There’s more to software development than writing lines of code. In the first place, software developers exist to build applications that meet users’ needs. Netflix, for instance, was built to provide a steady stream of accessible entertainment to the masses. And Airbnb was created to give travelers the chance to lodge and get to know the local community better.
Put another way, true software developers are problem-solvers first and programmers second. Yet problem-solving is often the most overlooked skill among software developers. Too focused on gaining theoretical knowledge of various programming languages and frameworks, software developers today often forget to work out their problem-solving muscles.
One reason behind this is the abundance of programming videos, tutorials, books, and other learning resources available online, many of which use a spoonfeeding approach in teaching. As a result, students get lost when faced with real-world problems, unaware of where to start and how to apply the coding theories they learned. Where do they go from here?
Enter, SkillReactor.
SkillReactor helps software developers improve their coding skills and sharpens the highly underrated skill of problem-solving. How? Through its online learning platform, SkillIntern, users encounter short coding tasks that challenge them to diagnose and solve real-world industry problems.
Read on as we explore SkillReactor’s approach to training well-rounded software developers. You’ll also hear from Ryan Bell, SkillReactor’s Lead Engineer.
SkillReactor is a platform that helps deepen your understanding of programming tools and technologies, hone your coding skills, and develop core problem-solving skills vital for success in the tech industry.
Get started with SkillReactor today.How to Improve Problem-Solving Skills as a Coder with SkillReactor
SkillReactor’s approach to training is unique. It moves away from the traditional chalk-and-talk method, where teachers tell students how to code their way out of specific problems. The loophole with that approach is that students never really understand what goes on behind the code and what other methods they could take to approach a given scenario.
So, how does SkillReactor do it? SkillReactor uses the problem-based learning approach. In Ryan’s words, “This learning method helps users develop all necessary skills for software development: exposure to technologies, research and comprehension skills, and most importantly problem-solving.”
How Does SkillReactor’s Problem-Based Learning Approach Work?
As the name implies, SkillReactor’s problem-based learning approach involves presenting users with different challenges they need to solve using their coding skills. These challenges are accessible on SkillReactor’s proprietary learning platform, SkillIntern.
“The user has to analyze the requirements, research possible solutions, and then implement a working solution that fulfills the task’s acceptance criteria,” supplied Ryan.
Users get direction and pointers on the best way to approach the problem on each task, but they do not get an outright solution. Instead, they will use the clue to conduct simple research on Google or other search engines.
The platform also provides an automated validation system that lets users know if their solution is correct. If they input a wrong answer, the system provides feedback on why their response failed and what they need to do to fix it.
“This allows for an iterative approach to development that allows them to try again if they fail quickly,” explained Ryan. “The feedback from the validation allows you to act upon and improve your solution until it meets all requirements. This iterative approach further develops your problem-solving and analysis skills.”
You should also note that the tasks and projects on SkillIntern are industry-standard problems and represent a variety of unique situations you’ll likely face in the workplace. By solving these challenges, you practice your skills and gain firsthand insight into the puzzles that software developers encounter in the workplace.
Build Your Coding Skills
SkillIntern breaks these end-to-end projects into smaller tasks that you can complete with a few lines of code. Breaking large projects into smaller tasks of gradually increasing difficulty will help you better understand core back-end and front-end skills and tools and how they apply to the entire development lifecycle.
“Building a system requires you to first break down the task at hand into a series of smaller, easier to solve problems. Then, we identify the possible solutions for each problem, select the most appropriate solution, and then implement it. In essence, this means that software development is impossible without good problem-solving skills.”
What Do Software Developers Say About SkillReactor?
SkillReactor’s website features feedback from some of its users, and there seems to be no shortage of praises for the platform. Joshua Bins said, “As someone without a computer science background, this SkillReactor program was exactly what I needed to gain experience with developing a full-stack React application.”
Wajeeh Rehman also had positive things to say about his SkillReactor experience. He described SkillReactor to fit programmers of diverse experience, beginners, and experts alike. Having experienced other online courses, he spotted SkillReactor’s uniqueness.
“SkillReactor is not like a typical MOOC or learning platform in which you follow along with an instructor. Instead, you are provided with problems and a roadmap to explore and figure out how to solve them to create a functioning full-stack application. This instills problem-solving skills in beginners, which many severely lack.”
Develop Core Problem-Solving Skills with SkillReactor
SkillReactor is a platform where developers build core skills that improve their understanding of software development skills. Developers can engage in various full-stack software development projects using React, Node.js, TypeScript, and AWS Lambda programming languages.
Becoming a productive engineer also requires lots of practice and experience with independently developing solutions to many different problems. With SkillReactor, developers get that opportunity to hone their skills, gather work experience, and build projects that boost their portfolios.
Want to become a bona fide software developer and problem-solver? Register with SkillReactor today and complete a simple coding test to get started.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
