Which Mobile Development Training Format Is Right for Me?

Anyone looking to enter a highly in-demand career field at the cutting edge of technological development should consider learning mobile development skills. As smart devices become increasingly important in our daily routines, developing software applications optimized for phones and tablets will become a valuable career skill. When comparing types of mobile development training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and proper training is critical to your experience.

Please keep reading to discover more about the different formats of mobile development training, how they compare, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Mobile Development?

As of 2021, there were as many as 6.4 billion smartphones worldwide. For smartphone users, The vast majority of smartphone users engage with their device using their apps–up to 88% of total use. Mobile applications are quickly becoming the most common way we interact with the digital space, and this shifts virtually every industry, company, and institution to prioritize using mobile applications in their branding and marketing strategies. In addition, adjacent industries, such as the mobile gaming industry, are becoming massive sources of revenue, meaning that more and more companies are moving towards mobile development as a primary, rather than a secondary, focus.

Learning mobile development skills involves learning general programming principles and tools, and languages explicitly designed for popular mobile devices. Both iOS and Android devices take advantage of proprietary programming languages built from the ground up to be optimized for those devices. Mobile development differs from general programming in that it emphasizes how applications can be designed to run optimally on any mobile device since there is a world of difference between an iPhone 12 and a Surface Tablet. Mobile Developers will be tasked with learning all the skills required to ensure that all of the application's necessary features are functional and easy to utilize regardless of who is accessing the application and on what device it is being accessed.

Read more about what mobile development is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Mobile Development?

One of the most compelling reasons to learn mobile development skills comes from the fact that the technological infrastructure is constantly improving. What was unheard of five years ago has become the technical default, and developers are constantly improving the hardware and software associated with mobile devices. This evolution makes mobile application development an incredible specialization for developers who want to be on the cutting edge as new industries and practices emerge. Whether you are interested in designing new mobile games, essential accessibility services, or working within newly emerging digital marketplaces, mobile app development skills will significantly boost your potential.

Mobile application development is also an excellent skill set for working within the developing world of the internet of things. Our phones and tablets are becoming more directly integrated with the devices and objects we interact with daily. From QR code readers to digital assistants to medical alert technology in wearables, mobile devices serve many seemingly mundane but still vital functions in our everyday lives. While developers looking to work in this field will need to learn other advanced programming skills, students with a background in mobile development will have a much easier time creating complex applications meant to extend the reach of the mobile device.

Training Formats for Mobile Development

Beginners looking to learn mobile development skills have many options. Potential learners can take courses in-person at dedicated training centers or attend said courses online. Online courses are taught both through live instruction and asynchronous delivery methods. While every individual has different needs, a few consistent pros and cons accompany each training format. Reviewing them helps future students make more informed decisions based on their needs.

In-Person Mobile Development Training

Many students find in-person training options the most immersive and effective way to learn a new skill. Live instructors teach these mobile development courses at dedicated training facilities, often professional learning environments with their dedicated classroom space and technology labs. Students will have the advantage of being able to learn skills as part of a cohort of like-minded individuals, and they can benefit from interpersonal networking opportunities. The drawback to these courses is that individual training programs are rarely offered outside one or two training facilities, which are often located in major cities. Unfortunately, this issue means that curious individuals will be restricted in their courses based on their location, and many people may need help.

Those interested in in-person mobile development classes may want to explore the options available through Noble Desktop. These classes are taught at Noble’s state-of-the-art training center in Manhattan. Individuals in the New York area are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in person with Noble’s expert instructors. Beginners who don’t live in the Manhattan area may want to consider exploring the options available through other service providers, such as Big Nerd Ranch in Atlanta or Think BIG. Learn Smart in Baltimore.

Live Online Mobile Development Training

Many students find in-person training options the most immersive and effective way to learn a new skill. Live instructors teach these mobile development courses at dedicated training facilities, often professional learning environments with their dedicated classroom space and technology labs. Students will have the advantage of being able to learn skills as part of a cohort of like-minded individuals, and they can benefit from interpersonal networking opportunities. The drawback to these courses is that individual training programs are rarely offered outside one or two training facilities, which are often located in major cities. Unfortunately, this issue means that curious individuals will be restricted in their courses based on their location, and many people may need help.

