Where to Find Coding Classes

If you’ve decided to learn coding, you may now find yourself looking for a coding class. There are a few different types of learning options, and the choice of where to learn will depend on a number of factors including what type of education you want, your schedule, and your budget. Keep reading for more information about some of the different coding class options and where you can find them.

What Is Coding?

Coding is the process of using coding languages to give a computer a set of instructions. As digital technology has proliferated in recent years, coding has become an in-demand skill that is needed in many different industries. There are many different coding languages, with each one being created for a specific purpose. Popular coding languages include HTML, Python, JavaScript, and SQL.

Coding Class Options

If you want to learn coding, there are a variety of different options, including colleges, professional training centers, on-demand websites, and free online resources. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Colleges

One of the most comprehensive ways to learn coding is to enroll in a college computer programming degree program. Degree programs take a number of years to complete--for instance, a bachelor’s degree takes four years--and cover a broad range of coding skills. You’ll learn a variety of coding languages and many other coding skills in addition to other computer-related skills like security, data structures, and artificial intelligence. If you want to pursue a professional career in coding, then a college degree is an effective way to gain the skills you’ll need and also to gain access to a network of industry contacts. College programs run on a set schedule, so you’ll need to do your research and make sure you apply on time. There are also application requirements such as a high school diploma or the equivalent. In addition, some classes have prerequisites. While they are comprehensive, college programs are also the most expensive way to learn coding, with yearly costs often in the tens of thousands, depending on the college that you choose. In addition, some of your time will be spent on completing general education classes that are not directly related to coding but are a required part of the program.

Noble Desktop and Other Professional Training Centers

In recent years, an increasing number of students have been learning coding by taking classes at professional training centers rather than colleges. Schools like Noble Desktop offer a variety of comprehensive coding class options, like bootcamps and certificate courses, that are designed to give you all of the skills you’ll need to pursue a career in coding, at a fraction of the time and cost of a college degree. These types of programs are often accelerated, with a focus on helping you gain all the skills that you’ll need, in a relatively short amount of time. Unlike college, you won’t take general education classes that are unrelated to coding. Instead, you’ll take classes that cover the coding skills that you’re likely to use in a coding job. Most certificate programs can be completed in a number of months, and bootcamps usually only take weeks to finish. Since these programs are intended to get students career-ready, they usually include career support. For example, some include one-on-one mentoring sessions where you can get help building your resume and portfolio. You might also get help preparing for interviews, or even access to internships and professional networks. These courses are often designed for students with busy schedules and may include a variety of flexible scheduling options like weeknight and weekend classes. Many come in both in-person and live online formats, and include both full-time and part-time options. 

Coursera, Udemy, and Other On-Demand Platforms

On-demand learning is another way to learn to code. You’ll find a variety of different on-demand coding classes offered through websites like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, and Masterclass. Classes vary in length, with both shorter and longer options, and most are cheaper than live training options. When you learn on-demand, you’ll have a lot of flexibility. Material for these classes is pre-recorded so you can work through it at your own pace, stopping and starting whenever you need to. Unlike live classes though, you won’t have access to a live instructor, so you won’t be able to ask questions or get feedback in real time. Since the course content is pre-recorded, it also has the potential to become outdated, which can be a real concern in a field like coding where technology changes quickly. Another potential downside to on-demand learning is that it can be more easy to lose focus. Without the accountability of a live instructor and class, some on-demand learners find it easy to get distracted, and in some cases even fail to finish the course.

Free Resources

Some people use free resources to help them learn coding. You’ll find many different free coding resources online, and these can be useful in a number of different ways. If you’re trying to get an overview of a specific coding topic, learn a new skill, troubleshoot a problem, or practice your skills, free resources can be a great option. However, if you want to code professionally, you’ll probably need to invest in a paid class where you can follow a comprehensive curriculum under the guidance of an expert. A class also gives you the ability to ask questions and get feedback, both of which you’re likely to need when you’re learning to code.

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.