LOOKING GOOD: A group of students at The Coder School Montgomery take a break from coding to try on their new Coder School shirts.

By Jean Stratton

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” —Arthur C. Clarke
Magic is indeed at work at The Coder School Montgomery!

A 7-year-old boy is busy creating a pong game in the coding language of Scratch. An 11-year-old is using the Python coding language to develop a Wordle app. A 16-year-old, also using Python, is designing an advanced app that determines the user’s carbon footprint and makes suggestions on how to minimize it.

The Coder School Montgomery, which opened in 2019 at The Grove at Montgomery, 21 Belle Mead Griggstown Road, just off Route 206 North in Montgomery, is one of 65 Coder School franchises nationwide. Owned by Michael and Dominique Young, it offers computer coding instruction for students ages 7 to 17.

The original Coder School was founded by Hansel Lyn and Wayne Teng in 2014, and now includes 1000 coder coaches, teaching 7,000 students every week.

Focus on Children

The Youngs, who had previous careers in business, law, education, and marketing, became interested in concentrating on work that emphasized children’s ability to learn and think creatively.

“I came to realize that I had a passion for a career with a focus that could impact children’s lives,” explains Michael Young, who, as a graduate student, had designed and taught several courses at The University of Iowa.

“As a law student, I continued to engage in childhood education, and noticed an emerging paradigm shift in the way a newer generation processed information. The seed was planted, and I became committed to become a part of something meaningful that could positively impact the lives of our kids.”

Dominique Young has been dedicated to the enrichment of young people for the past 30 years. She has led the development and delivery of nationally recognized K-12 educational programs for such important names in learning as Scholastic Publishing Corporation, ACT, and Lakeshore Learning. She is very knowledgeable in the areas of literacy, after-school programming, summer learning, 21st century skills, and STEAM. She has helped parents and educators connect teaching practices with relevant research and resources, and is committed to helping children reach their full potential.

“We looked into different franchises and The Coder School approach appealed to us,” says Michael Young. “They see students as dynamic learners and lean into the organic nature of that. The students are encouraged to use their curiosity as they learn to code, and we get to know them as a person. Each child is an individual.”
As technology increases by leaps and bounds, and the world changes accordingly, skills in computer programming are not only desirable, but more and more, even essential.

Outside the Box

“We had to familiarize ourselves with computer programming,” reports Young, “and we soon learned to understand and appreciate its value, and we were able to design an effective pedagogical approach. At our school, we want aspiring coders to use their newfound passion as a springboard to think outside the box — and then smash it! Exposure to coding creates a foundation for advanced critical thinking. Your child can build from that base to bring to life whatever his or her imagination dictates.

“At our school, we teach computer programming to kids 7 to 17, but in addition to coding, there is something larger going on. They learn critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to express themselves creatively. Coding helps develop these skills. We like it when they have problems to solve because it teaches them to think.”

And the kids are keen to code and create!

The school has 24 teachers who facilitate both one-hour private sessions and group classes. Private sessions include a super small 2-to-1 and 1-to-1 student-teacher ratio, allowing the code coaches to personalize projects to suit each student.

“Our expert coaching works for novice to advanced coders, and we also offer entry level choices for those looking for a more traditional class in larger student-teacher ratios (8-to- 2 student-teacher ratio) as well as our popular summer camp program,” explains Young.

For those new to coding, they learn that the word “code” is like the word “write” except that in this case, it is to write a computer program. When you “write,” you can write in several languages: English, French, Spanish, etc. When you “code,” you can also code in a variety of programming languages, at different levels of difficulty, including Scratch, Python, JavaScript, Lua, and many others. Then, you can go on to create different programs or apps, such as games and websites, as well as 3-D physical objects, including robots and drones.

Coding helps students gain computer proficiency and build real-world problem-solving skills, points out Young. “Exploring technology is essential for computer literacy. Building fundamental coding skills encourages creativity, promotes teamwork, and enhances spatial intelligence and logical thinking skills. Kids of all ages can learn computer science. For teenagers, for example, learning how to code leads to development of transferable skills that can be applied in future careers or workplaces.”

Just Do It

The Coder School Montgomery emphasizes a very engaging, encouraging, friendly, and creative environment, he adds. “With the mentoring and guidance of our code coaches, each student progresses at his or her own pace. They can engage in things that interest them the most.

“The best way to learn something is just to do it!” emphasizes Young. “It’s not about all the theory and programming jargon. It’s about doing it over and over again.”
Each student works on a project for three months, either individually or collaboratively as part of a team. They may be developing a website, creating a game, an app, or a 3-D physical object. Robots and drones are very popular.

“It’s very individual,” reports Young. “How do you learn? Our approach is that each student’s project is personalized. We create a customized curriculum for each one. Then at the end of their three-month project, we have a Coder Fair, where the kids explain and present their project to their parents.”

Projects vary according to the age, skill, and experience of the student, he points out. For example, he notes, “one of our 7-year-olds is working in the coding language of Scratch. This language was created at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a common gateway into the world of coding, especially for young learners.

“An 11-year-old student, working in the coding language Python, is creating his own Wordle app. This program will use randomly generated words to create a new experience every time you engage the app.

Practical Uses

“And, Young continues, “a 16- year-old student has also been using the Python coding language. Designing a program that determines the user’s carbon footprint, he is creating an app with cool practical uses, and that can be used on one’s cell phone. This is an advanced project that has required many hours of coding. We will submit this particular app to the Congressional Challenge, the nationwide coding contest hosted by the U.S. Congress.

“We partner with The Congressional App Challenge, and some of our students have won this prestigious prize and met their Congressperson.”

Young is also proud of the fact that The Coder School Montgomery is the nine-time national winner of the AP Challenge. This is a national coding competition held monthly.

In addition, the school is involved in outreach programs for students without access to coding. “We work with Somerset Community Action Program, Franklin Youth Center, and also the Harlem Children Zone in New York City at their specific locations,” says Young.

“We also established the Code with a Cop Program, which is aimed at educating kids about internet safety in a fun and engaging way, while getting to know the officers who help keep our community safe.”

A September 13 event, free of charge, will be held at the Coder School Montgomery from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Topics include recognizing cyberbullying, understanding privacy settings and protecting your personal information, avoiding online scams, and safely navigating social media. Officer Salvatore Itili and fellow Montgomery law enforcement officials will participate.

Coding for Kids

Young is very encouraged with the progress of his school’s students, who come from the Princeton-Montgomery area and beyond.

“Many of our students attend the school for several years, often until they go on to college,” he reports. “We are also getting referrals and new students all the time. We do look forward to increasing the awareness of the importance of coding for kids and welcoming newcomers to our school.”

Payment is on a monthly basis, with one free introductory session. This allows students to try a coding session to see whether they like it before committing. There are no contracts or fees if students leave the program. New students receive 50 percent off the cost of the first month.

Both Michael and Dominique Young know they made the right decision when they undertook their coding adventure. “I especially enjoy being part of the students’ lives,” says Michael. “And it’s great to see the kids support each other when they collaborate on a project.

“We believe we are helping to make a difference in their lives in a meaningful way. I didn’t realize how wonderfully creative these kids are, and it’s so good to see how many relationships are created here. Relationships with kids and kids, kids and teachers, and us with parents. This is like a Coder family. We are a community of thinkers, and there is joy in learning.

“To watch how coding drives innovation is like watching the future unfold. There is an undeniable beauty in seeing students take an idea that they have, make that idea come to life, and then share that idea with millions of people. Come to our school. Learn to code. Change the world!”

Sessions and classes are held Monday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For further information, call (908) 262-7583. Visit the website at montgomery.thecoderschool.com.