What teaching and learning look like at Re:Coded

From the rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the early 2010s to the use of machine learning in the classroom today, education has changed more in the span of ten years than in any other moment in time. We now have the knowledge and the tools not only to understand how people learn best but also to measure and improve teacher and student performances across all levels of education.

At Re:Coded, we are excited to be in the midst of this revolution. We were founded to challenge the conventional view that learning only happens through drill and repetition. Unlike traditional education, where the teacher is the authority and lecturing is the norm, we believe that learning by doing is the best way to prepare students for the world of today. Our pedagogy is informed by five principles: learn how to learn, the whole student, project-based learning, peer learning, and tech as a tool for breakthrough innovation.

Learn how to learn

When it comes to learning, it can help to compare it to running a marathon. Like learning, running a marathon is a long, intimidating task, full of unknowns and the possibility of failure. Yet we rarely prepare ourselves for the act of learning. We simply enroll on a course or show up to class with the hope that learning will magically happen.

A marathoner never participates in such a challenging activity without preparation. From diet to training, every detail matters for a runner to improve her chances of completing the whole 42 kilometers.

We should think of learning with the mind of a marathoner. Students are rarely encouraged to think about their learning process. How do they prepare themselves to learn? What mistakes did they make in the past? How can they better organize their time for learning? These are just a few of the questions we encourage our students to ask themselves at the beginning and during our programs.

We also use evidence from the science of learning, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience to understand how the brain learns so that we can design learning experiences that maximize student performance, playfulness, and joy. By learning how to learn, students have the tools to self-regulate and self-direct their learning, more easily adapting to learning new technologies.

Whole student

We recognize that every student has a life story. It can help or hinder learning. By understanding a student’s specific needs, goals, concerns, and dreams, we are able to meet them where they are and give them the support they need to make the most out of our programs.

The whole student approach puts an end to the prevailing idea of the “good or bad” student. Everyone can succeed if we take the time to understand what makes them tick. For example, a student who is underperforming may have confidence issues or trouble at home. Other students struggle with post-traumatic stress, which can block the brain from accepting and retaining information. At Re:Coded, this approach has shown an increase in levels of confidence and motivation, in some cases being the single reason for a make or break decision for a student during a bootcamp.

To see the student as a whole person is in the DNA of our pedagogy.

Project-based learning

Unlike the traditional teacher-led lecture and rote memorization, project-based learning engages the student and gives her opportunities to learn by doing. It is an evidence-based methodology for better preparing students for the real world. At Re:Coded, we use project-based learning in tandem with a flipped classroom approach. Our students’ first contact with new concepts occurs in the individual learning space, while the group space - the classroom - becomes a dynamic, interactive learning environment where our instructors guide students as they apply concepts and engage creatively in real-life projects.

The best example of this methodology is our capstone project, a six-week group challenge at the end of the bootcamp that gives students a chance to apply their technical and soft skills to a real world scenario.

Peer Learning

Community is at the center of our learning experience. Peer learning is an educational practice in which students interact with one another, closely collaborating to solve problems and learn together. Our courses are designed so that students frequently work in pairs or groups, promoting a culture of collaboration that they will need in their professional careers.

Tech as a Tool for Breakthrough Innovation

We don’t believe technology is a panacea for all the problems in education. Rather, we make choices about the use of technology with a critical mind, always making sure that it advances the agency and learning of students. Technology has made it possible for Re:Coded to teach better. Our courses are 100% online and tools like Zoom, Slack, Github, Google, Canva, and Mural, just to name a few, have made the virtual learning space as fun and engaging as the physical classroom, if not more.

Since the pandemic started, we have refined the way we teach online, putting more emphasis on facilitation and active learning. By using tools like the breakout room on Zoom, for example, our students have a space to interact with and learn from one another.

But, more importantly, technology is a tool for breakthrough innovation. Never before have teachers had so much visibility over the performance of each student. With automation tools and data analytics, we can check in real time which student is falling behind and at what point in the course. We are able to act fast and help the student or change our approach. We can also look at historical data for patterns, continuously iterating our educational model. With technology advancing fast in the education sector, it will only help us expand the horizons of what is possible in the field of learning.

At Re:Coded, we are excited to be one of the movers and shakers in the edtech for social impact ecosystem. The bigger the leap we and others take in educational innovation, the more we learn and the better we can prepare our students for the workforce of tomorrow.