These days, a degree in coding isn’t a pre-requisite in finding your perfect job, you simply need to know how to do it. In fact, recruiters have stated they don’t focus so much on specific programming languages as they do on passion and projects like unique apps and creative projects.
If you’re looking for some coding know-how to further your career, here are six online resources that will help you learn to code for free, so you don’t have to leave your day job…yet.
The ability to take classes on your own time is important, and that’s what MIT has to offer. MIT makes almost all its course content available through OpenCourseWare, There are currently 2,260 courses to choose from, ranging from Introduction to Algorithms to Artificial Intelligence, with the most popular class being Introduction to Computer Science and Programming.
Codecademy is loaded with interactive tutorials that can get you coding in a matter of hours, depending on what you’re looking to do. You can learn to simply code a website or choose from a variety of courses focusing on HTML &CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, Python and Ruby.
Each tutorial lets you know approximately how long the session will take and what skill level you need – a nice feature to note when searching for the right coding courses.
Khan Academy has been offering free classes in a wide range of subjects including math, science, test prep and computer programming since 2006. Their coding classes are very popular, mainly because they teach though gaming. Classes range from simpler options such as an “Hour of Code,” where you learn to program drawings using JavaScript, to more advanced classes like creating a website with HTML tags and CSS. You can learn at your own pace and take advantage of the Khan Academy online community for project feedback and support.
If you’re looking to learn a specific programming language, try Udemy. It offers the ability to drill down to exactly the skill you’re looking for. Say you’re interested in learning Python, click on that track and see all the classes available from beginner level to advanced. Not all courses are free but with 30,000 courses to choose from, there are enough of them to get you coding.
For instance, you can take Learn HTML5 Programming From Scratch which gives you access to 46 lectures and over ten hours of content. Many of these classes get rated and reviewed which makes it helpful to see what’s worth the investment of your time.
Who says you can’t go to Stanford? Coursera partners with top universities like Johns Hopkins, Columbia and Stanford to make classes available online for free. Their mission is to “provide universal access to the world’s best education.” One look at the course selection and you may never leave your computer again.
Coursera classes make use of videos, lectures, quizzes and peer review, and each class lets you know how many weeks it will take, along with how many hours per week you need to devote to it.
Code School is another online school that will teach you coding skills such as Ruby, HTML&CSS, JavaScript and more. They offer a free account to start, with access to up to 10 intro courses so you can see if coding is your thing. If HTML is for you, you can sign up for the monthly plan and access all the classes, screencasts and podcasts as well.
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