Those interested in in-person mobile development classes may want to explore the options available through Noble Desktop. These classes are taught at Noble’s state-of-the-art training center in Manhattan. Individuals in the New York area are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in person with Noble’s expert instructors. Beginners who don’t live in the Manhattan area may want to consider exploring the options available through other service providers, such as Big Nerd Ranch in Atlanta or Think BIG. Learn Smart in Baltimore.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Potential students who aren’t ready to jump into a complete mobile development course may consider some free training options. Since mobile development languages are advanced programming skills, the most common kind of free training resource that students will benefit from is a more generalized web development programming tutorial. Interested individuals can take advantage of Noble Desktop’s Intro to front end Web Development seminar to learn the basic coding principles of HTML/CSS and JavaScript. This seminar can help participants decide whether or not they want to continue with an advanced programming education. Once students have decided to continue, they may wish to take advantage of the course offerings available on Noble’s official YouTube page on their Web Development playlist.

Noble also offers an Intro to React seminar, which covers the basics of using JavaScript’s React library for front end development. While this seminar isn’t focused on mobile development, it does cover how React Native, Meta’s open-source software framework, can be utilized to develop applications for Android and iOS devices.

Curious individuals may also explore the free training seminars available through service providers such as Udemy and Coursera. On top of these options, since most major mobile applications are developed for iOS and Android, both Apple and Google offer tutorials on using the proprietary languages and code editors used for developing applications on their platforms.

On-Demand Classes

Those requiring flexibility in their training may consider an on-demand mobile development course. These training programs offer individuals the chance to learn mobile development skills at their pace, giving students with work and family obligations the opportunity to receive a mobile development education still. These courses differ wildly in their content and delivery method, but they are generally cheaper than their live training counterparts and will usually include a significant component of recorded tutorials. These courses lack live instructors, so that participants will miss personalized feedback on their work. Learning mobile development can take significantly longer without an expert to consult, especially acquiring more complex concepts. However, they are better than no class at all.

Comparison of Mobile Development Training Formats

Learners may look at the wide range of choices they have for learning mobile development skills and worry that they won’t find the mobile development course that best suits their needs. While every person acquires information differently, experts make a few generalizations about mobile development learning options to help curious individuals decide which course is right for them.

The most popular type of training course is a live instruction session, where students work directly with online instructors who give them real-time feedback on their mobile development skills. These live online courses tend to be immersive, and most students prefer them. Live instructors easily guide their students through complex parts of the course, and they provide students with vital feedback on their code. Students can efficiently work with their peers on projects from anywhere in the world. These courses may be expensive, yet they provide enrollees with numerous benefits relative to alternative training methods.

Some people prefer in-person courses at a dedicated training facility. In-person courses let participants interact face-to-face with their instructors, allowing their students to work with a cohort of like-minded colleagues in a controlled training environment. While the lessons being delivered are identical to live online, some participants rely on the physical affordances of the classroom space to be successful. Unfortunately, in-person training courses tend to be taught at a limited few dedicated training facilities, meaning that options are restricted if the potential student doesn’t live in a major city like New York City or San Francisco. 

Live online training courses address the issue of requiring physical attendance by allowing students to learn from the comfort of their homes or office. Learning from live instructors providing lessons in private digital classrooms, participants typically enjoy small class sizes and focused attention. In recent years, online pedagogy has vastly improved, and students may find that learning online is just as effective as learning in-person. Individuals who learn online save time and money by removing the commute to a class. No longer are enrollees restricted to learning at a nearby training facility; they can select the best class even if the instructor teaches it from hundreds of miles away. However, course enrollees have a greater personal responsibility to keep their workstations running, and they will need to supply their hardware and software, which can be a significant cost barrier for some.

Students who need additional flexibility in their training will want to consider on-demand mobile development courses. These asynchronous courses give participants the freedom and flexibility to pick up and put down their lessons when most convenient. Students enrolled in an on-demand class can move as quickly or as slowly as they see fit, which can be essential for some students looking to learn new skills while not ignoring work and family obligations. These courses tend to vary the most in terms of quality, so students must be extra prudent when selecting a course. While they tend to be the cheapest options since the company doesn’t have to pay live instructors, participants may find that they need to take extra steps to troubleshoot when they get stuck on challenging aspects of the course.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Mobile Development?

Individuals may want to know if learning mobile development skills is possible through free resources and their initiative. Sadly, the answer is no. Free resources, at most, provide only a cursory overview. Since mobile development skills are narrow in scope and advanced in ability level, most learners will need a background in computer programming to make sense of the mobile development process. Additionally, the languages used in mobile development aren’t very versatile or transferable.

