically when you wake up. 

Organisations can also give these tech professionals days off where they get to do other things outside work. They may decide to meet up with old friends or just do something fun. 

2. Leaders Should Show Empathy in the Work Environment

Empathy is an essential attribute of a healthy work environment. It can be practised by both employers and employees. 

According to Dr Tracy Brower, “As we go through tough times, struggle with burnout or find it challenging to find happiness at work, empathy can be a powerful antidote and contribute to positive experiences for individuals and teams.”

To promote the mental well-being of employees, employers have to be considerate to understand the needs, thoughts and feelings of their employees. 

Your employees may be going through stress and burnout, as an employer, it’s important to come close to the employee to understand why he may be experiencing that. Then you can look for ways to help the employee ease the stress. It might mean reducing the workload of the person.

When employees see their employers showing empathy in the work environment it encourages them to do the same with one another. They can work together as a team to reduce the workload on each other.

A lot of employees' mental health disorder comes from the fact that they are nervous and not confident about their work. Studies show that when employees feel fulfilled with the work they deliver, they are more productive and happy.

This is why it is important for tech employers to invest in upskilling their employees. It is even more cost-efficient than hiring and training new employees to do these jobs.

As an employer, it's important that you assess your employee to see where they have a skill gap. Then you can enrol them in the relevant course that would help to boost their skill and this can help them gain more confidence in their work as well as promote their mental well-being.

You can also pay for your employees to attend seminars that would help them connect with others in the field. In such places, they are likely to hear about the struggle of others in their field and this can help them know that they are not alone.

Tackling mental health issues in the tech environment is not something that can be achieved in just one sitting, it is a continuous process. Every healthy work environment that wishes to get the best out of its employees must give priority to their mental well-being.

Mental health is one of those subjects given the least priority in the workplace and society. But it is an essential subject that if ignored can affect the well-being and productivity level of people.

Mental Health - A Major Concern in the Tech Industry

Gone are those days when you could only work in the office space. The emergence of technology has changed the way people used to work. Today, you can work from the comfort of your home in any organisation around the world.

In a survey of Stack Overflow with 64,000 developers, 53% of them said that they prioritized remote options when looking for a new job.

The idea of working remotely sounds interesting as it enables employees to work in a more flexible manner. A survey from Flexjob disclosed that 66% of its respondents agree to be more productive when working remotely.

For programmers, working remotely can be really challenging when you don’t know what to expect and how to go about it. This is why I will be sharing with you the tips that would help you to be a more productive remote developer. 

1. Create a Comfortable Home Office Space

One of the most important tips to becoming a successful remote developer is to create a comfortable and quiet office space at home. This will help you work in a  more productive and professional manner.

Some of us like the idea of working in bed but when you have to work every day that might not be the best practice to imbibe because it can affect your level of productivity or you may even fall asleep while working. 

This is why it’s important that when creating an office space you should get a work table where your work items like your laptop, journal, and pen can sit. It’s also important to make provision for a comfortable chair where you can sit and work at ease for hours.

You may also want to invest in an adjustable laptop stand that can help to balance your laptop with your height in order to avoid bending your back while working.

Features of a well-organised home office space:

The workspace should be at the quiet corner of the house to avoid distractions


Work tools like laptops, journals, pens, headsets and so on should be neatly arranged in the office space


The window should be opened to let in natural light and for ventilation


The office space should not be accessible to everyone in order to reduce distraction.


It should be kept clean to promote good health


To be a productive developer who works from home it's important to have a plan for things that need to be done every day. 

Schedule your time, what time should you wake up and start working. what’s the first task that needs to be done, what’s the second task that needs to be done and so on. When should you have lunch or take a break? 

Knowing all of these will help you to gradually form a good working habit and keep you constantly focused on your work. 

Scheduling daily tasks will enable programmers to measure their progress and manage their time effectively. One of the major problems faced by a lot of programmers working remotely is that they easily lose track of time and tend to overwork themselves. This can affect their performance as well as their other chores.

