The Tech Edvocate

Top Menu

  • Apps
  • Contact Us
  • Home Page
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Home Tech2
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • My Account
  • My Speaking Page
  • New Online Learning Platform Offers Transformational Learning for Educators
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Page Example
  • Protected Content
  • Register
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shop
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Signup
  • Start Here
    • Governance
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • The Edvocate
  • Topics
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Governance
      • Lynch Education Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Contact Us
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Digital & Mobile Technology
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Request a Product Review
  • Apps
  • The Edvocate
  • The Edvocate Podcast

logo

The Tech Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Governance
      • Lynch Education Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Contact Us
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Digital & Mobile Technology
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Request a Product Review
  • Apps
  • The Edvocate
  • The Edvocate Podcast
  • Technology and Ethics in Education

  • An AI Implementation Lesson from Netflix

  • Choosing the Right Adaptive Learning Technology

  • How to Build a Fiercely Loyal Community Around Your Edtech Product

  • Product Review of Quillionz, The World’s First AI-Powered Question Generator

  • How Students Can Use VR to Explore Career Pathways

  • 3 Tech Challenges That Stand to Undermine the Future of Education

  • Bridging the Disconnect Between Edtech Research and Educators

  • Dealing with Devices: The Parent-Teen Paradox

  • Edtech Should Be About Learners, Not Investors

Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechHigher Education EdTech
Home›Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech›Five Apps That Make Learning to Code Fun

Five Apps That Make Learning to Code Fun

By Matthew Lynch
January 20, 2017
3
Spread the love

One concept that has become really popular in the last 10 years is the idea that everyone should be able to code. Despite this, the need for programmers is growing much faster than the number of people learning to code. The majority of people either have tried and failed to learn or have just avoided learning code. There is this idea that coding is too complicated, that it is only for a person who thinks a certain way. The way that coding has been taught in the past does not help either; it is tough to learn when you can barely understand the jargon the teacher uses during class.

The truth is that coding is relatively easy once you learn the basics. However, finding the time and tools that will actually help you may make progress can be incredibly difficult. As the need for programmers continues to outpace the number of available programmers, now is a great time to start learning the basics. The following are five free apps that will teach you to code without making it feel like a complete bore.

Codecademy

Codecademy is more than just a tool. With over 25 million people signed up from around the world, this site knows how to draw in students and keep them engaged in what they are learning. With over 20 different sessions, there is something for every level of coding experience. If you have never coded before, the site makes it interesting to learn the basics of things like website creation and working with CSS. If you are a more seasoned programmer, the site covers some of the most complex languages, such as Ruby and Python.

The site goes beyond just coding as well. They have lessons for learning how to work with GitHub, an open source code repository that is popular with businesses. They even teach users how to work in command line after explaining what it is and when you would use it. None of the other sites give you this hands-on look at the tools that programmers use the way Codecademy does.

They work very hard to ensure that the lessons are more than just a bunch of code. They give you lessons, then offer a scenario where you put together a website or program using what you have learned. This reinforces what you learned using something that is interesting to you. There is no better way to learn than with something that you enjoy.

Codecademy even has a Twitter account (@codecademy) where you can read about different success stories, frustrations, and ideas. You can even use it to help stay motivated or find inspiration if you aren’t sure why you should bother to code.

Free Code Camp

Free Code Camp has a lot in common with Codecademy. Their lessons are a little tighter too. With lessons that have all of the items already pre-set, all you have to do is read the lesson and work out how to apply it to what they want as the end coding session to each lesson. However, it does not offer the same real-time session, so you will have to create and code on your own outside of the site to reinforce what you have learned after finishing each course.

The map of the program is not a requirement. If you are more interested in learning about JavaScript, you can skip the other courses and begin working on JS. The one caveat is that you cannot get the certification without finishing the other courses. Even if you already know some of the languages, you need to complete all of the courses.

There is a wealth of help for those who use the site too, all of which is explained as soon as you sign up on the site. From chat rooms to forums, there is always someone who can help you solve problems when you encounter them.

In the end, it is worth it because those who earn the certifications can then be paired with a nonprofit and get some real experience with what you learn.

You can follow them on Twitter (@freeCodeCamp) if you want to see what is going on without logging into your account. This is actually preferable as the site will automatically take you to the lesson you are working on and it can be difficult to exit that lesson to read the news and other information. It does ensure that you do not lose your place, though, and with coding, this is always better than accidentally exiting and ending up having to start all over again.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy isn’t just about learning computer coding; it is designed to help students in many different science and math areas. It even has a Test Prep section for practicing for the SAT, MCAT, GMAT, and a couple of other tests.

However, the coding lessons are far more detailed than most of the other available apps. You can pick your lesson, see how it is divided up, and see where you go after completing the lesson. This can help you plan for once you are done. They have many of the traditional types of lessons, but they also have focused on areas where you may have an interest, such as game programming or animation.

They even have a designated hour of code that makes it easy for you to schedule your coding time on a daily basis. After all, if you know exactly how long it is going to take, it is much easier to establish a time and get moving instead of starting strong and losing interest.

