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To help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, millions of people across the globe are practicing social distancing and staying indoors. If you find yourself at home with hours of free time and don't know how to spend it, consider taking up an in-demand skill: coding. The great news is, there are plenty of resources out there to learn. But which class should you choose?
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who taught himself how to code, shared with Time a few online learning platforms he personally loves. They include Khan Academy and Code.org, which each have hundreds of videos and classes in computer programming.
"Their videos are a tremendous resource on topics ranging from basic arithmetic to complicated subjects like electrical engineering," Gates said of Khan Academy.
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Here are seven coding classes from some of his favorite platforms that are perfect for beginners.
On his blog, Gates writes that having a basic understanding of coding helps develop critical thinking.
"The questions it teaches you to ask — How do you accomplish a task? Can you find a pattern? What data do you need? — are useful no matter where you go in life," Gates wrote on his blog GatesNotes.
In this particular course, students create animations to understand the basics of JavaScript.
Intro to HTML/CSS: Making webpages
For the Microsoft cofounder, coding was more than a technical skill.
"Computer science helped shape the way I think about the world," Gates wrote on his blog.
In this course, you'll learn how to make a webpage with text and images.
Hour of Code
"I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user," Gates said in a 2004 speech at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
This Code.org one-hour introduction to computer science is a perfect starter course.
Intro to SQL: Querying and managing data
"Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains," Gates wrote on Code.org.
This class walks you through creating tables and selecting data in different ways.
Advanced JS: Games & Visualizations
Gates is a lifelong learner, he told Bloomberg News said that he takes college courses just for fun.
This more advanced JavaScript class will teach you to create scored games and menus.
Advanced JS: Natural Simulations
This course teaches you mathematical concepts to teach you more advanced programming.
HTML/JS: Making webpages interactive
Using HTML and JavaScript basics, you'll learn how to make an interactive webpage in this course.
"I think everyone can benefit from learning the basics of computer science," Gates wrong on his blog.
