Why Learn to Code Now?
1. We live in a computerized world
According to David Joyner, PhD, executive director of online education and OMSCS for the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an instructor for Computing in Python I: Fundamentals and Procedural Programming on edX, the advantages of mastering coding today are quite evident: computerization is ever-growing, demand for such expertise continues to ascend, and since the field is evolving so quickly, even if an individual is initially behind in knowledge, they will soon catch up since everyone has to keep studying.
“Coding for the web is easy and very often leads to satisfying and fun experiences. With the advent of machine learning and more, there is an unexplored world of future web applications and usages to create and play with.”
It is more important now than ever before for individuals to gain or maintain their abilities in web programming. Programming for the web is a breeze and usually results in gratifying and enjoyable experiences. As machine learning, and other intelligent technology is becoming more prevalent, there is a whole realm of upcoming web applications and ways to use the internet that have yet to be determined. Marie-Claire Forgue, Head of Training at the W3C, emphasized the importance of women acquiring knowledge related to web programming, citing her team’s development of the W3Cx MOOC program in conjunction with edX. It is intended as a resource for web developers across the globe to boost their aptitude with front-end web development utilizing W3C web guidelines.
2. Coding Can Boost Your Market Value
It is not essential to have a degree in computer science to raise your worth in the job market. A study done by Burning Glass found that positions necessitating coding abilities make up to $22,000 added in pay when compared to non-technical professions that don’t need these abilities, and an increasing amount of non-tech job openings also request coding skills. Additionally, having the capacity to program can create more job chances in other territories, for example, promotion, information examination, and digital security.
3. Coding is essential in fields like IT, cybersecurity, and fintech
Coding will be a key component of IT work for the foreseeable future. Coding has been a catalyst for the creation of extensive systems and networks and has had an impact on the progress of cloud computing and AI. Software is necessary for each and every system to work, and this software is created by coders. Dr. Patrick Appiah-Kubi, program director and associate professor in Cloud Computing Architecture at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and instructor for UMGC and USMx’s MicroMasters® Program in Cloud Computing, asserted that coding proficiency is necessary for all occupations within the IT industry, such as system development, setup and utilization.
Coding can expedite and heighten attacks and exploits when utilized offensively. Dr. John S. stated that cyber defenders must possess excellent coding capabilities if they want to counteract the tailor-made assaults of adversaries and to automate their protective measures. Galliano, program director for Cybersecurity Technology at UGMC .
“Going forward, technology will play an ever more central role in the future evolution of finance, with huge opportunities and challenges for people and financial regulators across the world.”
In the future, technology will become much more important to the progress of finance, providing both chances and issues that people and finance authorities will have to address. I find the advances in central bank digital currencies to be the most thrilling ones out there; these currencies, such as the Digital Yuan from China and ideas for a Digital Dollar, are incredibly fascinating. Douglas Arner, the director of the Asian Institute of International Financial Law at the University of Hong Kong as well as a teacher for the HKUx’s Introduction to FinTech course, argued that a combination of money and technology will be necessary for world finance to experience changes in the future.
4. You can code from home
In this time where keeping a distance from one another is necessary, coding is a type of work that can be pursued remotely. Many companies, like Mozilla, have mainly remote teams. Joyner commented that just as with distance learning, learning coding abilities can allow people to stay in the same area while searching for a new job.
How To Teach Yourself To Code: Learn Python and Build Breadth
1. Start With Python
It is thought that Python is one of the most straightforward programming languages to pick up. It is a very common tool utilized in various disciplines and is considered to be an essential talent for those working in the area of data science. For those just getting started, I would advise utilizing Python (or a language similar to it) first. Dr. S.M. remarked that the language is easy to learn, very productive, and practical for data analysis. You are an educator at the Computer Science department of the University of Hong Kong, and you teach the HKUx’s FinTech Professional Certificate course.
In my opinion, there can not be matched when looking at the online documentation, user community, capability of learning easily, and overall features of Python. Dr. Clayton Miller, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore’s School of Design and Environment’s Department of Building and instructor for the university’s edX course Data Science for Construction, Architecture and Engineering, encouraged learners focusing on data science to also learn R programming in addition to Python. He noted that R provides certain packaged libraries which are not always obtainable in the Python language.
In other words, if you are just beginning to learn programming or have no scientific or technical education, then learning HTML and CSS can be an easier choice for those planning to enter web development and design.
2. Become a Generalist
Learning how to code can be overwhelming for beginners. Joyner suggests that it is prudent to have a wide knowledge base of computer science and coding to begin with, as opposed to aiming to become an expert in one particular field. Joyner suggested you could choose to specialize heavily in one particular area of high demand such as data science, web development or artificial intelligence, or alternately opt for a broader approach, experimenting with many different areas.
In my opinion, it’s wise to opt for the latter option: try a bit of everything. I emphasize that the beauty of computing lies in the fact that the industry is growing and evolving so quickly that even if you focus on a particular area, you will have to remain up-to-date with it in order to not fall behind.
3. Build a Project
As you become more proficient in coding, it is essential to put into practice what you have learned and also refine your problem-solving aptitude by undertaking a minor project. Accumulating projects is a fantastic method of beefing up your portfolio and exhibiting your efforts as your abilities and professional life develops. Below are a few project ideas you can start:
- A personal website
- A simple application
- A game
- An ecommerce store
Best Online Courses to Learn to Code for Free in 2023
Our experts have gathered the top courses and tutorials to help those new to programming get started.
