Why You Shouldn’t Learn to Code With Codecademy
As the world becomes more dependent on technology, coding has become an essential skill. Codecademy is an online portal that offers free coding lessons to anyone interested in learning to code. While it may seem like a great option, there are some reasons why you shouldn’t learn to code with Codecademy. Below are a few reasons why you should consider other resources.
- Lack of Interactivity
Codecademy is a strictly online platform with no personal interaction. It’s essential to have a mentor, tutor, or someone who can give you insight and provide feedback on your coding journey. In a traditional classroom or one-on-one session, mentors can identify areas where you struggle and help you understand and overcome them. Codecademy, on the other hand, is automated and lacks the interactive touch that many learners may require.
- Lack of Structure
Codecademy does not offer a clear structure or learning path to follow. Students are left to create their learning paths, which can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. You may end up jumping from one concept to another, with no clear idea of how they are related. It can create gaps in knowledge that you will need to revisit later, while regular classes offer clarity and guidance.
- Limited Depth
Codecademy covers only the basics of coding, leaving out some critical concepts along the way. It’s a good start for beginners who are just getting into coding, but it’s like learning to ride a bike without pedals. You will have a basic understanding of how it works and how to manoeuvre, but you haven’t really grasped the core concepts. While other classes cover programming languages in depth, Codecademy only scratch the surface, leaving students with little knowledge.
- Limited Scope
Codecademy is not comprehensive enough to cover all aspects of coding. Coding encompasses many different areas, such as web development, data science, and artificial intelligence. Yet, Codecademy only offers limited courses on those areas, with limited depth in them. As a result, you might find yourself limited in career opportunities after completing Codecademy’s courses.
- No Certification
Though Codecademy offers an array of courses, they do not offer any certification, equivalent to academic qualifications. Limiting its value, you may have to look for accreditation in other places, which may cost you more time and money. This means that after acquiring the necessary knowledge, you may still be found wanting for certification during job interviews.