Developer writing code.

A Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp is just the beginning for Samuel Beaudry

Student Profile

Samuel Beaudry has always had an interest in website development. But with no coding experience, the industry remained a mystery. Last year, the 32-year-old registered nurse decided the time had come to change that. After an extensive online search, he registered for the Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp at Western Continuing Studies.

The online program, powered by RoboGarden, uses a game-based approach to teach front-end development skills like design and user experience, as well as back-end development skills like coding, databases design and programming. By the end of the 24-week course, graduates are able to build and publish a website and mobile app.

"The course is designed for someone who may not have any previous knowledge."

“It seemed like very good value compared to other coding bootcamps,” says Beaudry. He also appreciated being able learn new skills while continuing to work full-time. “You do need to commit a few hours every day in order to have good success in the program,” he notes.

Beaudry estimates that he spent around 20 hours every week completing the learning modules and participating in live online lectures and class discussions.

“The course is designed for someone who may not have any previous knowledge. It progresses in a very logical manner,” he says. “We’d get a project to work on every weekend and then come together on Tuesday to share our work. It was so positive to have that as part of the routine. It really kept you on track for learning.”

For his Capstone Project, Beaudry developed an app called Expiry Tracker.

The interactive, hands-on curriculum enables students to build a portfolio that showcases their digital skills. The boot camp wraps up with a Capstone Project that involves either publishing an app on various mobile stores, or in the case of a web-based application project, to a web-platform.

For his project, Beaudry developed an app called Expiry Tracker. Available on Google Play, the app helps people reduce waste by keeping track of the best-before dates on perishable items. “It’s a pretty basic app, but I enjoyed creating it,” he says.

Beaudry is currently working on building a mobile game. Although earning a side-income isn’t his goal, he says integrating advertising into the game or simply setting a price tag for download is always an option.

Several boot camp graduates have already found employment as Junior Developers.

While several boot camp graduates have already found employment as Junior Developers, Beaudry hopes to use his new-found skills to spur innovation in his current field of nursing. “I now have a better understanding of the electronic systems we use at work, and that gives me ideas about how they could be improved,” he says.

“There’s so much technology in the world and it’s moving so fast,” he adds. “People don’t realize how much more could be done with apps.”

Are you an aspiring web developer or coder who wants to design, build and manage websites and apps?