This page has a few FREE online resources that should keep you busy getting creative with code.
One for Everyone
Whatever your age this is a great, no skills required introduction to games development, whether you just want to dabble for fun or pursue coding and game design as a career. Did you know that the skills required in game design are also used by the car and aerospace manufacturing industry to create virtual reality pre-visualisations?
Ready Maker
Ready Maker is a games development environment, known as a games engine. Here you are able to take shapes and images and give them behaviours and physical properties which can be controlled by easy to learn conditional logic statements (which are the foundation of coding). The sky is the limit with this easy to learn cross platform software whether on desktop or mobile. Just follow the link below the picture to go and get Ready.
Below is an 8 part video playlist which we have made to show you how to install Ready and make your very first basic game. After watching these videos, you will have everything you need to get going, designing and building your own games.
Ready Maker Tutorial 8 video playlist
One for the younger ones
This suggestion is a fantastic starter for younger coders. Fun and colourful, it is aimed at the younger audience. It is unfortunately only available on Apple devices but I think a lot of households have access to an iPhone or an iPad.
Swift Playgrounds
Swift Playgrounds is app that makes it fun to learn and experiment with code. You solve interactive puzzles in the guided “Learn to Code” lessons to master the basics of coding, or experiment with a wide range of challenges that let you explore many unique coding experiences.
Swift Playground
Swift Playgrounds requires no coding knowledge, so it’s perfect for learners just starting out. Swift, a powerful programming language created by Apple and used by professionals to build many of today’s most popular iPhone or iPad apps. Swift Playground is available from the Apple App Store completely FREE, just tech the link.
One for the curious minds
Do you already know a bit code code? Maybe you are good at one language and fancy learning another? Maybe you are just curious and want to find out what coding is all about? If this sounds like you, then we have just the resource for you:
Solo Learn
SoloLearn has one of the world’s largest collection of FREE programming courses to learn how to code. Learn Python, C++, JavaScript, Java, jQuery, machine learning, data science, and more. You receive a certificate for each course that you complete. Choose from thousands of programming topics to learn coding concepts, brush up your programming skills, or stay informed about the latest coding trends. Challenge yourself and others with head-to-head coding competitions. Write and test your code on a wide range of devices from PC, Mac, Android and Apple iOS.
We highly recommend this platform for anyone who wants to get a well rounded knowledge of coding and all the many languages that are out there in the world of business at the moment. Here are just a few of the languages on offer: Web Development, including HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, JQuery, Python, Java, Kotlin, C++, C, C#, PHP, SQL, Algorithms & Data Structures, Ruby, Machine Learning, Design Patterns, Git, Swift, And many other topics you will not find anywhere else. The beauty of learning to code is that once you have mastered one language and the core principles of coding, it is a short hop to master another.
One for the over achievers
If you want to earn yourself extra credit and do a proper dive into computing, you should head on over to our next recommendation. I am just going to point you toward the computer and coding Side of this next learning resource but it is so much more. Whatever subject you are studying at school, Maths, Science, whatever, check out the totally FREE lessons on offer here:
Khan Academy
What started as one man tutoring his cousin has grown into a large passionate organisation with an audacious mission: to provide a free world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Built by developers, teachers, designers, strategists, scientists, and content specialists who passionately believe in inspiring the world to learn. They, like us believe that education is a human right. As a nonprofit organisation, Khan Academy believe in a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Instead of running ads or subscriptions, they are supported by individual contributions from people like you. If you find this resource useful, many consider donating to support them (we at SGM are not associated with Khan Academy in any way. We just recognise it as an amazing FREE education resource.)
And finally… One for the Web Heads
If you have ever fancied the notion of becoming a web developer, and why not? As careers go, it is a solid choice as the world wide wed is the bedrock foundation of… pretty much everything these days! If you are considering this pathway and don’t know where to get started, look no further, we have you covered.
The Net Ninja
Get on and black belt your web skills from know-nothing zero to complete master of your craft ninja hero. The Net Ninja is a YouTube channel dedicated to producing, literally Over 1000 free programming tutorials coving all aspects of modern web development. This channel is the work of the fantastic Shaun Pelling, who is not only a first class web developer but also an amazing teacher who demystifies the role of a web developer with skill and mastery of a…ninja!
Here is your starting block on the road to web ninja mastery with the incredible and refined latest update of The Net Ninja’s HTML and CSS Crash Course Tutorial playlist, consisting of 11 videos that will teach you the very foundations of web development. From there you can follow your own path and discover more, using this as a starting block.
It’s a wrap… for now
Well that is the round up of our recommended lockdown learning. That little lot should keep you would be coders on your toes for sometime to come. All the best with your learning journey. There is an amazing world of opportunity out there in the world of tech and a real skill shortage to fill all the roles required to make our digital world tick. Self learning is the way forward and as you can see, there is an incredible amount of FREE information available on the web. Please use what we have posted here as the beginning of your journey and start your adventures in coding today.
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