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Website That Teaches Computer Coding for Free

Codecademy

Have you ever tried to teach kids computer programming? In my experience, computer programming is essentially another language, a language you use to communicate with computers. Just like any other languages, the earlier you start teaching kids computer language, the easier it is for them to be fluent at it. We introduced several apps teaching kids coding or programming. Hopscotch is one of my favorite. 

Today I am introducing another free resource Codecademy. It is a website of free coding lessons.
A website dedicated to teaching kids computer coding for free. Different from many other computer coding programs, this site teaches kids how to write actual codes, instead of coding blocks with images. The short lessons are interactive activities, so it is still fun. If your kids are ready to learn serious computer programming, this is a good place to start.
Codecademy is a site actually teaching kids computer language, writing computer programming codes. With Hopscotch, kids don’t have to actually write codes to build the program. The app breaks a coding project into smaller tasks, and then transforms the tasks into visual blocks like forward arrows, turning signals. Kids build the program by putting the blocks into a sequence which can be translated into programming codes. With Hopscotch, kids are basically learning how the programming codes are built without actually writing the codes.

In Codecademy, kids will actually write programming codes. For example, if you want to know how much is 3+4, you write a code “3+4” to ask the computer. If you want to see “Hello, Computer” on your screen, you write “var myName = “Computer”; print(“Hello, “+ myName);”  The nice thing about Codecademy is the structure of the lessons.

RELATED: 5 Crucial Computer Coding Skills You can Teach Kids at Home without a Computer

It has 7 units: Getting Started; Data Types; Variables; Comparisons; If…Else…; HTML; My first website.

Each Unit has several lessons of couple minutes long. I only went through the first unit by far. It is well built with good progression – each lesson is built upon the previous one, with good examples and easy to follow instructions. By the time kids finish all the units, they will have a good understanding of computer language and programming, and be able to build a simple website of their own.

Who can benefit from Codecademy the most?

Codecademy teaches kids writing actual line codes. If your child has never worked with programming and has no idea how computer language works, it is a good idea to use Hopscotch to learn the fundamental concepts. Another free app also does a good job in teaching basic computer language concept is LEGO Fix the Factory. Once they have the basic knowledge of how programming works, they can start with Codecademy to work with line codes.

Another option for kids new to coding is to use our Free Hot Dog Coding Game. You can read the 5 Crucial Coding Skills kids need to be a good programmer and how to use the free coding game to teach kids these skills.

Codecademy lessons are free on their website.

Interested in using our free Hot Dog Coding Game for kids? Sign up below to receive the FREE Hot Dog Coding Game. After you submit your email, you will receive a confirmation email with the download link.

For more coding resources, please visit Best Coding Learning Tools for Kids. You may also like Best Coding Toys for Kids
best computer coding learning tools for kids
program coding learning toys for kids

{ 12 comments… add one }
  • DVP

    thanks, looking to get the hotdog game

  • lau

    i want learn computer science and technology, programming.

  • Becky

    I had heard of Codacademy before, but never Hopscotch. Thanks for the resources!

    • Hopscotch is very kids friendly, very intuitive and easy to use. Some schools are using it too.

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