How to get started with Computer Science in High School
Computer Science encompasses a huge variety of different specialization and disciplines, from Website Development to Systems Programming to Machine Learning. You don’t have to wait until you reach college to explore the amazing world that is software development. In fact, starting your journey in high school is a great way to grow your skills, open up a variety of opportunities, and prepare yourself for a rigorous computer science major in college if that’s what you might be interested in pursuing.
- Join Clubs or Programs
Joining a computer science club is a great way of using extracurriculars to explore your interest in software. Many high schools offer a variety of clubs that incorporate coding, whether it be the programmers in the First Robotics Team, or a GirlsWhoCode chapter. Speaking of GirlsWhoCode, there is an abundance of computer science clubs outside of school available to students. Organization chapters/clubs can be available at your local library or youth center, it’s just a matter of going online and finding a location near you. During these times of Covid-19, even more clubs are available now that we’ve transitioned to a virtual format. There’s also a variety of learning programs you can join where you can learn how to code, build projects, and even receive mentorship. Here are just a couple examples:
2. Attend Workshops and Hackathons
Workshops and Hackathons are an amazing way to learn about different areas in software development and grow your skills to create a project. Many organizations and companies offer free workshops, most of which are beginner-friendly. You can attend a workshop, learn more about a computer language such as Python, and apply your skills to a small activity. An hour-long workshop can provide you with much knowledge.
Hackathons are larger events that usually take place over weekends with hundreds of participants. You collaborate with a team or work by yourself to create a project and compete against the other teams. Hackathons usually have a variety of categories in tech, both software and hardware. The event usually consists of workshops too, along with guest speakers. Even if you don’t submit a project, hackathons are a great way to cover a variety of skills over a few days, and meet students from all over the world with the same interests as you. Many hackathons are now taking place virtually due to Covid-19, so now you can have greater access to these events. You can find upcoming high school hackathons here: https://hackathons.hackclub.com/
4. Take Computer Science Courses
There are a variety of ways to learn how to program. Some prefer the classroom setting while other prefer going online and teaching themselves. Many high schools offer computer science courses; one that students interested in software usually take is AP Computer Science Principles. But not all schools offer this class or a computer science elective. Another option can be community college courses. As a high school student, you can do dual or concurrent enrollment at your local community college and be able to take a programming class. Although most of these classes may not count for high school credit, taking a computer science class at a CC can open a variety of different opportunities to learn and display your interest in the field.
If you want to learn on your own, there are many free online courses you can complete to do so. Some platforms with courses like these include freeCodeCamp, CodeCademy, Coursera, Udemy, and W3Schools .
5. Create your own Projects!
A great way to grow and practice your skills is to “learn by doing”. In computer science, it means applying your skills to projects and activities. You can create anything from a small survey page to a browser extension. Just practicing your skills and letting your creativity shine will greatly improve your abilities. Getting started on projects requires learning programming languages first, downloading software and text editors too. But if you’re just getting started, there’s tons of online platforms where you can build projects, as well as view other user’s projects and collaborate. Some of these include https://repl.it/ and https://codepen.io/.
Getting started with computer science sounds harder than it actually is. Beginning in high school truly opens a variety of opportunities as you explore the incredible world of software programming. Who knows? Maybe learning to type a few lines of code on one of these sites can launch your journey in computer science for years to come.
