January 29, 2015

Pluralsight acquires Code School to expand instructional curriculum

One of the paradigms technology has broken down in the Internet age is education. From instructional technology to advanced degree offerings online, the web is rife with opportunities for individuals to expand their knowledge and abilities from the comfort of home. One firm hoping to make a bigger splash in the instructional space is Pluralsight, a training service that helps enhance skill sets for professionals. This week, the company announced that it has acquired Code School, a web- and app-based provider of instructional technology courses and videos for developers. 

With the shared goal of broadening user horizons by teaching them valuable skills, Pluralsight and Code School have agreed to a $36 million deal that marks Pluralsight's sixth acquisition in the last year and a half, according to TechCrunch. With other acquisitions that include Smarterer for $75 million and Digital-Tutors for $45 million, the firm has not been shy about snapping up properties for hefty sums in the instructional space. With Code School, Pluralsight hopes to reach novice developers to expand its user footprint. 

"If you look at the Pluralsight library today, most of the courses target professionals that are fairly experienced," says Pluralsight CEO Aaron Skonnard. "We're really strong on that end of the spectrum, but what we haven't been as strong in – because we haven't focused on it – is the earlier stages of a developer's career."

The beauty of instructional technology is that by cultivating young talent through its programs, companies like Pluralsight are able to train the next generation of tech innovators. By extending services to students at every level of experience and knowledge, the company can build a more effective progress ladder as new coders gain more skills.