The Best Places To Learn Programming During The COVID-19 Pandemic

As the world slowing grinds to a halt while the pandemic still continues, it doesn’t mean your aptitude for learning should stop as well. Across the internet, there are endless resources such as Class Central, Udemy, and freeCodeCamp to help you learn a new skill for your own personal development or even for your business. 


Depending on the skills you would like to learn, you can learn different programming languages from various universities such as MIT, Harvard, or UCLA. Many of these courses are free and offer a shareable certification of completion if needed. 

Let’s take a deep dive into each of these resources and how the skills you learn can potentially apply to your business. 

Class Central

Class Central will be the main resource to find tons of free programming courses offered by the universities I mentioned earlier. You can learn about Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology.

The courses can also be sorted by the university and you can see every course that each university offers, not just the programming ones. Keep in mind that many courses are locked behind a sign-up date.

Udemy

Udemy is a great resource for those who prefer a more self-paced route instead. On Udemy there are over 100,000 courses that cover almost everything, but they are paid courses, unlike Class Central. However, these courses grant you lifetime access and most Udemy instructors offer a way to directly contact them if you need help or access to a community with your fellow students!

freeCodeCamp

freeCodeCamp is an excellent resource for aspiring programmers who want to get experience with programming without the commitment of having to pay for a course. They offer 6 different certifications such as Responsive Web Design, Javascript Algorithms, and Front End Libraries. 

Another neat thing is that your portfolio can be easily shared and show which certifications you have completed along with a calendar heatmap to show which days you have spent learning the most and a consecutive learning streak counter.

Tips For Learning At Home

I’ve covered a lot of resources that I hope you take to time to at least glance at it. Whether it be a paid course on Udemy or the free Intro to Web Development course from the University of California, there are plenty of opportunities to stretch your programming knowledge during these quiet times.

But taking a class at home can be challenging, especially if you haven’t done much remote work before now. So take the time to set yourself up for success by doing these few things:

• Create a distraction-free environment. It’s nearly impossible to focus on learning a new skill when your home is crowded or noisy. While we can’t control all of our surroundings, I recommend finding a quiet area in your home where you can shut the door and focus on learning programming.
  
  
• Commit to a defined schedule to develop a habit. It’s too easy to forget to study programming if you haven’t made it a habit. Set apart an hour every day or one day of the week to dedicate to programming.
  
  
• Define learning goals for yourself and reward yourself for each goal completed. Staying focused and completing programming courses is a huge accomplishment. So reward yourself! Treat yourself to your favorite comfort food or buy something you’ve always wanted.

Is Business Slow During The Outbreak?

Many small businesses are suffering from a lack of business, and the stay-at-home orders certainly haven’t helped. But now isn’t the time to invest less into your marketing budget. With the right strategy, you can refine your messaging to connect with customers during this difficult time. And the team of StoryBrand and HubSpot experts at ROI Online can help you do just that!

If you want to discuss ways to boost business during these next few months, schedule a free strategy session. We’ll help you identify opportunities for growth and create a plan to overcome your specific obstacles.