What can you expect from an Accelerate bootcamp? Read about the philosophy behind our fast-paced courses.
An Accelerate bootcamp is an intense, fast-paced learning experience. But it is also a place where you will get close attention from expert instructors, a place for you to expand your network, and a place you are encouraged to post funny memes in chatgroups.
Ronald George Leppan is the content manager at Noroff Accelerate. We asked him to give us insight into life at an Accelerate bootcamp.
The South African has twenty years experience of teaching IT and computer science. Now he devotes his time to the continual improvement of the learner experience at Noroff Accelerate.
How would you sum up the Accelerate experience?
- We try to replicate the classroom experience in a digital remote learning environment. It is flexible, fast-paced learning, guided by instructors with vast industry experience. The personal touch from our instructors is very important, Leppan explains.
Social interaction
The personal touch from our instructors is very importantRonald Leppan
The boot camps consist of a mixture of remote-led lectures, online workshops, problem-solving in groups, and self-study.
- The interaction between the instructor and the candidates is important. That is why we do not take hundreds of people to our courses. We have a maximum number, so the instructors have time to provide enough feedback to each candidate, says Leppan.
- It is also important that all our instructors have solid industry experience. They can relate to the challenges you will meet in your job, and they will create authentic tasks for the candidates
- Candidates are given opportunities to share and discuss their solutions with each other and the instructor. That way candidates are exposed to different ideas and techniques for solving shared problems.
But how do you replicate the classroom experience?
- The most important thing is to encourage social interactions, collaboration, and networking among the candidates, as well as interaction with the instructors, Leppan explains.
- We set up forums in Slack where candidates are encouraged to discuss not only course-related issues but also share funny memes. We want candidates to have a good experience and feel comfortable chatting to each other and with the instructors, and humor is always a nice icebreaker. However, for those not interested in random banter, we have a separate channel with a work-related focus.
Leppan explains that at Noroff Accelerates boot camps every candidate starts and finishes at the same time.
- They go at the same pace and work as a group. With the guaranteed individual attention, our instructors ensure no candidate is left behind.
Relevance is key
Relevance is important in all courses Noroff Accelerate provides. Through close cooperation with the industry, courses are designed to meet the industry's needs.
The tasks are authentic and critical thinking, discussion, and reflection are central throughout the course.
- It is important to learn how to learn, through critical thinking and problem-solving. You will never be the finished article as a developer, but an Accelerate boot camp is a very good start. We provide you with an understanding of programming and coding principles, enabling you to continue learning long after you finish our bootcamp, said Leppan.
The next Accelerate bootcamps start in October.
Read more about the bootcamps and sign up here.
