I like to think of coding as applied math and sciences because it teaches us an iterative approach to solving problems and testing out our ideas. While I don’t consider myself a coder, apart from HMTL/CSS I don’t code in my daily work, I did find that learning the basics of how to code on CodeAcademy has done wonders for improving my problem solving skills.
Now that software is eating the world by automating all kinds of routine jobs, the basic knowledge of how lines of code create the digital worlds we explore every day is becoming a fundamental digital literacy. Coding isn’t particularly easy to learn but that’s exactly why it’s so valuable. Even if you have no plans to become a software developer, spend a few weeks or month learning to code and I can guarantee it will sharpen your ability to troubleshot and solve problems.
Watch the video below to discover why coding is the new “superpower” that isn’t being taught in in 90% of schools.
How You Can Start Learning To Code Right Now:
There many different options to learn to code online for free. I recommend starting with Codeacademy, joining the GitHub community, regularly reading coding related posts on Hacker News and taking one of the introductory computer science courses from an Ivy League-quality University. You’ll be surprised that coding isn’t nearly as difficult as you think and you can start creating and executing your own programs on your laptop or smartphone in a matter of weeks.
1. CodeAcademy – The education startup CodeAcademy has done a lot of incredible work to make learning to code more accessible for everyone. On their interactive website, you can learn to code in HTML/CSS, Javascript, PHP, Python and Ruby on Rails through building and executing your own code projects.
Their Code Year initiative helped introduce over 450,000 people to coding through a series of a simple code exercises that land once per week in your email inbox. And now they have made it even easier for anyone to learn the basics of coding with the release of their Hour of Code app for iPhone. This fun app let’s anyone code and run their first program in less than in an hour on their iPhone.
For their latest Hour Of Code initiative they have teamed up with Code.org. This initiative even received a shout out from President Obama who ask every young Americans to learn to code by saying, “Don’t just play on your phone — program it“. To stay competitive in the fast-growing digital economy, the young people of the world need to know how to read, write and code.
Link ====>> http://www.codecademy.com/
Incredibly, CodeAcademy’s project-based learning programs remain 100% free for everyone.
This initiative backed by Silicon Valley heavyweights like Facebook, Google and Apple offers a number of excellent free beginner’s tutorials for learning how to code.
Link ===>> www.code.org
3. Bitfoutain (affiliate link)
Bitfountain is the largest online coding bootcamp. They have taught over 100,000 people how to code in their immersive programs for iOS, Android and now Apple Watch. If you want to build apps for mobile devices, they offer an online experience that costs a fraction of the $7000-$1000 it costs to attend offline 3-month intensive coding bootcamps.
link ===>> http://bitfountain.io/
4. Computer Science 101 (Stanford)
This is the exact course that many of today’s start-up founders started with in the computer science program at Stanford University. Yet, this course is still aimed at anyone with no previous programming knowledge. Professor Nick Parlante does a great job of demystifying coding and showing how you can do it yourself.
In this course, you learn to code through play and fun experiments that involve writing short bits of computer code that enable you to more deeply explore the power and limitations of computers. Why not learn from Stanford, the University at the epiccentre of Silicon Valley technology revolution.
link ===>> http://online.stanford.edu/course/computer-science-101
5. Introduction to Computer Science
If you want to really learn computer science from scratch then Harvard University’s David J. Malan is the guy to learn from. This course is the most popular course at Harvard. In this entry-level course, Malan teaches you how to think algorithmically and he guides you through the process of learning a broad range of programming languages such as C, PHP, JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
The problem sets in this course force you to do the work to finish the course. Each of them are inspired by real world issues in biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming. This course is 16-weeks long and it is available for self-directed study on edX’s platform.
Link ===>> https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-computer-science-harvardx-cs50x
6. Creative, Serious and Playful Science of Android Apps
Learn Java, the programming language that powers Google’s Android operating system. This course is available for self-directed study on Coursera. It is 11 weeks long and it is taught by Computer Science professor Lawrence Angrave from the University of Illinois.
No prior programming knowledge is necessary but you will need an Android device to test your creations. You will learn by creating your own Android apps that you can run on your Android smartphone or tablet.
Link ===>> https://www.coursera.org/course/androidapps101
7. Startup Engineering
If you want to build your own Internet startup then I highly recommend taking this course. I’ve seen so many people with good ideas fail simply because they lack the technical skills to execute their vision. If you’re serious about making it in the startup world, you need to learn how to code so you understand the development process, even if you plan to partner with a technical cofounder or outsource the development.
This is the most hands-on of the learn to code courses I’ve seen on different MOOC platforms like edX, Udacity and Coursera. In 10 weeks you will gain a solid foundation in the tools of coding so you can manage a team of coders or do-it-yourself. This course is available for self-directed study on Coursera.
Link ===>> https://www.coursera.org/course/startup
8. Learn to Program With Python: The Fundamentals
If you’re going to choose one programming language to learn, I would choose Python (or possibly Ruby On Rails). This course from the University of Toronto provides you with a solid foundational training in creating software applications with the popular Python programming language.
I also recommend taking Learn to Program: Crafting Quality Code that is also taught by computer science professors Jennifer Campbell and Paul Gries. Both of these online courses are available for self-directed study on Coursera.
Link ===>> https://www.coursera.org/course/programming1
9. Programming For Everybody (Python)
This course teaches you the basics of programming using Python. You don’t have to any previous coding experience and you don’t even have to be very good at mathematics to complete this course. The next session starts on June 1st, 2015.
Link ===>> https://www.coursera.org/course/pythonlearn
10. Introduction to Programming With Java
This introductory course on programming with Java from the University of Carlos III of Madrid is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Java is one of the most popular programming languages and it provides a strong foundation for learning Android development. The next session of this course starts on April 28th, 2015.
Link ===>> https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-programming-java-part-1-uc3mx-it-1-1x
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