Whether you’re thinking about coding as a side hobby or considering it as a new career direction, diving in can be daunting.
Paying thousands of dollars for a course and dedicating months of your time to learning is a big decision to make, especially if you’re not sure whether it’s something you’ll enjoy or excel at. Luckily, there are lots of free resources that you can explore to figure out whether coding is right for you, before making any commitments.
Codecademy
Codecademy is the first place many people turn to when they’re first exploring the world of code. This is because it’s a free online resource that offers interactive learning made for absolute beginners, and allows you to learn at your own pace.
Each course takes you through the language you want to learn in small, easily digestible steps, where you read a little and then write the code you’ve learned on screen to see it in action. This kind of interactive learning is really helpful for beginners who want to get a feel for how code works in an easy, stress-free environment.
Lynda
Lynda is a great resource filled with thousands of different video courses on topics from coding to knitting. They offer a free trial month of learning, or if you have a Toronto Library Card you can get a full membership for free.
Since Lynda is just a curator of online-learning content, it can be a little more difficult to find a course that’s as comprehensive as somewhere like Codecademy, but it also means that you can potentially find a course that is suited directly towards you and your unique learning style. This kind of learning is perfect if you want to know about a specific area of coding or have a lesson directed towards a specific end goal like building an app.
FreeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp is a resource very similar to Codecademy in it’s functionality, with a simpler more bare-bones interface. They also have lessons that are sequential, making it easy to flow from language to language, advancing your coding knowledge over time.
At times, FreeCodeCamp also encourages you to collaborate with others and Google for solutions to a problem, which mimics the real world life of a developer. This kind of learning is great if you want to learn to code while having to improvise and problem solve along the way.
W3Schools
W3Schools is a great resource to bookmark to while your learning to code. Each element has its own page, so they are a well known reference for coders who have Googled how to do something and ended up on their website.
Their resources are clean and easy to understand, and a index on the left hand side of each page offers a complete list of the elements in a given language you may want to explore. This kind of learning is great for people who have a basic understanding of a language, and want to refresh their memory or explore more possible functionalities.
Free HTML & CSS Workshop
A Free Juno Workshop is a perfect option if you’re looking for an in-person learning experience. We run free workshops on a regular basis to give people the opportunity to learn in an open, beginner-friendly environment with professional instructors. Our workshops will teach you the fundamentals of code alongside exercises that put that learning into action with the end goal of creating a beautiful website.
Our content is targeted towards beginners and our team of mentors and instructors will make sure you’re always caught up and on track. This type of learning is perfect if you like learning in person with immediate help available, and like looking at the bigger picture of building an actual website alongside your lessons.
No matter why you’re thinking of learning to code, taking a chance on a free online course or in-person workshop has no downsides.
At Juno, not only will you be able to feel out whether coding is for you, but you’ll be able to talk to real world developers who can give you advice on your learning, your goals, and your career path. If you’re interested in learning more or attending a workshop, click below to find the next Workshop and reserve your spot.