Stop Paying for Courses and Learn for Free

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Growing up, a lot of us were told that education was a privilege – and it is. However, as times are changing and the use of technology is increasing, the need for more professionals who possess these unique technical skills is important.

If you are somebody who is intrigued by the tech world but is hesitant about getting into it because you are unsure if it is right for you, this blog is for you. I will go through a list of free courses that can help you gain fundamental knowledge of computer science.

Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose

 
Link: Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose

We have transitioned from the basis for education in the last millennium being “reading, writing, and arithmetic;” to reading, writing, and computing. Learning how to program is an essential part of education, therefore understanding the nature of computer science is where any newbie should be.

In under 4 weeks, this course covers the first half of our book Computer Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach (the second half is covered in our Coursera course Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines). The course starts by introducing basic programming elements such as variables, conditionals, loops, arrays, and I/O and then dives into functions, introducing key concepts such as recursion, modular programming, and code reuse. But that’s not all – you will dive a bit deeper into object-oriented programming, where you will use the Java programming language and learn computational problem-solving.

Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines

 
Link: Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines

Once you have got the fundamentals under your belt, your next goal will be to dive deeper into algorithms, the theory around it and understanding machines as a whole. The course consists of 11 modules, where you will learn classic algorithms along with scientific techniques for evaluating performance and classic theoretical models that allow us to address fundamental questions about computation, such as computability, universality, and intractability. Once you get your head around those modules, you will conclude with machine architecture (including machine-language programming and its relationship to coding in Java) and logic design (including a full CPU design built from the ground up).

Data Science Math Skills

 
Link: Data Science Math Skills

A lot of people underestimate the need to learn about Maths when it comes to computer science. Some say it’s imperative, whilst some say there’s no need. Personally, I say there’s no harm in learning something that can improve your understanding. But the fact is that data science contains math. In this course, you will learn the basic math you will need to be a successful data scientist, machine learning engineer, or software engineer.

You will learn about set theory, including Venn diagrams, properties of the real number line, interval notation and algebra with inequalities and the uses for summation and Sigma notation. You will also dive deeper into exponents, logarithms, and the natural log function, as well as probability theory, including Bayes’ theorem.

Learn to Program: The Fundamentals

 
Link: Learn to Program: The Fundamentals

Learning a programming language is literally learning a new language. This can sound very daunting but it doesn’t have to be when you’re learning Python. Python is one of the most popular programming languages due to its simplicity. So why not start with learning Python?

In this course, you will learn all about Python, from variables and functions to tuples and dictionaries. This course provides you with the fundamental building blocks of programming in a fun and useful way. In under 4 weeks, you could become a junior Python specialist.

Wrapping Up

Learning should not be so expensive – especially when you’re a newbie. There are a lot of free resources out there and it can be very difficult to know which one to choose from. This is where KDnuggets steps in to help. We will provide great learning resources to ensure you have a successful learning journey as well as land your dream job.

Nisha Arya is a data scientist, freelance technical writer, and an editor and community manager for KDnuggets. She is particularly interested in providing data science career advice or tutorials and theory-based knowledge around data science. Nisha covers a wide range of topics and wishes to explore the different ways artificial intelligence can benefit the longevity of human life. A keen learner, Nisha seeks to broaden her tech knowledge and writing skills, while helping guide others.