Using task management tools like Trello, JIRA, Asana and so on can also help for better task management.

Developers work mostly on their computers, no matter whether they sync codes with a remote or cloud-based repository, or attend meetings with development teams. So many often have a fear of telecommuting due to slower Internet access speed than in offices. 

It’s important to invest in a fast internet connection, a slow wireless connection can hold your progress in check and in the worst case, make your data lost. So having a backup method is essential for you when going online. 

You may need to try several internet networks to find the one that is more suitable and faster in your location. You may also need to get a router to help you have an uninterrupted network.

4. Ensure that You Continue to Grow and Network With the Right People

One major problem of being a remote developer is that you are working alone, unlike working in the office where you can easily go from one person to the other to solve a problem. There will be many times when you have to figure out the solutions to problems on your own because there’s no team sitting with you to instantly help you. 

For effective accountability and higher productivity, developers should maintain conversations with their co-workers via plenty of video chat tools such as Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom. 

It’s important that while working remotely you should also set aside time to invest in self-improvement and career development. You may decide to learn a new skill, read a book or even network in a developer community. All of these can help to improve your programming skill and knowledge and can also enhance your career.

Basic self-development and networking tips

Join online and offline forums for developers


Be active on social platforms like LinkedIn to connect with other developers, this can help you see gaps in your skill and as well expose you to lots of great opportunities


Create time to discuss with other developers on your team to learn new things and solve problems


As a developer working remotely, it’s important to create time for a break. While taking this break, try to leave your workspace. You can take a 10-15 minutes walk outside in order to stretch your body and recharge your battery before you return back to resume your work. 

You can also take part in other outdoor activities such as playing your favourite sports, as long as you feel pleasant and motivated.

Gone are those days when you could only work in the office space. The emergence of technology has changed the way people used to work. For programmers, working remotely can be really challenging when you don’t know what to expect and how to go about it. 

7 Productivity Tips for Developers Working from Home

A few years back, whenever I heard people talk about the amazing impact tech skill has made in their lives, I just assumed they were exaggerating. 

“How can someone say acquiring a tech skill has helped him get an international job opportunity when there are a lot of graduates out there seeking jobs?”

“How can someone just move from being paid peanuts to receiving a very high income?”

“How can someone who barely has enough time for his family because he’s always stuck in traffic start working from home and yet earns more?” 

To me, all of these just sound too good to be true 

But guess what, life happened and I was opportune to meet people who are beneficiaries of the positive impact of learning a tech skill.

Recently I had a chat with my mentor who is a Digital Marketing Specialist. I was curious to know what his secret of excellence was. So I asked him, "how did you start your career?". 

He responded, “Rachael, I have never used my university degree to apply for a job, the digital skill I was able to develop early in life has made it possible for me to be able to work with diverse people in different parts of the world”.

He continued, “I’ve been on several interviews and nobody cared about what I studied in school. Most of the people I’ve worked with are only concerned about delivery. They want to know if I’m skilled enough to help their businesses grow".

I  had a chat with Amarachi, one of Mentortribes past students, who is presently working from the comfort of her home as a highly paid web developer.

She said, “January last year I was unemployed, broke, and depressed when I joined the mentortribes training program as a novice who doesn’t have any prior knowledge in web design and development. But here I am today being paid for creating all sorts of amazing websites”.

I  also had a chat with Nancy who is also one of the mentortribes past students. she's presently working as a web developer

She said, "Learning a tech skill has really changed my life and helped me land my dream job. Today, I can proudly say I’m a CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and React developer all with the help of Mentortribes"

We understand how learning a tech skill can change your life by helping you secure great job opportunities, work, earn a high income, and also improve your standard of living. Let us help you achieve this and guide you into possibilities by clicking on this 👉 Mentortribes coding school in Nigeria.

