Writer / Kara Reibel
Photographer / Amy Unger
Eleven Fifty Academy has added a Fishers campus, located inside Launch Fishers.
Recently Eleven Fifty Academy President John Qualls was asked how coding impacts his life. He answered the question by listing all the items that surround him in his living room. Qualls listed Wi-Fi, HVAC, lighting, his television, phone, iPad, computer, remote controls, his children’s electronic toys, the processes that created his chair and all of the other furniture in the room along with how the goods were transported from factory to retail to his car. The list went on and on…
Qualls provided an answer that defines how coding impacts our daily lives: it makes the world run.
This impact is being felt in every industry, creating opportunities for workers to enhance their skills and marketability in a dynamic world where most of the jobs of the future have yet to be created. Entrepreneur Scott Jones identified this demand early on, creating Eleven Fifty Academy.
The demand for coding continues to increase exponentially, giving coding schools like Eleven Fifty Academy the opportunity to help individuals skill up, pivot or simply expand their skill set to better understand the tech world in which we live. With the rise of AI tools, even those without coding experience can now craft their own applications effortlessly with the help of app builder.
“The culture of entrepreneurship at Launch Fishers supports the ideal location for our expansion,” says Qualls.
Recently, Eleven Fifty Academy and Ivy Tech announced a partnership that grants 12 credit hours to Ivy Tech students for courses offered by Eleven Fifty Academy. The courses include Java, iOS, .Net, JavaScript and Android. “While these seem like foreign languages, they are definitely the language of the future, and that future starts now,” says Jenn Aikins, Director of Learning for Eleven Fifty Academy.
Eleven Fifty Academy began over a year ago with one-week intensive courses, providing an immersive experience for coder education. “After one year, they went back to the drawing board and looked at the pros and cons of the experience they had been offering. Based on feedback, Eleven Fifty Academy created some dynamic changes to the program and how it could be structured to better serve our students,” says Tiffany Trusty, Eleven Fifty Academy Instructor. “I am excited about the changes, and the students will definitely experience a complete coding experience.”
“We reflected on what we did really well, which is the skill up and skill enhancement classes. The soft skills were something that students were cobbling together to complete a learning path for themselves,” says Aikins. “The nine weeks supports a blended curriculum of the immersive coding experience with job readiness skills, so that students are ready to implement their knowledge.”
The course, as it is now organized, meets the demand for graduating well-rounded coders. Hoosiers, by nature, have a reputation for being humble, hard workers. Employers weighed in with their needs, and Eleven Fifty Academy has stepped up to fill in the gaps.
“Every day I speak with someone at a company who is looking to hire people with coding skills,” says Aikins. “It is exciting to know that we can help them. These companies can hire our graduates.”
“We are excited to welcome Eleven Fifty Academy into the Launch Fishers ecosystem. We see their mission as additive to our long-term vision of building a smart, vibrant and entrepreneurial city,” shares Launch Fishers Founder John Wechsler.
The impact of coding is everywhere. Courses are open to coders of all ages.
To learn more, please visit elevenfifty.org. Go Code!
