Are high school coding classes hard?

High school students interested in learning to code might be intimidated by the prospect of learning computer programming. This makes sense, given that even basic HTML/CSS reads like a foreign language and seems utterly impenetrable for anyone without a background in programming. However, you shouldn’t be worried since, with the help of experienced teachers and a bit of dedication on your part, learning to code can be relatively easy and, honestly, quite enjoyable.

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What is difficult about learning to code in high school?

Learning a programming language is a lot like learning a foreign language in that a programming language has its own vocabulary, grammar, and syntax that you’ll need to learn. Just like starting to learn Spanish can be difficult for novices, learning a language like Python or Java can be difficult for novices who don’t have a background in the language. Looking over your first bit of Python code can be very confusing, and it can take a while for you to even get to the point where you can write the comp sci equivalent of dónde está el baño. This often poses the first major hurdle for coding students since this seems like the kind of incredibly basic task that one shouldn’t have trouble with (making the rest of the work seem insurmountable). However, once you become proficient in the process of reading and writing basic code, everything else starts to fall into place. Once you learn the basics of Python grammar, for example, you will be able to easily learn complex aspects of the coding process, and you’ll have a better opportunity ahead of you to learn other programming languages.

The other major hurdle for new programmers is learning to start thinking like a programmer. Since computers are hyper-literal, programmers will need to understand the limitations of computer code and the process of writing code in such a way that a computer can understand and interpret the commands. This then shapes how skilled programmers approach the problems that they face when writing code. For example, if there is a systematic bug in your code, you can’t invent a new solution for the problem, you need to work within the restrictions of the language and its syntax, meaning you need to understand that language and syntax in a very specific way. Learning how to think like a programmer and how to approach computer programming tasks with an understanding of the affordances and limitations of a given language is one of the most significant hurdles for novice programmers to clear.

Are different kinds of programming harder to learn?

In short, yes, there are some programming languages that are significantly more complex than others, which is why there are a few common programming languages that are popular as first choices for new programmers. These languages, which are often taught in high school classes and summer courses for high school students, are likely to be the best places to start if you are looking to learn how to write code and master web development.

• HTML/CSS: Hypertext Markup Language and Cascading Style Sheets are the foundational building blocks of modern web pages. These simple programming languages are largely unchanged over the last few decades and they are often people’s first introduction to coding. The downside is that they are fairly outdated, and the skills you learn here won’t necessarily be as transferable to other programming languages. Plus, on a practical level, if you want to code your own website, you’ll need more training since a website built solely in HTML/CSS will look incredibly dated.
• Java: Java is an object-oriented programming language that is utilized in a wide range of practical programming contexts. It is also the programming language that most frequently appears on high school-level AP Comp Sci exams and college-level introductory coding classes. This makes it an ideal first language for students to learn since it has immediate practical benefits, and it covers all of the basics of working with conditional statements, algorithms, and integers, among other common and essential programming concepts.
• Python: The other language most commonly used in early-level college courses and in high school college credit exams is Python, a versatile programming language that is utilized in a range of different computer science, data analytics, and machine learning contexts. This is probably the most practical first programming language to learn since it has the most applications outside of introductory training, but it is also likely the most complex of the languages that a new programmer is likely to first approach. 

What skills will I learn in a high school coding class?

High school-level coding classes are designed to not only teach students the basics of different programming languages but also to help them gain confidence and technical fluency when it comes to coding as a whole. Here are some of the most common skills high school students can learn when taking a coding class:

• Writing and editing code using beginner-friendly languages like HTML & CSS.
• Debugging errors to make programs function as intended.
• How to build a simple website or mobile app that applies basic coding concepts.
• Utilizing algorithms to structure how programs function and respond to data input.
• Practice using computational thinking to break challenges down into smaller parts.

How can I make it easier to learn to code?

High school students looking to learn to code can enroll in a summer computer science program like the ones offered through NextGen Bootcamp, an industry leader in high school tech and design education. These classes will give students hands-on programming experience that will help them overcome the difficulties that early-stage programmers face, and the structure of the course will necessitate that they keep up their training as they become more and more immersed in the world of computer programming. In addition, because they will have the support of a live instructor who can look over their work and help them overcome challenges, a lot of the early jitters involved with programming can be less of a detriment to your ability to complete the program.