The internet is brimming with learning tools. Katie Kovalcin takes a look at the coolest code schools on the block.
There comes a point in everyone's life when it's time to take more control of your destiny. So, if you've built your own site using free WordPress themes orDrupal themes, you might be craving more control. It's time to take an online coding course, learn to code yourself and built your site, your way. We have many accessible educational tools popping up that make learning new skills more straightforward. The daunting task is finding the one that is right for you and your learning style. I've tested and reviewed some of the most popular schools being talked on the web today, to give you a better understanding of the pros and cons of each. Here's my list of the webs 10 best online coding courses.
Code School offers some free course and it's one of my favouritesOf all the tools I dug into,Code Schoolwas one of my favourites. Not only does the site look great, but it offers quality content and a great student experience. You can follow a 'path', which will guide you through a succession of different courses, or you can opt for a single course on its own. There are also 'electives' on offer – additional courses you can take to supplement your path. The videos are quirky and fun in an 'after-school special' kind of way – which is a refreshing break from typically dry video tutorials. It's like watching Bill Nye explain it – which is to say, comforting. After watching a video, you work on your own tasks – relating back to the video if required. If you get really stuck (like I did) you can 'buy' answers with points you've earned from other classes. Code School offers some courses for free, so you can try it out for size, or you can buy a monthly subscription for $29/month. If you're looking to splash a few bucks on a learning tool, I would recommend spending your money here.
Skillcrush closely resembles learning in the classroomSkillcrushis a unique online coding course, and the one that most closely resembles an actual curriculum in a classroom setting. Users can enrol in either a one-off three-week course, or a three-month 'blueprint' (a design- or development-focused path that takes the student through three courses that build on each other). Once enrolled, students have access to not only a classroom setting chat forum with their fellow students, but also office hours and one- on-one time with their instructor.
Udacity covers a huge array of technical subjectsUdacityoffers robust guides to many different topics, with seriously advanced courses for everything from robotics to design theories in everyday life. All courses are summarised before you even begin, outlining the difficulty level, why the course is important, any prerequisites for taking it, and the project you will complete at the end. This meant I could easily scan through and choose what suited me best.
Code Avengers takes a simple step-by-step approachCode Avengers walks you through each process in very simple, step-by-step instructions, starting with minor tasks, while you watch what happens in a mini phone simulator next to your editor. Tasks weren't so difficult that I felt the need to 'cheat', but they weren't so simple that I was just copying and pasting.
The Khan Academy is very straight forward and offers quizzes tooWhat's interesting with Khan Academy is that you hear someone talking while they write the code, which feels natural, like you are sitting down with someone. The courses were straightforward, easy to follow and I could then transfer the concepts to the simple exercises. Sometimes, there are mini-quizzes following a demo, which made me think about things conceptually and helped me understand what the code was doing a little better.
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