Lambton County Library is now offering an online coding platform which helps people learn how to build websites, video games, phone apps and even animations.
Youth Programs and Outreach Public Services Coordinator Vanitia Campbell said the program is suitable for anyone over the age of eight.
"Fiero Code is an online platform that can take somebody from zero coding experience, up to being able to design their own websites," Campbell said. "It has 13 different coding languages that it teaches and it walks people through step by step."
She said the platform includes game-like elements to make it more interesting.
"It's more fun, I guess, than just sitting down and having a lesson taught to you. So, you're working through different steps and projects. There are individual courses on different coding languages, or you can choose to take a pathway. So, an example of that is a beginner web developer pathway and it takes you through all of the courses or lessons that would be required to get you to be proficient as a beginner web developer," Campbell said.
The program also offers coding challenges a few times a year.
"This is something that every library or school system that has Fiero Code has access to, and you compete against people across the globe with your project and have the ability to win prizes as well," Campbell said. "So, it's something that can be a support to kids, but it's also something that adults -- who are interested in learning how to code -- can use, or educators could use."
She said as technology continues to shape the workforce, coding skills are becoming increasingly valuable in many career fields, including business, healthcare, engineering, and design.
The resource can be accessed for free on their website with a Lambton County Library card.