It’s week I-don’t-even-know-which of self-quarantine and I can’t help thinking that all of this free time could be a chance to learn something new. But the infinite depth of the Internet can make the idea of choosing something intimidating (choice fatigue, anyone?). So why not learn how to code? Whether you’ve been meaning to learn how to code, or just desperately need something to give a little structure to your day, this could be the perfect thing to#Learnfromhome. Here are six free resources to help start your coding journey!
Code Academy
Codeacademy has free courses in over 8 languages (I’m trying the HTML one myself). The lessons offer step-by-step directions to help you build a web page from scratch. For someone with no previous coding experience, it introduced things at a good pace as to not be too overwhelming. Signing up for pro will give you access to extension activities, but the free version offers plenty of material to begin with. As a free user you can access the stand-alone courses which introduce you to the basic coding languages.
General Assembly
In a similar vein, General Assembly offers coding bootcamps in many different languages. If you’re not ready to invest and enroll in one of their full time courses, you can always use their free coding course, Dash, which introduces you to the basics of HTML, CSS, and Java Script via a step-by-step walkthrough.
Dash presents projects within a story framework (e.g. some dude needs to improve his poetry blog, will you please design a responsive theme for him?) which gives you some context to what you’re doing. The course then builds on itself. First you’re building a website, then a blog theme, then even an online game!
I appreciate the course’s “skills” attribute, which helps you keep track of the many inputs you learn. It’s a quick-reference if you forget exactly how to phrase a specific element.
W3Schools
Once you have some knowledge in the coding field, this website is a great resource to test your specific knowledge. Think of it as an encyclopedia for coding terms. For example, you can search for a specific element, and it will give you a brief explanation, example, and then an exercise. If you want to quiz yourself or strengthen weaker points in your knowledge, it could be good to spend some time on W3Schools. I also like this site because I can learn to code something new without a huge time commitment. Instead of taking a full course, you can just learn about a single element’s function. Think of it as á la carte!
CodePen
CodePen is a free coding platform with a social twist. Not only can you write code in the side-by-side HTML/CSS/Java platforms, but you can look at other coders’ projects. This could be a good platform if you’re project oriented and want to learn from another coder’s code rather than a straightforward walkthrough. It can also be your coding play-area. Sometimes I open up a project on CodePen in order to try out the things I’ve been learning from the other resources. You can mess around and see what you create!
Wild Code School
Wild Code School offers classes, workshops, and social opportunities. I attended one of WCS’ free workshops in Budapest and thought it was a fun introduction to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. WCS has over 11 brick and mortar campuses if you’re interested in taking one of their web development courses, but they also host some free workshops and meetups online.
EdX
If you’re in the mood to really sit down and study (which, why not? There’s plenty of time for it now!), check into the coding classes on Edx. The website has compiled a plethora of computer science courses from eye-catching universities such as Harvard, MIT, and others.
If you want to learn to code, there’s no better time than the present! Whether you want to learn your first lines of HTML or dive deep into the details of computer science, there’s an option for you! Get learning, and good luck!
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