You can follow them on Twitter (@khanacademy) for the latest news on all of the lessons they offer. If you love the coding lessons, you can look into some of the other areas they offer to see how they make other topics just as enjoyable.

Inform 7

Inform 7 makes coding fun by focusing on helping you create text-adventure games. This is one of the oldest types of games available and the first that actually had a real story to follow (unlike Pong and Pac-Man which were largely about beating your opponent). The focus is entirely on the text, which means that the code is much easier to understand.

Like coding any other game, it does take a lot of time and dedication to complete your first game. However, once you are done, you have something that you can share with all of your family and friends demonstrating how far you have come. It gives you all of the basics you need to understand the basics of coding without feeling like an entirely dry lesson.

If you are interested in getting some random inspiration, follow their Twitter account (@inform7WIP). In 140 characters or less, they publish possible options for your adventures, and not always ones that will progress the story. It is a fascinating look at what makes the text-adventure genre so entertaining.

General Assembly Dash

Like Inform 7, General Assembly Dash focuses on the coding languages that are relatively easy to learn (HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript). These are all used to create websites, something that all programmers should be able to do. The projects you create for them are challenging enough without pushing you to the point of quitting. They do not have online tutorials, and the community is relatively inactive (unlike the other apps).

If you do not need a community for encouragement, this is the perfect site to help you get started coding quickly and easily. The site is probably the easiest to follow of all of the apps as well because it walks you through each phase and explains what you are doing in the context of a project. That means you know what you are doing before you do it, and you have already seen an example of what it should look like.

If you want to start with a simple language that you can use on your first day, this is the app where you should begin. It was designed for people who have had no exposure to coding. Once you are comfortable with the five lessons here, you can graduate to one of the most complex languages on one of the other sites. You will be able to more quickly delve into them once you understand the basics of these three languages.

One of the best things about General Assembly Dahs is their Twitter account (@GA). The lessons may not take you long to finish, but this gives you a reason to keep coding long after you finish. Their Twitter feed is full of positive information and news to inspire you to keep coding.

Conclusion

Coding is not as scary or difficult as people often believe. It is just a matter of finding the right method to learn it. These five apps excel at making coding not only easily accessible but fun. Some of the apps tend to lean toward requiring a basic understanding of coding even as they teach it from scratch; others are very much built for the novice who has next to no knowledge of coding. All of them can make you a successful programmer, no matter what your current level. Best of all, they are all free, so you can try out each of the apps before deciding which one is right for you.


Spread the love
TagsEdtechedtechchatelearningSTEAMSTEM
Previous Article

Why Makerspaces Are the Key to Innovation

Next Article

10 Reasons to Create Makerspaces in Your ...

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • EdTech & InnovationEdvocatePD

    The A-Z of EdTech Literacy: Letters G-M

    April 12, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    The Slow Gamification of K-12 Classrooms

    February 26, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech FuturesEdTech Startups & BusinessesEducation LeadershipHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechOnline Learning & eLearningPersonalized LearningTeachers

    User Case Study: Secondary School Courseware Uses Maplesoft Technology to Prepare Students for Post-Secondary Education

    November 6, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech Futures

    Why the Next 10 Years of Edtech Will Crush the Last 10

    March 20, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechHigher Education EdTech

    How Does Gamification Effect the Learning Process?

    March 18, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Digital & Mobile Technology

    9 Ways to Tell If a New App Is Ready For Classroom Use

    December 30, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch

3 comments

  1. Stephanie Chan 21 January, 2017 at 15:08 Reply

    Thanks Mathew for the crucial information. Actually, I’m in the process of learning how to code and given the list of sites that can assist I really appreciate.
    I am looking forward to learning more on coding.

  2. Carlisa Matthews 21 January, 2017 at 22:34 Reply

    Coding is the way to go in the future and more of these lessons have to be learned to allow students adapt easily to the world of mobile gadgets and a digital platform that keeps evolving each and every day.
    I appreciate your professional approach tp the topic.

  3. Useful links | Rhondda's Reflections - wandering around the Web 7 May, 2017 at 08:23 Reply

    […] Five Apps That Make Learning to Code Fun – The Tech Edvocate Coding can be relatively easy once you learn the basics but finding the time and tools that will help you may make progress can be quite difficult. The need for programmers continues to outpace the number of available programmers so now is a great time to start learning the basics. This post offers the following are five free apps that will teach you to code (without making it too tedious.). […]

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    Does video feedback improve teaching?

