What is the Best Course to Learn Coding?

When you first start researching coding classes, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. There are a lot of different options including short classes that you can complete in a matter of days, longer programs that take weeks or months, classes intended for beginners, and expert options that require prior experience. You’ll also find a variety of class formats, such as full-time and part-time courses. Finally, class content will also vary widely. For instance, some classes focus on a limited number of coding skills like HTML or SQL, while others--like a software engineering certificate-- are much more comprehensive. Keep reading for more information about some of the most common class options and how they differ from one another.

What Is Coding?

Coding involves using code to write a set of instructions that a computer can understand. The first coding languages were developed in the 1940s and 1950s, and there are now hundreds of different languages, each developed for a specific purpose. According to Stack Overflow, which rates coding languages by popularity, the most popular languages today are JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Python, SQL, and TypeScript.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Course

How Much Experience Do You Have?

One of the most important things to think about when choosing a coding class is to find one that matches your level of experience. If you’ve never coded before, then you need to find a class that is designed for beginners. There are many different beginner coding courses out there. These courses typically start with foundational concepts and then move on to more advanced concepts. Beginner coding courses also come in different lengths. If you’re a beginner, a shorter introductory class can be a good way to get a feel for this field and see whether you’re interested in taking a more comprehensive course. If your goal is to learn to code professionally, then a longer course like a bootcamp or certificate program might be the right option for you. These types of classes take weeks or months to complete and are designed to get you ready to work in a coding-related job. If you already have some coding experience, a beginner class might still work because it can help you refresh your skills. However, it might also be too slow, and an intermediate or advanced course might be a better match.

What Is Your Budget?

For most people, budget is also an important consideration when choosing a coding class. The cost of a coding class can vary widely. The most expensive way to learn is to enroll in a college degree program. Depending on the college you choose, with this option, you’re looking at spending thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per year and taking a number of years to finish your education. One of the biggest benefits of a college program is that it will be extremely comprehensive. However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive education, another option is a bootcamp or certificate program. These options generally take months rather than years to complete and cost significantly less than a college education. They cover a wide range of coding skills and run in an accelerated format. They are designed to get you career-ready in a relatively short amount of time. There are also many different shorter coding classes that you can take either in-person or online. Most of these classes won’t teach you everything you need to know to be a professional coder, but they can give you the skills to start coding. Many shorter classes only cost a few hundred dollars.

How Do You Plan to Use Your Coding Skills?

When you’re trying to pick a coding class, it’s also important to think about your end goal; how do you plan to use your coding skills? If you want to work as a professional in a field that involves coding, then you’ll probably need to take a comprehensive, career-focused course. A comprehensive course will start with the basics, and take you up to an advanced level. It is also likely to include a variety of coding projects where you can develop practical experience. In addition, many career-focused coding classes come with career assistance. For instance, you’re likely to get help building your portfolio. Other types of assistance might include tips on building a resume and interviewing for a job, one-on-one mentoring sessions, or access to internships. If you’re not planning to be a professional coder and you just want to learn a few coding skills, or if you’re not sure how serious you are and want to learn more about this field, then a shorter program may be a good option for you. Shorter coding classes only take a matter of days to finish and cost less than the longer classes. They can be an effective way to start learning without committing a lot of time and money.

What Training Format Works Best For You?

Coding classes come in many different formats, so when you’re comparing classes, you’ll also need to consider which format will be most effective for you. One way to learn is through an in-person class. In-person classes tend to be the most engaging since you are physically present with the instructor and other students. This format can also make it easier to stay focused. In addition, it can be easier for the instructor to see whether or not you need additional help. However, in-person learning is also the least flexible format. You have to commute to a classroom, and you’re limited to courses that take place in your geographic area. If you’re looking for a more flexible option, then you may find that a live online class is a good choice for you. Live online classes take place in real-time, but rather than traveling to a classroom, you attend by simply logging in via computer. With a live online class, you are still able to ask questions and get immediate feedback, however, you can attend from any location that you want. A potential downside to online learning is that you’ll need your own computer equipment and software.

Learn Coding with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding and design school based in New York City and it offers many different types of coding classes, with both short classes that can help you quickly master the basics of coding, and longer, more comprehensive courses where you can develop the skills that you’ll need to code in a professional setting. Its coding classes can be taken in-person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include the option of a free retake within one year.

If you’re looking for a short coding class, Noble offers a beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp is a multi-day course that starts with Python basics and takes you to the start of machine learning with Python. You’ll begin by covering fundamentals like writing statements and expressions, creating variables, and working with different data types. After that, you’ll learn about structuring programs, which includes using conditional statements and control flow tools. The next part of the bootcamp is focused on arrays and dataframes and covers importing and cleaning data using NumPy and Pandas. Finally, you’ll learn to analyze and visualize data. This includes working with key data science libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This class also comes with a one-on-one bonus training session.

Another bootcamp option is the FinTech Bootcamp. This course is designed to help you gain the skills that you’ll need for an entry-level position in data science and financial technology, and covers a variety of in-demand finance and data skills. You’ll learn Python fundamentals, including advanced libraries. You’ll also learn to use Python for data visualizations and financial analysis. The bootcamp also covers working with SQL to query databases. This bootcamp can be taken either full-time or part-time. It includes six one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Noble Desktop also offers a variety of certificate programs that include coding. One popular option is the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. This course covers everything you need to know to create a website from scratch. You’ll learn a variety of both front end and back end skills. These include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, Express.js, MongoDB, React, and Node.js. You’ll also learn about databases, APIS, interactivity, and server environments. You’ll receive ten one-on-one mentoring sessions. As part of the bootcamp, you will also have the option to attend Noble’s SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp for free. Finally, you’ll work on real projects that can be used for a portfolio. 

Another popular Noble Desktop option is the Software Engineering Certificate. This is a comprehensive, multi-week course designed for students who want to become a Software Engineer or a Full Stack Developer. You’ll learn about front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. This includes learning a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. The program also covers JavaScript, and the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In addition, the course covers Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.