We are also having a 3-week free program on coding for kids who are on holiday and would want to learn a skill that would help them change the world tomorrow. Click👉 https://www.mentortribes.com/children 

Have you ever come across someone with an excellent school grade who could barely communicate what he knows?

Or maybe you’ve worked with someone who doesn’t know how to collaborate with others. I’m sure you can admit how difficult it can be working side by side with such people.

Do you know what set you apart as an employee or a job seeker? It is the set of soft skills you are able to develop.

In this post, I will be sharing; what is soft skill? Why are soft skills so important and 8 soft skills you need to attain success in life

Soft skills are often called people skills, they are defined as the ability to interact amicably with others. They are personal attributes that can affect relationships, communication, and interaction with others.

Soft skills also mean how you approach others or handle your professional life about people. They are critical for professional success and are often the most distinguishing factor between people.

They are your ability to work well with others. They help in capitalising on your potential and help you stand out. But why are they so important? 

Soft skills are gaining so much importance in the workplace. Those seeking employment have to develop soft skills because employers have made it a necessity for employment. Those who are already in the workforce also need to develop soft skills to be able to remain relevant in their places of work.

The reason why soft skills have become indispensable is that they are highly transferable and can be applied to a whole lot of situation.

According to LinkedIn’s 2019 Global Talent Trends report, 89 percent of HR professionals say when a hire doesn’t work out, it usually comes down to a lack of soft skills.

The more you develop soft skills the more chance it is for you to qualify for a job or rise in a company ranks. Developing strong abilities in these skills and emotional intelligence will serve you well no matter where you are working.

8 Types of Soft Skills You Need to Be Successful in Life

The best communicators are not just those who are good in public speaking but those who are excellent listeners. The easiest way to build trust with someone is by showing interest in him or her, you can accomplish this by listening more than just talking. 

To be an active listener, you would need to maintain eye contact, nod your head to show you understand and respond when necessary.

What do you do when you confront a problem in your workplace? Do you just sit and lament about it or do you look for a solution? 

Finding solutions to problems is what get you noticed and make you an asset in an organisation. To be a problem solver always think of solutions and not the problem.

The success of an organisation depends on the hard work of all of its employees. Every employee is different and each of them has his or her own set of strengths. 

It is in the best interest of an organisation when all the employees collaborate and capitalise on their talents and work together towards achieving a common goal. 

Office cultures also depend on team players, it is important to be able to collaborate with your co-workers because it helps to strengthen your work quality. To be a good team player, always extend a helping hand to your colleagues.

Communication is the process of sharing and exchange of information from one person to another. Written and verbal communication is so important. 

Being a good communicator is crucial in any workplace. Having strong communication will boost your chances of building healthy relationships with your co-workers. 

You can also be a great communicator by learning to monitor your body language which means developing the ability to communicate non-verbally. You can enhance your communication skills by joining various public speaking workshops.

It is important to always remember that your work might not go as planned which means you need to be flexible and adaptable to accommodate new changes and find alternate solutions. 

To be adaptable you need to be an adaptor for change and keep up with the pace the world runs at. Employers are in constant search of professionals who are capable of meeting new challenges and who create new benchmarks.

Critical thinking is an important skill you need to bring new perspectives and well throughout solutions to help the company progress. 

Soft skills are gaining so much importance in the workplace. Those seeking employment have to develop soft skills because employers have made it a necessity for employment. Those who are already in the workforce also need to develop soft skills to be able to remain relevant in their places of work

8 Soft Skills You Need to Attain Success in Life

tech-advice — Fri Oct 08 2021

IS CODING CLASSES WORTH THE MONEY?
Post by — Joy Krinbut

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tech-advice — Fri Oct 08 2021

IS CODING CLASSES WORTH THE MONEY?Post by — Joy Krinbut

Like this, Please share

Leave a comment

Comments

IS CODING CLASSES WORTH THE MONEY?
Post by — Joy Krinbut