Students will present grad thesis of unique new apps: Baboli to help ESL learners improve English and Quasi-Bound, an incomparable table-top card game; Public invited to attend and learn more about this program that can change lives for unemployed or underemployed
NEW ORLEANS — Operation Spark, a non-profit coding bootcamp dedicated to changing lives by advancing technology skills for today’s workplace, will hold a virtual graduation showcase for its Advanced IBC (Industry Based Credential) certified students on Tuesday, February 9 at 5:30 pm. The public is invited to attend and learn more about the program. The ceremony will be live-streamed; register online at: operationspark.eventbrite.com
The graduates will present their graduate thesis: apps they have developed from beginning to end. The student groups have developed two new apps. The first, Baboli, is a mobile application designed to help ESL learners practice and improve their English through fun and interactive games. Users can practice their conversational English by chatting with Babili’s AI chatbot, Devi. Babili also features games with auto-generated flashcards. The camera also allows you to point your phone at any object near you and receive an English and Spanish translation using Babili’s object detection feature. It’s also designed to translate ASL to English, and shares English translation with users immediately upon detection. Download Babili today on Expo: https://expo.io/@codingasasecondlanguage/babili
Quasi Bound is a free-to-play virtual table-top card game that all starts with a picture. Choose from existing cards, or import your own image and allow the Incomparable AI algorithm to customize the card. The stats of the card are determined by Quasi-Bound’s Image recognition algorithm which analyzes characteristics of that image and generates a card with the most balanced stats. Discover the best cards and out-smart opponents to get to the top of the leaderboard. Visit the site here at http://www.quasibound.com.
The current graduating class of seven students now holds Advanced Industry-Based Credentials in the Fundamentals of Javascript, Functional Programming, and Web Development.
“The creativity and potential of our grads are enormous”, said John Fraboni, Operation Spark’s Founder and CEO. “Software development is the fastest-growing job market in our state, and we are here to provide training that meets those needs.”
Over the past four years, Operation Spark has trained and placed over 200 graduates in high-paying technology jobs. Paul Williams, Chief Architect of Koniag Government Services, has hired several Operation Spark graduates. “The coding and presentation skills of the Operation Spark grads are far more advanced than the typical junior developers” he notes. “They have a demonstrated level of technical expertise, complemented with the dedication, maturity, and professionalism that proves they are ready to provide immediate value in the workforce right out of the program.”
Operation Spark is committed to a 100 percent job placement record and is fully engaged in training, interview prep, and job placement for the graduates of its immersion program said Mr. Fraboni.
“If you lost your job because of covid, now is a good time to consider a career in tech. Programming is one of the few areas where the job outlook is still strong.” said Fraboni. “Coding jobs are in everything from data and software engineering to web and video game development. These jobs can provide significant lifetime earnings and are available in every industry in the world. It doesn’t require a college degree, and starting salaries average $60K.”
Individuals interested in pursuing a career in software development can participate in a Virtual Information Session to learn more about the programs. To register for an info session, go to https://www.operationspark.org/info-session.
The minimum tech requirements are a laptop, desktop or Chromebook, and a stable internet connection. Operation Spark’s experienced, full-time instructional staff has been teaching coding classes for adults and students across Louisiana since 2014.
Financial aid, tuition assistance, and grants are available for qualified students, including stipends for living expenses. For more information on Operation Spark, go to www.operationspark.org
Founded in 2013, Operation Spark is opening a new door to prosperity by presenting a rapid route to high-wage careers in software development. Operation Spark’s mission is to provide access to literacy in software creation for adults and youth across Louisiana. In New Orleans, where generational poverty is prevalent, we work to develop and distribute effective learning tools and programs that provide accelerated workforce development that circumvents the costs of higher education.
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