Code Institute

Back in January 2019, I stumbled upon Code Institute's 5-day coding challenge and thought why not? I was heavily into the idea of C++ game development at the time and was pursuing that. But coding and programming was really what I wanted to do, and I didn't much mind what I was creating; creation itself and the method of doing so was what inspired me. The coding challenge was a lot of fun and honestly a nice and, importantly, accurate preview on the flow of the instruction and using the LMS. I was hooked. 

Fast forward boring financial stuff. 

Days later, I was chatting to Student Care (great team, by the way - they come back later in the story), about what my goals were and setting out a plan with me. Very supportive and genuine. I felt their duty of care immediately. So, I basically got stuck into the first module. I won't go into too much detail here about each module or the content within it. I will, however, say that you'll learn the fundamentals of programming (not language specific), which will stay with you. More on this later (unless you've already rolled your eyes at my cumbersome review and haven't made it this far. That's OK. To those staying with me, I thank you. At least you'll know this is a real review. I mean, who would invest this much time writing a fake one? Seems silly. But I digress!).

Working full-time and studying part-time around a family, which included wife, 3-year-old son, and an infant daughter, was no easy feat. It was taxing, to say the least. And the dreadful Tax Man took up Father Time's job for the duration of the course. Mind you, Father Time just does his job and gets on with it. We don't like it but it is what it is. The Tax Man was stealing time from me. Once again, I digress.

My full schedule meant that I was unable to stay within the confines of the initial course deadline (not making excuses here, I was just not that great at juggling busy home and professional life with study life). But fear not, dear student, Student Care to the rescue! After a very convenient email exchange... voila, time extended and stress levels returned to... well, still high but certainly not looming-deadline-and-large-amount-of-work-still-to-do high!

All throughout the course, I made good use of every avenue that could lead me to a solution to a problem I may have been facing. And, thankfully, Code Institute offers a good amount of them. From Slack, to Tutors, to a Mentor, you’re never far from someone offering to help you (heck, I still scan Slack in the hopes that someone has asked a question, only to be disappointed that someone else got there before me. They’re too fast on there! Or perhaps I “slack” off too much. Sorry, it was right there.

I shall sign off this novella with a good luck to anyone either already taking this course or considering it. As the title says, it’s well worth the journey and I have successfully changed careers a mere couple of months after receiving my diploma. The tech stack I’ll be using isn’t what I learned with Code Institute, but do you recall a few chapters ago when I mentioned learning non-language-specific fundamentals? Well, what I learned from Code Institute inspired confidence in my future employer, who were certain I’d be able to pick up their stack in my stride. And you know what? They were 100% on that.

As a total beginner in programming, I have enjoyed every bit of the course: 
> from the very clear, detailed and useful lessons, 
> to the coding challenges which did make me struggle a lot and learnt so much
> to the practical projects where we learn to build different websites from scratch with the languages already learnt
> to the Slack amazing support and friendliness. 
But most importantly, I had a great mentor who encouraged me to manage my milestone projects by breaking down all the tasks, guided me to the right resources and gave solid and concrete feedback which helped me to achieve great scores! 

Now, as I am looking for a job, the careers team are also helping me and providing super rich webinars along with tech companies. And I have now a very nice and detailed portfolio to share with my CV!

Not sure what else can Code Institute do more, already pretty amazing!

The support always answer in the same way, they don't listen and they let information slip, vital at that one to.

Not so much student care when they just repeat same message and not listening, no student caring at all. 

They really don't care about you, they will press you, hunt you like crazy for the money. 

This is a band of burglars salesman rather than a institute or school. 

You can use their slack, support, or your mentor, but everything is so slow, takes days at worse for a response, yeah sure, time difference, but I'm a student, I need to be taken cared of and not abbadoned in the code jungle. 


They don't pay attention to your private life or any thing that could happen. 

You can get an extension if you're near death for free at best, otherwise pay up for the whole course sum again. 