While curious individuals can learn the basics of mobile development and programming independently, anyone hoping to make a career out of these skills will need dedicated training. Even the most engaged and self-motivated studious individuals will find that learning Swift or Koltin with assistance can be daunting yet completely doable. Still, it will take far more effort than dedicated training. Not surprisingly, students attempting to learn information alone risk getting stuck on complicated elements of mobile development or learning out-of-date or inaccurate information. Many free tutorials exist to help curious individuals; everyone should take advantage of these tools. Still, these tools alone won’t be enough for most people to learn mobile development.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Mobile Development

Potential students may be looking at the number of different training options available and worry that they need help finding the course that best suits their needs. This concern is understandable, but while every student does gather information differently, potential enrollees must explore a few critical issues for each course. Future coders should consider the amount of skills training they feel is necessary to reach their goals and the amount of prior knowledge and experience they have going into their training.

Since mobile development involves advanced, specialized programming languages, future students will want a decent amount of prior programming experience before enrolling in a course. For curious individuals looking to gain this background knowledge and set themselves up for long-term success, a career-skills program like Noble’s Web Development Certificate program is ideal. These classes provide students with a robust computer programming education and teaching skills like coding fundamentals and HTML/CSS to give students the tools for more advanced lessons on subjects like JavaScript libraries. These courses tend to be the most expensive and logistically-restrictive options, but they are also the best route for building long-term career skills.

Those with coding experience who want to dive into the world of mobile development will want to consider a focused skills bootcamp, such as Noble’s iOS App Development Bootcamp. These focused courses teach students how to work with a single important tool or programming language for dedicated mobile development projects. These courses tend to be cheaper than career-focused courses, but they also have stricter prerequisites and won’t be as focused on preparing enrollees for a career in mobile development.

Students who aren’t entirely sure that mobile development is the right path for them may wish to take advantage of a free training seminar or course. These classes will teach students the basics of programming and the simple functionalities of coding languages ranging from HTML to Swift. These courses won’t be enough to help students learn how to code mobile applications in a professional context. Still, they will prepare students for further mobile development training should they decide that learning these skills is right for them.

Learn Mobile Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Students looking to learn mobile development skills will need a decent amount of focused training. They will need to learn programming basics, web development programming languages, and specific programming languages built for mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. However, no matter your level of experience, Noble Desktop has a mobile development course that fits your needs. Whether you are an experienced programmer or you need to learn HTML/CSS, Noble Desktop offers individual bootcamps and career development classes that can help you on your way to becoming a skilled Mobile Developer. Experienced instructors teach Noble’s classes, bringing expert-level web and mobile development knowledge. Learners can take Noble’s classes in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus or online in private digital classrooms. Even online, class sizes are kept small so that students aren’t competing with each other for their instructor’s attention. Plus, anyone enrolling in a Noble training course will have an opportunity to retake the class, for free, at any point within a calendar year, giving prospective students peace of mind. It allows beginners even more chances to get hands-on mobile development skills.

Individuals with prior coding experience may wish to enroll in Noble’s iOS App Development Bootcamp. This class will teach members how to work with Apple’s Xcode code editing program and their Swift programming language to build optimized applications on mobile iOS devices. Students will learn how to build interactive swipe and touch screen elements and how to add assets to the application, its launch screen, and its presence on the App store. By the end of the class, individuals will develop and post their applications to the App store. They will also understand how the mobile development process works from start to finish (people should be aware that posting applications to the app store require a paid Apple account, which every participant will be required to sign-up for to complete the course).

Those with less coding experience but still want to learn the necessary skills to work as mobile developers will want to consider enrolling in Noble’s Full Stack Development Certificate program. This program doesn’t focus specifically on mobile development. Future coders wishing to specialize in that field may need additional training, but learning full stack development skills is integral to becoming a successful and well-rounded developer. In this class, students will learn how to code web pages in HTML/CSS and JavaScript, languages that mobile developers use to build non-proprietary versions of their applications. In addition, students will learn essential JavaScript libraries and how to develop and maintain the infrastructure upon which applications operate. This career-focused course provides participants professional development training, including one-on-one career mentorship and portfolio development workshops. Pair this training seminar with Noble’s iOS Development Bootcamp for further specialization in mobile development.