Code-it Hacks answered our questions

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Is Code-it Hacks technology free? Depending on the program, students may require a laptop, ipad, android phone and/or ipad. For junior programs and camps we provide a limited number of loaner laptops.

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In the News

December 11, 2018
Cool Coding Toronto - The owl Magazine features Code-it Hacks
Cool Coding in Toronto by Code-it Hacks featured by The owl Magazine. ... Read More

December 12, 2017
Code-it Hacks - Getting Recognized
The IT nerd shares our story! In Depth: Code-it Hacks... Read More

Stories

• PA day endless fun

  My son just did a PA day with Code-it-Hacks and is hooked. He loved it and can't wait to do more.

• A drive for learning for Lisa's 9 & 5 year olds

  "My 9 yr old daughter is completing her third session with Code It Hacks and absolutely loves it! She started never having coded before and quickly fell in love with coding. She loves how Shirin makes it fun and interactive. My younger daughter who is 5 attended a PA day camp and is so proud that she can now start coding too!"

• Learn how Shawn's daughter is hooked to Coding by getting one-on-one lessons!

  My 9 year old daughter loves Code it Hacks. These computer skills are going to be key for her future. They have a one-on-one unique style of teaching the kids. Each child gets personalized attention and is able to move forward at their own rate. If you are looking for a great coding school Code it Hacks is your answer.

• Learn how Tory's daughter is learning to code and over come focus issues while having fun!

  "My daughter attended code-it hacks for the first time in the fall. We had an amazing experience. She learned so much while having TONS of fun. We were all surprised at how much she was able to learn. I don't think she even knew that she was learning advanced math skills. Plus, my daughter usually struggles to focus for any length of time. Code-it Hacks manages to keep her attentive, focused, and on track. Plus, the kids "LIKE" to do their homework! We are about to sign up for the third session."

• My Love Affair with Coding

  It was June of 1986. I was 10 years old and was enjoying the beginning of summer break. School year was over and mangos were finally in season. Other than the excruciating heat of Karachi, Pakistan, nothing else could have spoiled my summer break that year.

  My mother, due to her own struggles of convincing her in-laws to a right to education for herself, never let an opportunity pass by for me and my sisters. She would always enrol us in extra-curricular activities by managing to raise funds – by baking cakes, hosting Ikebana classes, etc.

  That summer, the community centre was offering computer programming classes for kids and my mother enrolled me. Computers! Who wants to be locked up in a room all summer? But there was something that was hard to say no to. Since, the computers had to be kept cool, the rooms were air conditioned - a luxury we couldn't afford yet. So, I reluctantly agreed to participate.

  It was a small, well-lit room with 6 computer stations. One of them was considered sacred – it had a coloured monitor unlike the green monitors of the other computers and we (the young kids) were never to go near it. It was the "Apple Macintosh Series II". Wow! It looked stunning - especially the rainbow half-eaten apple logo. The buzz was about the cool graphics it created.

  Back at my green terminal, things were maybe not as cool but exciting nonetheless. We were introduced to the Logo programming language where we could make a Turtle do movements. Things were not as dull as I thought. The subsequent summer, I took up a programming language called "BASIC". Had fun with it for a while, even tried the contests. How could I not? The short-listed students would get a chance to go to Singapore to compete in the finals! Long story short, I did not make the cut but it was worth a try.

  Fast forward six years, it was final year of high school and I was to go to North America to get my law degree and return to Pakistan to join my parents’ practice. The plan was to get a business degree and then a Juris doctor Law degree. Well, it has never been in my nature to follow rules!  I graduated in 2000 with a degree in Computer Science. With the Y2K buzz and the hype surrounding Microsoft's certified software engineering certification, the field of computer science was very coveted. I took on the exciting challenge with no fear of coding. All thanks to the hot summer where I was exposed to coding!

  In the final year of university, I was determined that I would not lock myself up and write code all day. I wanted to be a consultant, help customers solve real-life problems. And that is what I did - but by writing code any way!

  Fast forward 16 years, in the higher echelons of the management layer now, I no longer write code but lead teams of coders to implement large systems and often am amazed at spotting good programmers from the bad ones. And it all boils down to the training. 

  Last year, I had to quit the workforce due to personal reasons. While I dutifully attended to family and their needs during this tough time, I was left with a void. "I could never return to work" I thought over and over in my head. There is no such thing as working part-time in this field. There is no balance I thought. But I was wrong!

  My 9-year-old daughter, who is passionate about creating animations and games herself, would not allow me train her to code the "right /easy way". While she is good at what she does, I so badly wanted to train her - and voila, that sparked an idea. In a perfect world, how would I want to train her? What techniques and methodologies would I use? And that is how "Code-it Hacks" was born – to teach students not just the coding languages but the ‘art of coding’ – with a deep focus on collaboration, design thinking, leadership skills and team building. 

  No matter which way I go, coding is what I know and coding is what I do best! Whether I love to code so I could sit in an air-conditioned room, or do it because it is part of my career or do it to teach my daughter, it is my destiny and it remains an ever-lasting love affair!

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