Screw these guys, they fake most of their stuff, they put a lot into marketing and no support or care at all. 

You're better of studying on your own and use free lessons/tools. 

Code Institute's Diploma in Software Development is a full-stack web development bootcamp, which you can take full-time (4 months) or part-time (up to 14 months). Although I was unemployed at the time, I eventually chose the part-time option as I didn't want to commit to a full 8-hour-a-day obligation. It eventually took me just over 7 months to complete the course, precisely the time I set myself in the beginning.

TL;DR: my experience with the course, the topics covered, the support offered, the student community, and with Code Institute in general, has been overwhelmingly positive. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in web development, with only one caveat: if you're a complete novice to the computer world, don't quite know the difference between Windows, Word and Explorer yet, or have never used the word "variable", then you might find yourself struggling with certain course topics.

Intro

Code Institute (CI) has a nice "demo course" for aspiring applicants, called the 5-Day Coding Challenge. It is designed to give the prospective applicant a taste of the coding world, of the teaching approach the full course takes, and an opportunity for the person to ascertain whether their aptitude and interests are really aligned with what the course has to offer. I ran into the challenge by fortune (or by search engine wizardry? :)) and completed it just to see what it was all about. I enjoyed it, it was fun and interesting, but as I hadn't made a serious decision to change careers at that particular time yet (I had worked in the aviation industry for 18 years prior), I didn't give it much thought when I finished it.

Pre-course

A couple of months later - and by then I was already seriously contemplating leaving my then-current job and changing careers - I was contacted by CI's Educational Advisor and asked if I'd be interested in taking the course. Our first conversation (over the phone) lasted for over half an hour, during which he explained to me the types of support offered during the course, the financing options, and addressed all questions I had. It was not one of those generic phone sales calls where the person just reads a written advertisement in robot-like voice spouting their perfect product - it was an open and honest personal conversation involving many questions from my part, and at no time did I have the feeling that he was just trying to sell me his product.

 What really “sold” me for the course – even in comparison with other similar courses I had looked at – were these promises:
- a university-credited diploma upon successful completion of the course,
- a curriculum built upon technologies in high demand by the industry,
- four-pillar in-course support (Student Care, Tutors, personal Mentor, Slack community)
- career support upon course completion.

Price

The price of EUR 5500 (I think it's slightly higher now) was not negligible by any stretch, but once I had made the final decision to change careers, and comparing the above promises to other courses of similar content/scope and their prices, it was more than reasonable. So I quit my job, and decided to jump in head-first. And I never looked back.

Start

On the first day of the official course start (new part-time students officially start on Tuesday) I received a personalised welcome call from Student Care, followed by an email containing a bundle of useful student brochures (welcome pack, Student Charter, support guide), and a personalised course schedule based on the time I had said I'd like to complete the course in. The schedule is very useful for tracking one's progress as it tells you exactly what lesson you should be at on which date, thus helping you plan your studying and preventing you from falling behind on the schedule. Really helpful.

Contents

The courses Learning Management System is an online application enabling access to all the course materials, plus links to Tutor Support and Slack (although Slack definitely works better when downloaded as a standalone desktop app).

The course contents are divided into modules of two general types:
- "Fundamentals" modules - teaching the syntax of the particular language covered (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python),
- "Practical" modules - providing practical application of the theoretical concepts learned in the Fundamentals.

Thus the HTML and CSS modules are followed by a User-Centric Frontend module (introducing Bootstrap), JS is followed by an Interactive Frontend module (introducing jQuery), and Python is followed by Practical Python (introducing Flask), Data-Centric Development (introducing SQL and MongoDB), and Full-Stack Frameworks (introducing Django).

As a general rule, the Fundamentals modules are a mix of text lessons, runnable examples and auto-graded challenges or quizzes, while the Practical modules are video/tutorial-based (with occasional challenges) and involve theory (e.g. UI/UX design concepts or database design) and code-along mini projects.
 
