5 Ways High School Students Can Learn Coding For FREE ✨
It’s no secret that the Bay Area’s booming tech industry is driving up demand for individuals with a computer science background. Therefore, it’s shocking that less than half of all high schools in California offer computer science courses. Thankfully, there are many free coding classes for high school students that can help them understand coding concepts without a traditional classroom setting. Read on to learn about the 5 best options for learning to code online.
1. YouTube University
Although YouTube may not be a real university, it can certainly be educational. YouTube’s enormous selection of free content makes it easy to pick up any new topic with ease, and coding is no exception. With the ability to pause, rewind, and repeat videos as often as you please, it can be a good way to learn at your own pace.
Today’s high schoolers have grown up in the age of the internet, and they are no strangers to the many doors YouTube can open for those interested in online self-teaching. If you aren’t sure where to start, the huge selection of available content might be a bit overwhelming, so browse videos from various channels to find what suits you best.
2. Google’s CS First
Google’s CS First program is a free online curriculum designed to help teachers introduce computer science to their students. CS First offers a range of activity-based lessons from beginner to advanced, which makes it accessible to anyone, even if they don’t have a background in computer science. By signing into your Google account, you can track your lesson progress and save activities as you go along, which makes it useful for learning on your own.
CS First is intended for grades 4 through 8, which makes it an excellent resource to capture students’ interest in computer science at a young age, but it can also be used by high school students looking to get a basic understanding of coding concepts, even if their school doesn’t offer the curriculum.
3. Code.org
Code.org is a one-stop shop for students of all ages to begin learning to code online. Code.org offers free video lessons and practice activities in various categories, so no matter what area of computer science you are interested in learning, you will likely find something there that interests you. Code.org also offers lesson modules tailored to different age groups, from elementary school to college, so it’s never too early or too late to begin learning. The lessons gradually increase in difficulty until students reach the project stage, where they can combine what they’ve learned into a functional app, game, or website. You can also get a feel for Code.org’s lessons by viewing one of their Hour of Code tutorials.
4. Mission Bit’s FREE Coding Classes
What does Mission Bit have that Youtube, CS First, and Code.org don’t? A live learning experience! Mission Bit’s patient, passionate instructors teach courses in real time, so you’ll always be able to ask questions and get personalized help that video lessons can’t provide. The world of coding is wide, so Mission Bit offers a range of semester-long or part-time coding classes for high school students that allow them to dive into whichever area of computer science speaks to them.
What’s really cool about Mission Bit is that it offers so much more than hard skills. With core values packed right into the curriculum, students leave class with solutions to some of today’s latest issues in social justice. Understanding coding concepts and learning to code online are only the beginning! By promoting community, embracing accountability, and encouraging students to take smart risks, Mission Bit fosters an environment of love where students can practice empathy, honesty, and openness.
And at the end of every semester, students get to put their expertise to work by assembling and showcasing a final coding project. The best part is, because Mission Bit’s free classes are taught virtually online, students are able to learn together, build teamwork skills, and come away with a sense of community and belonging that you just can’t get from learning to code on your own.
5. Mission Bit’s FREE Coding Workshops
If enrolling in a semester-long, part-time course seems like a lot to take on at first, Mission Bit also offers virtual coding workshops featuring new coding concepts every month. These hands-on workshops include learning activities that allow participants to apply their new skills right away. And by the end of each workshop, participants are able to put together a final project of their very own.
If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly way to learn coding from home, with all the benefits of a live learning experience but without the commitment of a semester-long course, Mission Bit’s free coding workshops are the best way to go. And once you’ve been to a workshop or two and taken a peek at what Mission Bit has to offer, you might even be inspired to take on a semester-long course after all!
As you can see, there are a host of free options for high school students who want to learn to code online. While coding classes for high school students are often hard to come by in a traditional school setting, the above resources make it easier than ever to understand coding concepts in ways that appeal to a variety of needs, interests, and learning styles. The more high school students take advantage of resources like these, the easier it will be for them to thrive in the growing tech industry of the future.