BitDegree is a learning platform backed by blockchain technology that offers free and paid classes on topics relating to digital currency and technology, such as web coding in languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.
The platform also has a one-of-a-kind program that provides recompense to students after they have finished an appointment with a token. They can spend the tokens to finance the upcoming classes and obtain benefits for premium classes.
Suggested courses:
Udemy is a web-based education portal offering in excess of 170,000 free and purchased lessons, where one can acquire abilities from music to IT and programming. This area of progress has hundreds of opportunities for study via the internet, including subjects like web building, info science, and automated learning.
Suggested courses:
Sololearn is an educational program with more than 40 million people using it for their online classes. It has in excess of 20 lessons covering Java, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Learners can get instruction in coding through the internet or through its mobile application.
It employs a condensed learning method, concentrating on a single topic for each segment. Sololearn can be used at no cost, yet its Pro edition gives you bonuses like having an unlimited number of exercises to finish and no advertisements. It can be purchased on a month-to-month basis for $12.99, or it can be bought on a yearly basis for $5.83 per month.
Suggested courses:
Coursera is a virtual educational platform that has teamed up with over two hundred universities and businesses to offer a wide selection of courses. Different scholastic topics ranging from business to computer science are discussed in the classes.
It offers free classes and a seven-day complimentary trial of paid classes. The charges associated with Coursera’s premium learning options range broadly – from $9.99 for tutored projects to thousands of dollars for comprehensive university degree programs.
Suggested courses:
Khan Academy, a renowned non-profit organization, provides educational materials without charge. It offers a wide variety of classes on a variety of topics, including the fundamentals of programming and computer science. This app is available for both iOS and Android and can be used for free without any additional fees or purchasing options.
Suggested courses:
EdX partners with over 160 universities to give access to more than 3,000 high-quality courses, similar to Coursera which is another online learning platform. These cover multiple subjects, among them being computer science and data analysis.
Users are given temporary access to all course materials at no cost through the audit track. Only those that upgrade to the verified track are able to finish graded tasks and receive certificates. The amount charged for the task ranges from fifty to three hundred dollars. The site also offers superior courses starting at $299 for Professional Certificate Programs up to Master’s Degrees starting at $10,000.
Suggested courses:
GeeksforGeeks provides an education system that concentrates on teaching individuals programming and computer science. This platform provides written works, assessments, step-by-step instruction, classes, competitions, and even work postings for software engineers.
There are three kinds of classes provided by the source that are available for free and for a fee: Live, Self-paced, and School. Individuals can pick to gain instruction from specialists through either streaming in real-time or watching pre-taped videos, or a mixture of the two.
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MIT OpenCourseWare is a completely free and available to the public website that features material from both MIT’s undergraduate and graduate courses. This program consists of over 2500 courses, with a particular focus on computer science.
Examples of content could be videos of lessons, tasks, notes from lectures, and digital textbooks.
Unfortunately, this program doesn’t offer degrees or certificates.
Suggested courses:
Codecademy is a digital educational system which supplies first-class coding instruction in varying computer languages on lots of tech areas including web construction and computer science. Also, it offers other educational materials such as instruction manuals, quick reference guides, articles, tests, and projects.
Codeacademy furnishes various free lessons, and its paying subscribers have entry to credentials, advanced courses, and its Job Center. Individuals have two primary choices: CodeCademy Pro at $19.99 a month if billed yearly, and CodeCademy Pro Student for $149.99 annually.
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A different virtual education program, FutureLearn, offers classes instructed by teachers from notable universities and groups, available free of charge or for a fee. These courses may range from brief tutorials to in-depth programs, with the potential for students to obtain either academic or professional credentials.
Different areas of expertise are also accessible, for example, Information Technology and Computer Science.
On FutureLearn, there are three distinct levels of registration: free, upgrade, and all access. The amount of money you need to pay to update varies depending on the course, but if you bill once a year then you will have unlimited access for $15.83 per month.
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The Odin Project was created with the purpose of making education free and accessible to all. It offers a top-notch and costless full-stack coding training course that can be done online. It enables students to have a direct, experiential approach to tasks such as constructing a website or scripting a program. There are more than 5000 people who have contributed to the creation of the curriculum, and it is carefully selected and regularly updated.
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Skillcrush is a web-based school that strives to make technology more accessible for everyone. It offers classes in coding, design, and user experience. The entire educational program consists of virtual classes which are flexibly-timed, centered around assignments, and guided by instructors.
Although classes come at a cost, Skillcrush offers a free coding camp open to the public; all you have to do is create an account! Individuals who desire to acquire particular abilities can sign up for specialization classes. The cost of the classes differs and they are all offered with a two-week refund policy. People who wish to transition to an occupation in technology can take advantage of the Break Into Tech program.
Suggested courses:
Code Avengers is an educational organization that offers lessons in coding and computer science. Three different programs can be chosen: one for beginning students aged 5-14 years old (Junior), one for education professionals (Edu), and one for those over the age of 15 starting out (Pro).
There is an option to try out the courses free of charge, however, you will need to pay for them once the trial period has ended. The Junior program allows you to choose from three plans: a 3 Month Plan at a rate of $20/month, a 6 Month Plan at a cost of $14/month, and a 1 Year Plan at $8/month.
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