I found most of these lessons very intuitive and easy to follow; some challenges were really challenging and there are some individual points that perhaps could be explained more clearly (although that is really completely subjective), but I can honestly say that I never encountered any issue that I wasn't eventually able to resolve with some own research or, when that failed, using one of the available support options.

What bears pointing out is that at the end of every module (be it Fundamentals or Practical) there is a Student Feedback Form which enables every student to leave feedback on the module they just completed. Student feedback is clearly important to CI, and the course is undergoing constant improvements -  just as an example, around the time I started, they changed the “official” course IDE to replace an outdated one, and around the time I was finishing, the Django module was fully remade to use Django 3, and is IMHO currently the best module in the course. Minor bugs or problems (which can also be reported through Slack) are usually resolved (or at least worked around) within hours or days at most.

A single weak point  (but again, this is a completely personal opinion) I was able to identify in the course, is the transition from JavaScript fundamentals to practice. While the JS Fundamentals module is really solid, and the Practical part covers some essential topics like API handling quite well, what I felt was lacking was a code-along project that would build a working JS app from scratch, a demonstration how to apply all the little pieces of the puzzle that are JS syntax and put them together into a working app. The feeling I had was that of a person holding a large set of Lego bricks and knowing exactly what each one does separately, but having no idea how to put them together. By its very nature, JS is a significant difficulty increase from HTML/CSS, and I found myself really struggling to put my theoretical JS knowledge to practice, as did a significant number of other students I conversed with. This is the single point I think really should be improved in the course, and I wrote that in my Feedback Form.

Projects

Every major Practical module ends with a Milestone Project, which has clear official requirements and is graded by an external expert. Thus at the end of the course the graduate has a portfolio of four major apps (HTML/CSS, HTML/CSS/JS, Flask/MongoDB, Django/SQL) that they can demonstrate their knowledge and skills with. The value of the Milestone Project work is immense - one learns to use a real IDE (Gitpod is the official one for the course, but the student is free to choose any alternative IDE if they want to, albeit with limited support), to use Git and GitHub, to search for solutions online (one learns that "Google is your best friend" is so much more than just a catchphrase), to use online tools (validators etc.) and resources (Stack Overflow and beyond) and, most important of all, one sees the result of their theoretical knowledge being materialised into something working and usable. Priceless.

Support

The "four pillars" of support, as advertised, are:

Student Care
A service for general student matters (LMS access, mentor assignment, progress tracking etc.).  But the level of care they demonstrated (at least to me) far exceeded my expectations. Every six weeks or so I would receive a phone call asking me how I was, acknowledging my progress, my good use of Tutor Support and Slack activity, asking if I was ready for my Milestone Project and/or if I had any difficulties. When my hometown was struck by an earthquake in March 2020, they even called me to ask if there was anything they could help me with - may seem like just a nice gesture, but to me, that's more student care than what I received during my polytechnic studies.   

Tutor Support
A chat-based instant support for day-to-day course-related issues. Primarily intended for lesson clarifications or help with challenges, they will also never refuse to answer even project-related or debugging issues. I only contacted them five or six times during the entire course, three of those times in relation to my Milestone Project, and only when I was really really stuck, but every single time they came through incredibly and helped me resolve my issue or at least pointed me in the right direction. One time the lady Tutor even set up a one-to-one screen-sharing live call to help me debug my code using Dev Tools.
The best part? Tutor Support is available 24h on weekdays and 9-17h on weekends. It doesn't really get much better than that.

Mentor
Each student is assigned a personal mentor, a professional programmer whose primary purpose is to guide the student through their milestone projects. Three half-hour sessions per project are foreseen, and the mentor is there not so much to help with coding issues, but to provide ideas on code improvements, suggestions on best practices, advice on app features etc. Apparently some mentors get more involved, some less, but I'd say that how much you get from your mentor is mostly up to you - I for example have a feeling now that perhaps I could have gotten much more had I asked, but at the time I was too busy just getting my apps to work and submitting my projects on time.

