Talking Digital Skills with On The Level: Alan Joyce on the Future of Coding in Education
Recently on the On The Level podcast
Our founder Alan Joyce joined the On The Level podcast to talk about Coding Ireland and how we’re helping schools and families deliver real digital skills through our Digital Skills Curriculum. In the episode he shares why coding matters, how our platform works in classrooms and homes, and where digital skills education is heading next.
Who is Alan Joyce and what is Coding Ireland?
Alan is the founder of Coding Ireland, an organisation focused on making coding and digital skills accessible to every young person – whether they’re learning in school, at home, in a library or in a youth centre.
Through our online platform we provide a complete Digital Skills Curriculum that covers coding, robotics, AI, digital media and digital literacy. Lessons are step-by-step and classroom-ready, and everything runs in the browser so schools and families can use laptops, Chromebooks or tablets without installing extra software.
What is the Digital Skills Curriculum?
- ✔ Step-by-step lessons – Guided projects that gently build skills in coding, digital media and online safety. No prior experience is needed for students or teachers.
- ✔ Used by schools and families – The same platform works for whole classes or individual learners at home, with easy progress tracking for teachers and parents.
- ✔ Aligned with curriculum needs – Designed to support new STE and digital skills priorities, making it simple to slot into existing timetables.
- ✔ Browser-based & device-friendly – Works on laptops, Chromebooks and tablets with no extra software to install.
Why digital skills matter now
Alan explains that today’s students need to create with technology, not just consume it. Digital skills build problem-solving, creativity and confidence – essential for future careers in almost every field.
The platform is built so teachers don’t need to be coding experts: ready-made resources, assessments and progress tracking help them feel confident in the classroom, while parents can turn screen time into meaningful, skill-building activities at home.
Learning beyond the classroom
One of the key ideas Alan shares is that digital skills shouldn’t be confined to a single context. The same projects and learning paths can be used in schools, libraries, youth clubs or at home – so students can start a project in class and continue it wherever they are.
Listen to the full conversation
Click here to listen to the full interview
Ready to explore the Digital Skills Curriculum?
Whether you’re a teacher, school leader or parent, you can see the modules and lessons Alan talks about in the interview and explore how they might fit into your own setting.
Coding Ireland
Coding Ireland