CompTIA’s Cyberstates Report shows that tech employment in Indianapolis is growing. Many of those jobs require some coding skills or technical skill training. There are a wealth of resources available to help you learn to code or start to transition into a tech career. So many that it can often feel overwhelming to know where to start! Here are some of our favorite library resources, free online resources, and community organizations that can help you take a first step into developing new coding and tech skills.
What is coding?
Coding or, computer programming, is communicating with computers by creating a set of instructions for the computer to follow. Code can be used in many different ways: making websites and smartphone apps, analyzing information or data for businesses, building software for computers, to control robots, or even automating simple, repetitive tasks on a computer such as filling in forms or sending email reminders. Technology shapes the world around us. Learning to code can help you control that technology and create new uses for it.
Why should you learn to code?
If you are exploring new career options, want a new creative hobby, or just want to understand how the technology around you works – you should consider learning to code! Learning to code will help you be a more informed computer user and provide you with interesting options for solving tech-based problems. If you enjoy creating, then coding opens new digital creativity pathways for art, music, and more. For those seeking a new career, coding and tech skills can lead to high-demand career paths with good income potential – both in the tech industry and in other industries that require workers to operate in a tech-rich workplace.
Programs
- Event: Team STEAM at Warren
- Date & Time: Saturday, January 11, 10:30am
- Location: Warren Branch
- Description: School-age children ages 6 – 12 are invited to engage in a variety of STEAM activities. Try out games, coding, art projects, and more. Participants will have a chance to get hands-on experience with various areas of science and technology while boosting their creativity.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Start Building a Free Website With Wix.com
- Date & Time: Saturday, January 18, 2:00pm
- Location: Fort Ben Branch
- Description: Learn the first steps in using the Wix program’s free drag-and-drop editor and templates for creating a customized website. No coding knowledge is required!
- Register Here
- Event: Team STEAM at Warren
- Date & Time: Saturday, February 08, 10:30am
- Location: Warren Branch
- Description: School-age children ages 6 – 12 are invited to engage in a variety of STEAM activities. Try out games, coding, art projects, and more. Participants will have a chance to get hands-on experience with various areas of science and technology while boosting their creativity.
- No Registration Required.
Favorite Free, Online Resources
- LinkedIn Learning
Learn relevant, professional skills on LinkedIn Learning. Your library card gives you free unlimited access to more than 16,000 courses in 7 different languages: English, French, German Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese. Learn how here. - Jobs in Tech 101 from TechPoint
Explore the Indy tech workforce with this website designed to help demystify what a “tech job” is and what companies are “tech companies.” See day-in-the-life interviews with local tech professionals who work in sales, customer support, product development, and more. - Get Certification from FreeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp offers free lessons and certification on in-demand skills and languages including Web Design, Front and Back End Web Development, Python, Data Analysis, and Machine Learning. - Not Certain What Language is RIght for You? Try This Quiz
Quiz results include information about a language and information about what types of companies and jobs use the language. - Mozilla’s Web Developer Tutorial
Mozilla offers tutorials to help at multiple skills levels from complete beginner to building a basic web project or browser extensions. - Learn How to Code with CodeCademy
Codecademy has several free lesson sets. This is a great resource for complete beginners to coding. - SQL Murder Mystery
Learn the basics of SQL, a database query language, while solving a puzzle. This lesson is a fun mix of a playful murder mystery and a solid introduction to basic SQL knowedge.
Get Involved – Organizations in and around Indy
Connect with the community-based organizations who help support adults who are transitioning into a Tech Career