Slack
Current students, alumni, some of the mentors, and some of the CI staff (mostly Tutors and the Community Manager) are what makes up the CI Slack Community. 
Each course module has a dedicated channel where students can ask questions about specific course-related issues they encounter, and what is so invaluable is that they will often get not only peer-level answers (e.g. from a "senior" student who had struggled with the same challenge before them) but also expert-level clarifications from alumni and/or mentors who already work as professional programmers. Some mentors and alumni go so far to occasionally host live educational calls they see students struggle with, and these calls are an immense additional learning opportunity.

I can say without a shred of doubt that the Slack community is the most valuable non-coding part of the course. The amount of support, friendliness and positivity in the channels is incredible, and I have made some really good friends there even though I have never met any of those people before.

Career support

I must say I was the most skeptical about this part. Yes, there is a Careers module at the very end of the course, with some really useful contents (what a CV should look like, why a LinkedIn profile is important, how to write a good cover letter). Also, many third-party vacancies are regularly posted in Slack, and also CI cooperates with several renowned companies who look for developers. But as a career-changer I really felt I would need more "personalised" assistance as I had never attempted a job hunt before, much less in the programming market. I was afraid the module and the job posts alone would be woefully insufficient.
All my fears were alleviated in my first Google Meet call with the Career Support lady. Not only did she help me remake my CV and advised me what to change in my LinkedIn profile on the spot, she also gave me "homework" (with instructions how to do it) to look for prospective employers/vacancies and make a list.
In the next call, we reviewed the list and she told me to start applying from the bottom of the list while she would start contacting the HR/recruiting departments in the companies, with the aim of introducing me so I would not be just another anonymous application. We continued through email correspondence, where she provided me with more very valuable advice e.g. on how to respond to application rejections. In the first three weeks of a serious job hunt, I managed to land three interviews. And while I haven't received any job offers yet (it's been only four weeks now, and it's vacation season), I feel that the career support I have received so far has been nothing short of stellar.

Course difficulty

You will hear some people complain that there is too much self-study and outside research required, that for the attached price tag you shouldn’t need to do that. I disagree. Yes, some individual research is needed. But I say with full confidence that there is no obstacle that the course puts in front of the student that couldn’t be overcome using own efforts, Google + outside resources, , Tutor Support, and Slack – at least I haven’t encountered one. And I really appreciate the moments when I was forced to do some own “digging”, as these have taught me the invaluable skill of looking for solutions, asking questions and Googling properly – I know that all this sounds like a joke, but if you’ve ever talked to a programmer, you’ll know it isn’t. I’m glad I wasn’t handed all the answers on a silver platter – I truly believe it has made me a better future programmer. It has also helped me overcome some personal insecurities, which is also a point not to be thrown away.

There will also be people who feel that they are struggling too much, that the lessons are too difficult or too unclear and that the amount of support available is insufficient. While I can appreciate the sentiment - I had my struggles during the course, especially with JavaScript as mentioned above, and there will be the odd lesson that could have been worded better - I have to disagree again. As a former Air Traffic Controller,  I can provide this parallel: while probably almost anyone could be taught to eventually work as an Air Traffic Controller, the time required to achieve that, and the quality of one's work afterwards, would vary wildly from person to person. But the bar has to be set somewhere. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and I don't think it's fair to expect the bar to be set at the level of our weakness. Personally, I have zero talent for visual arts. Could I then blame a painting course for failing to make a Picasso out of me?

Conclusion

What I feel I have received from the course:
- solid grasp of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Flask, Django, MongoDB and SQL, and the corresponding documentation,
- familiarity with Bootstrap, Materialize and jQuery,
- ability to plan, design and execute a web project from start to finish,
- ability to troubleshoot, debug and fix my code,
- solid knowledge of code versioning,
- ability to use a professional-level IDE, and the ability to grasp any alternate one in the future,
- ability to ask good troubleshooting questions, 
- ability to search online resources quickly for solutions and/or clarifications,
- ability to help others resolve their code issues.
- immense support on all levels, from coding assistance to career to community/friendship.