  • EdTech & Innovation

    How to Get More Women in Edtech

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechHigher Education EdTech

    How to revolutionize STEM education amongst millennials via social media channels

Login & Registration

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Technology and Ethics in Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 22, 2019
  • An AI Implementation Lesson from Netflix

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 21, 2019
  • Choosing the Right Adaptive Learning Technology

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 20, 2019
  • How to Build a Fiercely Loyal Community Around Your Edtech Product

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 19, 2019
  • Product Review of Quillionz, The World’s First AI-Powered Question Generator

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 18, 2019
  • Why Mobile Technology Enhances Instruction

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 14, 2016
  • 20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 11, 2017
  • 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 4, 2017
  • The positive connection between games and online learning

    By Matthew Lynch
    June 19, 2016
  • A Digital Future: K-12 Technology by 2018

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 25, 2017
  • Listening and Speaking With Digital Assistants | Jordan Lim
    on
    February 22, 2019

    Using Amazon Alexa for the English Classroom

    […] Using Amazon Alexa ...
  • Listening and Speaking With Digital Assistants | TESOL Blog
    on
    February 22, 2019

    Using Amazon Alexa for the English Classroom

    […] Using Amazon Alexa ...
  • Aronmaxwell
    on
    February 21, 2019

    Using Artificial Intelligence to Help Students with Learning Disabilities Learn

    Great article! Thanks for ...
  • Product Review of Quillionz, The World's First AI-Powered Question Generator - The Tech Edvocate - Wiredfocus
    on
    February 18, 2019

    Product Review of Quillionz, The World’s First AI-Powered Question Generator

    […] READ SOURCE ...
  • Product Review of Quillionz, The World’s First AI-Powered Question Generator - Techterrene
    on
    February 18, 2019

    Product Review of Quillionz, The World’s First AI-Powered Question Generator

    […] Source link ...

EdTech Policy & Reform

  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Complement Good Pedagogy, Not Attempt to Replace It

    Spread the loveThe newest generation of edtech is downright amazing; it’s no wonder that various education stakeholders might be a little excited about its potential to transform education. However, edtech ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyEdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How to Teach Kids to Communicate in This Digital Age

    Spread the loveWhen even the youngest children are spending the equivalent of a full work day looking at screens, it is perhaps no surprise that parents are wondering how to ...
  • EdTech FuturesEdTech Policy & Reform

    3 Reasons Why India Will Be A Leader in the EdTech Industry in the 21st ...

    Spread the loveAccording to a joint report by KPMG and Google, the online education industry is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 8 times to become a $1.96B ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How Does Technology Immersion Shape the Brain?

    Spread the loveDo you wonder what all of the screen time we have is really doing to our brains? As edtech continues to rise in prominence throughout the world, this ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFreshHigher Education EdTech

    Stop Supporting Digital Tools that Have Not Been Tested and Proven

    Spread the loveThe research behind a particular product is especially crucial for districts who are investing large amounts of money into new edtech programs and digital tools. Unfortunately, many districts ...

EdTech Startups & Businesses

  • EdTech Startups & BusinessesFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Be About Learners, Not Investors

    Spread the loveThe name should have been the first clue: “edtech” is supposed to be about both “education” and “technology,” but it is easy to overemphasize the second part and ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Startups & BusinessesHigher Education EdTech

    NetSupport DNA (Education Edition): In a Class by Itself

    Spread the loveIf you have followed my work over the past couple of years, then you know that I am a fan of NetSupport products. I have come to appreciate ...
  • EdTech Startups & BusinessesFeaturedFreshInfluencersTeachers

    Don’t Get Used: Make Edtech Companies Deliver on Their Promises

    Spread the loveMost educators have done it. They bought an edtech product from a company, only to discover that the product didn’t work the way the company promised. A defect ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Edtech Innovations in China

    Spread the loveEducational technology companies based in China earned more than $9 billion in the past five years. The top five companies, each valued at over $1 billion, accounted for ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Startups & BusinessesFeaturedFresh

    8 Steps to Successfully Piloting an Edtech Project

    Spread the loveThere are many new edtech tools on the market, and each claims it will improve student learning. Before your district can put promising new technology in the classroom, ...

Digital Equity

  • Digital Equity

    How OER Can Help Overcome the Higher Education Equity Barrier

    Spread the loveThe cornerstone of the American dream is the ability to succeed in life regardless of one’s family of origin. And, for most people, that requires a college education. ...

EdTech Futures

  • Assistive TechnologyEdTech Futures

    An AI Implementation Lesson from Netflix

    Spread the loveWhen it comes to managing content, Netflix understood the difficulties involved. The company handles enormous amounts of data each day and is under pressure to provide the proper ...
  • EdTech Futures

    Choosing the Right Adaptive Learning Technology

    Spread the loveAn Adaptive Learning Program (ALP) is a computer-based educational system that allows teachers to modify the way they present materials based on the performance of individual students. The ...
  • EdTech Futures

    3 Tech Challenges That Stand to Undermine the Future of Education

    Spread the loveMany of us tend to view the future of education through rose-colored glasses, daydreaming of a Utopian society where all of the education challenges and inequities of the ...
  • EdTech FuturesEdTech Policy & Reform

    3 Reasons Why India Will Be A Leader in the EdTech Industry in the 21st ...

    Spread the loveAccording to a joint report by KPMG and Google, the online education industry is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 8 times to become a $1.96B ...
  • EdTech FuturesFeaturedFresh

    What Does a Future Ready College Student Look Like?

    Spread the loveThe effort to ensure that students are “future ready” has gained momentum in recent years as more and more stakeholders have recognized the importance of digital learning tools ...

About Us

Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact Us

The Tech Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
advocatefored@gmail.com

Follow us

Copyright © 2019 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.