What Is Involved in Computer Programming Training?

Computer programming training is the process by which an individual learns a programming language and how to apply that language to different types of problems. Such training comes in a wide variety of forms based on the goals of the student and of the instructor. Some courses, for instance, are purely practical and are intended only to instruct the student about how to use programming techniques to address specific types of problems. Others are taught in much greater depth and place emphasis on the theory behind the techniques learned. Still other types of computer programming training are intended to demonstrate how programming can be used to address problems in a variety of different fields, such as biology or literature.

The most fundamental aspect of almost every computer programming training course is learning at least one programming language. Programming can be used for many different applications, including data organization, complex modeling of physical phenomena, and automating various mechanical processes. Different programming languages may be better suited for specific purposes, so the actual language taught may vary based on the aims of the course. A course that is intended simply to teach the fundamentals of computer programming will likely be based on a broadly applicable language with a relatively standard syntax that can be used for many different applications. A computer programming training course intended for use on problems in math and science, on the other hand, may be based in a language more specifically suited for those purposes.

In many cases, computer programming training is given as a part of one's formal education. Many high schools offer beginner and intermediate courses in computer programming and in computer science. Computer programming training is also widely available in higher education, particularly for those who choose to study computer science. People who study computer science usually become proficient in several different programming languages during the course of their educations.

Some computer programming training, on the other hand, may be offered through one's workplace. Such courses usually involve learning enough of a programming language to apply it to the problems that one is likely to encounter in one's work. This is particularly common in scientific research. Researchers in biology, chemistry, and physics, for instance, are not always required to learn much computer programming during their years in school. Often, however, they encounter problems during their research that could be readily solved with programming, so computer programming training is sometimes offered to compensate for this lack of knowledge.