Calling all gamers: turn your passion into a career! Despite popular opinion, gaming can lead to a high-paying job.
At Dixie Technical College, we offer the Mobile App Development program which teaches coding for both iOS and Android operating systems. Our instructors prepare you for a career as a mobile application or software developer.“Most of our students are gamers. It directly relates to what they learn in programming.”– Brad Campbell, Mobile App Development Instructor
Gaming… Teaches Skills?
From overcoming obstacles to working as a team, gaming teaches players essential skills like problem solving, attention to detail, algorithmic thinking, teamwork, and the ability to work behind a screen for long periods of time, core skills essential for any software or app developer.
Found in every game is the need to overcome obstacles and solve problems in order for the player to advance further. Even at a young age, players subconsciously start developing problem-solving skills by breaking down complex challenges into smaller steps. This attention to detail helps them complete in-game tasks and those same abilities are crucial in coding environments. Across genres, video games present challenges in endlessly creative ways, which mirrors the problem-solving needed in today’s tech world.
Now, did we really mean to include “teamwork” as a skill learned while gaming? Yes we did. Today’s multiplayer games require players to collaborate, communicate, and solve problems together, just like developers working on a project team.
Can We Meet in the Middle?
Gaming brings polarized opinions. Rutgers University cast their high opinion of gaming, quoting that, “More than 377,000 computer and IT job openings are expected each year, and overall employment is projected to grow ‘much faster’ than the average for other occupations by 2032… Many of those future IT professionals could be playing Roblox or Brawl Stars today” (Rutgers).
On a polarizing topic it’s important to find middle ground. “Everything in moderation,” advised App Development Instructor Lukas Simonson. Brad and Lukas both acknowledge the double-edged sword that comes with gaming. While it has the potential to teach you many essential skills for a successful job in the tech world, it can also lead to cognitive overstimulation, reduced focus, or even emotional and social challenges when overdone.
Ready to Start Your Tech Career?
If you enjoy gaming, like to problem solve, are interested in coding, or have cool ideas you want to turn into a real, functioning application, our Mobile App Development program is for you.
Whether you want to launch your own app or join a growing tech company, this is the place to start. With our instructors you’ll learn to build real-world apps, understand programming logic, and create user-friendly designs.
Your Next Steps
