In addition to extracurricular activities and applying to jobs and internships, we have always encouraged our TKG clients to enroll in online courses in their areas of academic interests. A lot of high school students overlook them because they feel that they don’t get “credit” for taking them, when it reality taking an online course is an excellent way to further your passions. When you’re interested in a broad discipline, at some point you’re going to need to define your niche. Online classes help to do that, while introducing students to new topics they might not have heard of before. They’re also free, and are an especially great tool for anyone who is curious about basically anything.
We searched the web for our favorite online summer courses about computer science. As is always the case, this list is not exhaustive and we strived to cover a variety of subtopics within the field. Two of our favorite starting points are Coursera and edX. A note on their offerings: these classes don’t last forever. Many are self-paced, which is usually your best bet. But depending upon when the official “start” date of the class, even a self-paced one, you always want to check the last day of the course. If it’s not feasible for you to start a class today and finish it by May 15th, the end date, look for something similar. Also, the filters are your best friend. Select the proper language and skill level before you begin to save yourself from looking through courses that won’t work. And you should always read the prerequisites from the courses, too. You don’t want to be the smartest person in the room, but don’t take a course that requires Python if you’re not fluent in the language. Our finds are listed below:
Learn to Program in Java:
Java, one of the most popular programming languages, is often seen as essential in many computer science classes on college campuses. This course covers Java basics, control structures, data flow, and more.
Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose:
The creators of this course rightly believe that learning to program is essential for all students, and this course looks at the impact that computer has on fields that go beyond STEM such as arts, social science, and humanities.
Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines:
If you’re already familiar with Java, this intermediate course might be for you. Classic algorithms are introduced, and then you’ll use theoretical models to examine questions about computation and universality.
Introduction to Game Development:
Many online courses for game development are part of a longer series. If you want to learn the basics of game development and familiarize yourself with the tools and practices required to push your game to market, start here.
How Computers Work:
We all use computers every day, but do you really know how they function? This course dives into the fundamental concepts that you can apply when using any type of software or computer system. By completing this course, you’ll become a better computer user and learn tips and tricks for using word processing applications and the internet.
Machine Learning with Python: A Practical Introduction:
This introductory course covers the basics of machine learning, with modules about supervised vs. unsupervised learning. You’ll go over popular algorithms, study how machine learning affects society, and its many applications for the future.
Basics of Computing and Programming:
This introductory course covers a comprehensive list of basics including binary number systems, variables of program development, and data structures.
Artificial Intelligence:
Taught by Columbia University, this course (that starts in September) provides a broad understanding of the techniques required to build computer systems and an overview of how artificial intelligence solves real-world problems.
Software Development Fundamentals:
This course stands out because, in addition to learning how to build software, you’ll also learn about software testing techniques that help you find problems in your existing code. If you’ve already built something and want to check it for bugs, sign up.
Our goal with this roundup is to show you that even if your summer plans have been canceled or put on hold, you can still make progress and take steps (hopefully daily) to learn about computer science without leaving your house. Colleges care a lot about how you spend your free time, and we’re willing to bet you have a lot of free time these days. We encourage you to do your own research, find classes that interest you, and sign up.
Need helping figuring out what to do next? Contact us here.