Software Engineering Lead Trainer: Jo Batkin’s Diverse Journey into Software Engineering

Jo Batkin has always loved working with computers.

Jo grew up in rural Queensland, where her early interest in them was encouraged by her father, who shared her love of technology.

It was as a teenager that Jo decided to turn her passion into a career, going on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, majoring in Computer Science and Software Engineering.

Post graduation, Jo accumulated a range of experience in government and university environments before the opportunity arose to become a trainer at the Institute of Data.

Jo thought she might be a good fit for the role, and by all accounts, her hunch served her well.

Jo has been a trainer with the Institute of Data’s Software Engineering Programme for 18 months.

We recently caught up with Jo, eager to hear about her experiences with the programme and what advice she could give prospective students.

1. What inspired you to become an Institute of Data’s programme trainer?

After several years of running my own business, building websites and using the technology associated with that, I wanted a change.

I’m naturally a problem solver, and what appeals to me about software engineering is that I get to continue this in the digital setting.

So I was excited when I heard from the Institute of Data, who said they had a position available.

2. Can you explain the objectives of the Institute of Data Software Engineering programme you teach?

We aim to make the Institute of Data’s Software Engineering Programme understandable and easy.

The programme is designed for people with experience and those without any software engineering background.

It’s important that we give our students the tools they need to build a piece of software, plus all the best practices required when using those tools.

There are a hundred different ways to build the same piece of software, and that’s both good and bad because it can be confusing and difficult to choose the right solution.

We want to give our students the confidence and the knowledge to know the best option or combination of options, depending on the issue.

We teach the fundamentals, the methodologies involved, and the best tools they’ll want to use.

3. In your opinion, what distinguishes the Institute of Data programme from other programmes in the industry?

What sets the Institute of Data’s Software Engineering Programme apart is its big-picture and end-goal approach.

This means that students get educated not only on the technical side of things but also on the practical aspects, which is invaluable.

We want to give students everyday, real-world insight and big-picture, practical information they can use in their everyday lives.

Our students are supported not only by us but by the assistant trainers, who are generally students who’ve done the programme before.

They know exactly how to approach an issue and answer queries in a way that will make sense to a beginner.

The other drawcard is the amount of practice we provide.

We do this by giving lots of opportunities for students to plan, design and implement projects before testing and presenting.

4. What type of students do you believe thrive in Institute of Data programmes, and why?

We have students from all walks of life and ages, from those who’ve had successful careers in other fields but are looking to change to tradies who want technical knowledge.

We have had many people from the health industry join the programme too.

Covid was hard on health professionals, and many people burnt out and just want to do something completely different.

What makes them successful is their resilience and the understanding of what it takes to go from knowing nothing to being proficient.

You have to be determined.

It takes a lot of work to absorb this much information in a small amount of time.

5. Could you share some common challenges students face during the programme and how they can overcome them?

For some students, it’s a lack of confidence that is a real challenge to overcome.

We feed a lot of information in a very short amount of time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s helpful to reframe the situation, recognise that you’re dealing with a lot of new information, and keep an open, interested mindset.

6. What is the tech industry currently looking for in new graduates, and how does the Institute of Data address these needs?

It’s a good question.

We want our students to come away with a fundamental level of technical knowledge, but we also want them to be able to ask the right questions when they enter the industry.

We want our students to ask good questions about using the tools and applying what they already know in an unfamiliar situation.

At the Institute of Data, we aim to provide a depth to the learning so our students are familiar with the basic syntax and the fundamentals of how the tools work but also can go on and apply that knowledge from the get-go in a professional setting.

7. What resources and support does the Institute of Data provide to help students succeed in the programme?

As a student, you get access to all the content, so you can go back and refer to the material.

All class sessions are recorded, and we give you access to all of the recordings.

You also have access to the trainers themselves.

Plus, you have access to the assistant trainers who have completed the programme themselves and gone through the process of asking those questions.

8. What are the most significant changes or trends you’ve observed in the tech industry recently?

Being an independent contractor means keeping current with the latest trends.

When I first started developing, JavaScript was just a front-end language used in the browser.

Then, when you wanted to build the back end, you would use a different language like Java or C++. These days, JavaScript can be used for everything.

Nowadays, there are several frameworks and libraries based on JavaScript used to make development easier for the front end like React, Angular and Vue.

A recent trend is making several small independent, connected programmes, called microservices, instead of one big self-contained programme that does everything and takes a lot of work to deploy.

9. In your experience, what makes the Institute of Data programme worth it for students who aspire to enter the software engineering field?

As soon as you get that first job, you’ll quickly recoup the programme’s cost.

Even entry-level jobs pay fairly well, so in terms of monetary worth, as soon as you’re able to get that first job, you’ll find that it’s worth it.

In one sense, it’s quite a small amount of time to take such a large step.

On the other hand, the six-month programme (the Institute of Data’s part-time programmes run six months) allows you to complete the programme in the evenings and every other weekend, so it’s more spread out and more manageable, depending on your situation.

And it still means that after just six months, you can go and join the workforce.

Conclusion

If you’d like to learn more about our programmes, book a career consultation with one of our experts at the Institute of Data and start your journey with an actionable plan.

You can connect with Jo and follow her professional journey on Linkedin.