Online classes are a great way to acquire new skills, especially if you’re interested in the field of web development. There are many benefits to learning online plus lots of class options to choose from but it can be hard to figure out which courses to take. Here’s a quick guide to help you gain a clearer understanding of all that online web development classes have to offer and how to find courses that best meet your needs.
Web Development Class Options
The popularity of online web development classes has grown exponentially in the past few years in large part because of the wide range of options available to students. Here are just a few of the options you’ll find:
Topic
Online web development classes can cover a wide range of topics. For those interested in working on the front end, you could enroll in classes on essential programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. There are also courses available that cover some of the primary tools, libraries, and frameworks used by Front End Web Developers such as Git, Flexbox, Bootstrap, and React. If you’re more focused on working on the back end, you can find classes on languages like PHP, Ruby, Python, Java, and JavaScript plus other back end essentials like Node.js, Django, Ruby on Rails, and Express.js.
Schedule
Schools recognize that students come from a variety of backgrounds, so they offer a wide range of scheduling options to accommodate as many people as possible. That means you’ll likely have the option to choose from classes that are held during the day, evening, or weekend. You’ll also be able to decide whether you want to take classes full or part-time. There are benefits to each; taking classes full-time means you’ll complete them sooner but part-time classes work better if you already have a full-time work schedule.
Format
There’s also a couple of different format options to choose from. For example, would you prefer to learn from an online class that meets synchronously or asynchronously? The difference between the two is that in a synchronous class, all the students and the teacher meet online at the same time, but with asynchronous classes, there is no live instruction. The choice is up to you, though most students prefer live instruction because they can receive immediate feedback on their work and get help whenever they get stuck.
The other format option you have to choose from is taking individual web development classes versus enrolling in a bootcamp or certification program. The difference between these choices is that individual classes usually focus on just one main topic and are of relatively short duration while bootcamps and certification programs can last three to six months and are designed to teach you all the skills you need to start a career in web development.
Cost
The cost of online web development classes can vary widely; if you check on Noble Desktop’s convenient Classes Near Me tool, you’ll see that the prices can range anywhere from several hundred dollars up to $20,000. The cost typically depends upon several factors, including the school, topic, and duration of the class. If you look through the listings, you’ll see that some schools are consistently more expensive than others. The cost also goes up if you’re enrolling in a lengthy bootcamp with a broad curriculum versus a brief class on a single topic. Please note that there are free resources available online to help you learn how to code, but they don’t include any live instruction or feedback from the teacher, which makes them far less effective than structured online classes.
Benefits of Online Web Development Classes
There are countless benefits to taking web development classes online instead of in person. For starters, students have been shown to learn just as well in online classes — and sometimes even better — compared to classes that meet in person. Online classes also offer a greater degree of flexibility, convenience, and control than face-to-face instruction; you don’t have to commute to school and can take classes from anywhere, including your home, office, or even while you’re on vacation. This flexibility also provides you with more control over your learning environment, making it easier for you to concentrate. You can even continue taking online classes while sick, if you feel up to it — something that wouldn’t be advisable if your class meets in person.
Learning online also means that you have access to a wider selection of classes and more qualified instructors. If you’re relying on a local school to provide training, they likely won’t have enough qualified instructors to offer a large variety of courses. Schools that offer classes online are able to employ highly-qualified professionals who can teach from anywhere on a broad range of topics, reaching students all over the world. This leads to another benefit of online classes: because your fellow students are spread across the globe, you have the opportunity to broaden your network by learning with people who come from various backgrounds and locations.
How to Choose the Best Web Development Class
There are so many online web development classes to choose from, it can be hard to know which to sign up for. Here’s how you can determine which online classes would be the best fit for you.
1. Goals
To figure out which class or classes would work best for you, the first thing you need to do is get clear on what your goals are. Do you want to start a new career in web development, just learn coding for fun, gauge your interest in web development, or brush up on skills that you’ve let slide over the past few years? If your goal is to switch careers and become a Web Developer, then the best choice would probably be to enroll in a bootcamp or certification program — that’s the fastest route to a career in web development.
If you’re brushing up on rusty coding skills or want to try programming out to see if it’s a suitable option for you, then you only need to sign up for a class or two instead of investing in a lengthy program. And if you’re just wanting to code for fun, then your options are wide open — you get to choose whichever class sounds most interesting to you. Just be sure to check course prerequisites; a lot of programming classes assume you’ve attained a certain level of expertise prior to enrollment.
2. Schedule
Once you evaluate your goals, the next factor to consider is your schedule. Which option would work better for you, full-time or part-time classes? When are you free: days, nights, or weekends? Thankfully, online classes tend to offer various times, so you’re sure to find one that fits within your schedule.
You should also keep in mind that the class schedule is determined in part by your goal. If you’re looking to start a new career in web development, how soon do you want to do that? Would you like to begin within the year or are you willing to wait a couple of years? If your goal is to embark on your new career in the coming year, then a bootcamp or certification program would be your best bet whereas individual classes would be fine if you’re in no rush.
3. Cost
After considering your goals and figuring out what type of schedule would work best for you, it’s time to think about the price tag. How much money are you willing to spend on your web development education? When considering this, you should also think about the financial return you’ll receive for your investment. While $3,000 might seem like a lot now, you’ll quickly earn that back if your goal is to work as a Web Developer or earn a promotion at your current web development job.
In addition to the cost, it’s a good idea to look into which schools offer flexible financing options. While some require full payment upfront, many are willing to stretch payments out over several months to make tuition more manageable for students. If you’re on a strict budget and need help with financing, eliminate schools that don’t offer payment flexibility and focus on those that do.
4. Other Benefits
After narrowing down classes based on your goals, scheduling, and costs, you should be down to just a few options. Now it’s time to start looking at other benefits that schools may or may not offer. For example, do any of the schools you’re looking at offer job placement assistance? If so, then put them at the top of the list. Other benefits you can look for are mentorship during your classes, networking opportunities, access to the instructor outside of class, finishing the class with a professional portfolio, etc.
5. Ratings & Recommendations
And last, but not least, you should always check how well the classes and school have been rated and if students have left positive or negative reviews. If students have a bad experience with the school and don’t feel like they’ve gotten their money’s worth, they’re usually pretty vocal about what happened. The same goes for those who’ve had an overwhelmingly positive outcome; with high-quality schools, you’ll often see glowing recommendations from multiple students who have benefited from their web development education. Always check the reviews to ensure you find a reputable school to help you reach your goals.
6. Compare Your Options
At this point, you likely have a clear winner. If you still find yourself with two or more options remaining that meet all or most of your criteria, you’ll need to compare them side-by-side to determine which is the best fit. Is one cheaper than the other? Does one school have a slightly higher rating? You might also consider contacting each school and asking them for more information to help you make your decision. Take note of how responsive and helpful your contact at the school is; this is a pretty good indication of what you can expect from them in the long term. If a school takes a while to respond or doesn’t offer any help, move on to the next option.
Learn Web Development Online through Noble Desktop
Are you ready to start exploring your options for learning web development online? Noble Desktop offers a wide variety of web development classes live online covering topics such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and React, just to name a few. With Noble Desktop’s live online web development courses, you get the same structure, content, hands-on training, and immediate feedback as in-person classes but with the flexibility and convenience of learning from home. You can even take a complete web development bootcamp live online that will get you ready to work as a Web Developer in just a few short months, without having to leave your living room. With their intensive, skills-focused curriculum, web development bootcamps are truly the best option for anyone seeking a clear path to a new, exciting career in the tech industry.