Top Free Resources to get started with Learning Computer Science

Developer Student Club — UTSG
dscutsg
Published in
4 min readFeb 12, 2022
Photo by Christopher Gower on Unsplash

Getting started with Computer Science as a young student can be daunting without the right resources. There’s a plethora of information out there which tends to be overwhelming if not looked at correctly. To tackle this, GDSC has compiled a list of free resources aimed at making the field of computer science more accessible for you!

  1. Coursera Course: Learn to Program by the University of Toronto

Learn to Program: The Fundamentals | Coursera

This course guides students through the fundamentals of programming using Python, one of the most versatile, in-demand and beginner-friendly programming languages out there. The Coursera course is taught by current UofT professors and is structured similarly to the CSC108: Introduction to Computer Programming course offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Technologies learnt: Python

2. Udemy Course: The Complete Web Development Bootcamp

The Complete 2022 Web Development Bootcamp | Udemy

Web Development is a versatile skill that allows many students to make their way into the technical field while developing their skills and interests. The Udemy course is a low-cost resource that provides a holistic learning about all things web development.

Technologies learnt: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, React.js, MongoDB, Bootstrap, SQL

3. Harvard’s CS50 Course

CS50: Introduction to Computer Science | Harvard University

Quite possibly the most well-known and comprehensive Introduction to Computer Science course available online! Learn the fundamentals of programming and the field from the best Harvard minds on EdX. This course involves an introduction to the theories in computer science along to build a solid foundation towards learning advanced technologies.

Technologies Learnt: C, Python, JavaScript, SQL, HTML/CSS

4. FreeCodeCamp

https://www.freecodecamp.org/

FreeCodeCamp is the go-to platform to learn all things programming. It consists of thousands of hands-on, comprehensive and beginner-friendly tutorials on multiple topics. Be it web or mobile app development, AI or data analytics, FreeCodeCamp has something for all technical fields! There are tons of guides and tutorials to allow students to learn from scratch and build projects of their own.

Technologies Learnt: Programming languages, web development, machine learning and data science, app development, data structures and algorithms

5. Mobile App Development by Kalle Hadden

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWr0mx597DnSGLFk1WfvSkQ/videos

This channel has comprehensive videos for anyone looking into learning how to build mobile apps using Flutter. The tutor guides watchers to create realistic application clones for well-known platforms such as Netflix and Instagram, and also guides watchers through his own past projects. The channel also provides many in-depth videos about current technological trends and news, and so is a great resource for understanding the world of tech!

Technologies Learnt: Python, Flutter, Linux System, Agile

6. W3Schools

https://www.w3schools.com/whatis/

W3Schools is the perfect companion for anyone learning web development and trying out their hand on real-world projects. The website includes comprehensive, easy-to-understand guides on every topic imaginable in the field of web development. It also offers an online code compiler next to all its examples to make sure the user is able to visualise the code while learning new topics!

Technologies learnt: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, SQL, Python, PHP, Java, JQuery, C++

7. Coursera: IBM’s Introduction to Machine Learning

IBM Introduction to Machine Learning | Coursera

Given the rise in popularity of machine learning and data science, this 4 course specialisation offered by IBM is the perfect guide to gaining relevant knowledge of machine learning and employing it on real world cases! It teaches the student introductory skills in data science and machine learning algorithms, and also guides one on how to apply them on real-life business models. You’ll be able to identify when to use machine learning to explain behaviours and when to use it to predict future outcomes.

Technologies learnt: SQL, machine learning modelling, supervised and unsupervised learning, regression, and classification.

Overall, these resources provide a holistic pathway into your computer science journey. There are many spheres of the field to choose from — and there is always something for each of these areas in these beginner-friendly, free resources. Happy coding!

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