All said and done: worth every cent and every minute invested. 

when I started to learn to code in 2018 I had little hard time in the beginning, mostly because i had no roadmap how to start and where to start. While i was exploring different options, i came across Code Institute Curriculum. Instantly it was an appealing option. They have offered me a course with complete structure, starting from HTML and CSS to all the way JavaScript and Python along with all relevant frameworks. This is the path i completed,  

HTML
CSS
Bootstrap
JavaScript
Testing Jasmin
Python
Flask
MongoDB
Heroku
Git / Github
Django
Sql
Travis CI/CD

And there are few more technologies on the way. The great thing is , there is 7 Days tutor support available, and they are always helpful if you are stuck at any task or code review. I was also assigned to my Mentor who would advise me on completing compulsory 4 Milestone Projects on 3 stages or on demand whenever you need to connect for help. There is great community on Slack and help is available almost 24 hours. You learn a lot from other student's experience. Career support has advised me how to target job search and helped me to make a tailored CV, Cover letter and LinkedIn Profile. Overall i was very happy and delighted to complete my course. Please feel free to checkout my portfolio website and some of the projects .Thank You  https://asifrana.ie/

 Outstanding course - Diploma in Software Development, covers everything you would need to begin a career in coding, which is actually very hard to do, and involves learning a hell of a lot of new skills. The Code Institute manages to fit everything in whilst giving you amazing support. Thank you sooo much to the tutors, you wouldn't be able to do it without them, literally there at all times, and insanely clever, you will always sort out your problem and learn a lot at the same time. I finished the course in May and have already started working freelance. One of few courses you gain this much practical experience, and a credit-rated qualification if stick to your deadlines (like you would in the job) and listen to your mentor/tutors and Slack community. Another kudos is they let you stay on the Slack community once you have graduated, networking is very important and the support is priceless. Thanks very much, it's been great! Edit Delete Share

Code Institute's website is easy to navigate around which I was pleased with. The tutors were very helpful with technical questions even when helping other students. My mentors were great at helping with projects and gave me their experiences of coding. Student care influenced me to join here and made it easy for me to begin. 

Criteria which I learnt was modern and beneficial as I continue to study deeper into the technologies which I learnt here. 

Personally, I would recommend Code Institute as it teaches the latest technologies and the support I got was fantastic and beneficial. I enjoyed creating projects and getting feedback from other students to help improve my work. I have no regrets by joining Code Institute and it's opened up a lot of doors for me in the future!

Code Institute is an amazing organisation that is very interested to assist people to expand on their career. From the very first day, from their core modules (very structured) to their tutor and community support, it makes you not only learn a lot, but also enjoy this entire journey. They are so prepared to help a person from even a beginner level to become very confident in programming. They focus on python frameworks but also on being very keen to javascript and front-end, to make a person realise then where they want to turn on. It is based on submitting projects rather than doing an online examination, which in my opinion is more efficient. Bottom line, it is a career-based and accredited diploma and I fully recommend to anyone to enroll at their courses and become part of it... It is a win-win and a career highlight !!!

I got in contact with Code Institute when I went to one of the open evenings in Amsterdam. Soon after this I decided to join and start on my career change.
The course itself is divided in different modules and along the way you do 4 milestone projects. Which you can showcase on your portfolio along the way.

If you are stuck you always can ask you question to the tutor support. And they will guide you in the right direction. Or there is the slack community with all the current and past students answering question. As you start on each milestone you get a assigned a mentor that will help you along the way.

Code Institute does also have hackathons  to take part in(ex: Easter, Halloween, Christmas) to get the feel of working in teams/sprints.

After your graduated you still be part of a great community!