Programming is undoubtedly one of the most useful skills that one can possess, job market-wise. Good programmers are always going to be in demand - this is something that transcends countries and regions around the world, and also things such as special education or even age. If you want to become the best programmer you can, you’ll need a good place to start - in this Udacity Intro to Programming review, we’ll talk about one interesting option.
Udacity is an online learning platform - it offers its users courses and Nanodegrees (more on them later) in many different fields of education. Programming is one of these fields.
Many people are looking for Udacity Introduction to Programming reviews in order to determine whether or not this course (set of classes, rather) is right for them. If you’re one of those individuals, read on - I’ll tell you all that you need to know in the article below, and you’ll be able to make an informed decision!
Table of Contents
- 1. Why Study Programming?
- 2. Udacity Intro to Programming: What is it?
- 3. Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree (ENROLL HERE)
- 3.1. Perfect for Beginner Learners
- 3.2. Professional Instructors
- 3.3. Your Questions Answered by Professionals!
- 3.4. Study Different Programming Languages in a Single Course
- 3.5. Create Real-World Projects
- 3.6. Flexible Pricing Options
- 3.7. A Great First Steppingstone
- 4. Nothing but Good News?
- 4.1. Not Ideal for Experienced Programmers
- 4.2. Nanodegree Certificates are Not Accredited
- 5. You’ve Taken the Course… What Now?
- 6. Conclusions
Why Study Programming?
If you’re reading this Udacity Intro to Programming course review, chances are that you’ve already set your sights on the field of programming, and know exactly what it is that you want, and why you want it, in the first place.
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That being said, though, you might have no idea about programming, in general, but have heard that it’s a very lucrative career path, and thus, have decided to investigate it further!
Whatever the case might be, it’s always good to have a quick rundown of the possible reasons why you’d want to study a particular field of expertise. Programming is no different.
So, first things first, let’s get the obvious out of the way - programming being one of the most in-demand professions on the job market.
As time goes on, there’s more and more revolutionary technology coming around. Whether it be new age computers, or cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, all of these innovations have one thing in common - they all need programmers and coders to develop them.
Truth be told, programming is that one area of work where you should never struggle with finding a job - and a well-paid one, at that! This is the other thing, too - programming jobs are typically very well-paid.
While programmer salaries vary depending on multiple factors, the general idea remains the same - if you’re looking to earn a lot of money by adding value to the world that we live in, programming is one of the most-obvious ways of going about it.
That’s also the last thing worth mentioning, too. By studying Udacity Intro to Programming (or any other, similar course), and then working in the field of programming, you will have the chance to constantly improve your knowledge in a variety of different fields, not only your specialization. You’re bound to become better-versed in the current innovative trends, and the routes that technology is taking on the global scale, as a whole.
Naturally, there are more things to mention in regards to the benefits of studying Udacity programming or any other course of that nature, but you get the general idea. So, without further ado, let’s get straight to the Udacity Intro to Programming course!
Udacity Intro to Programming: What is it?
So, let’s talk about Udacity Intro to Programming - what exactly is it, and why should you care, in the first place?
Well, to be frank, this is a Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree review, since the topic in question is, actually, a Nanodegree. This is a type of course program that Udacity offers on various different topics - think of it as an online course that envelopes all of the essential information that you might require concerning the topic in question.
Indeed - Udacity Intro to Programming isn’t just any type of course, it’s a Nanodegree. This means that the course will be made up of different topics and smaller classes, and will take up a considerable amount of time to actually follow through and finish.
While we’ll get into the details of the matter in just a minute, it’s worth mentioning that the program is going to be suitable for complete programming beginners. This is one of the core strengths of the Nanodegree - it allows you to jump into the action from ground zero, without any prior requirements!
Now, then - we’ve established that Udacity Intro to Programming isn’t a simple course on some specific topic surrounding programming, but is actually a Nanodegree - an extensive set of classes on all-things-programming! On top of that, we’ve also gathered that the course will be suitable for beginners who’ve never done anything with programming, in general. With that, let’s check out what lies in store for anyone interested in the course!
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Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree (ENROLL HERE)
- Platform: Udacity
- Duration: 4 months (10 hours / week)
- Price: €1236
- Certificate: YES
- Level: Beginner
- Where to apply? HERE
If you want to learn programming, and are planning on choosing Udacity as your go-to platform to do so online, the vast majority of the platform’s users are going to direct you to this specific course - the Udacity Intro to Programming.
Evidently, the website does offer an assortment of other courses, too - some of them might even be free to study! However, with free materials, you miss out on a lot of perks and benefits offered to all paid users of Udacity.
As far as other courses are concerned, most users seem to agree that none of them are going to provide you with as thorough and all-encompassing levels of knowledge in the field as this particular Nanodegree - it’s called that for a reason, after all!
Now then, what are those benefits that I’ve mentioned earlier on, exactly?
Perfect for Beginner Learners
Programming isn’t an easy skill to learn - I probably don’t need to tell you all of that. In regards to web development and software engineering, there are multiple different programming languages to choose from and learn, and the whole field is based heavily on the principles of trial & error, and also hard work and dedication, too.
It’s part of the reason why programming jobs are so well-paid - they’re not easy!
Following that train of thought, it’s evident that there are going to be many people that feel as if they aren’t “up for the challenge”, or that programming is simply not for them. Well, Udacity Intro to Programming would beg to differ.
As pointed out earlier in the review, the Udacity Introduction to Programming is completely beginner-friendly! Reading through the course’s main landing page, you’ll find that the only prerequisite requirements have to do with learning how to Google things, and how to use the internet, in general.
Undoubtedly, if you’re reading this Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree review, you know how to do both of those things.
This is awesome in that it allows people to start learning the fundamentals of programming, without any prior experience, whatsoever! No matter what your current career path is, or if you’ve just graduated from college with a completely different diploma in hand, you’ll be able to take it slowly, and learn at your own pace!
That’s the other thing, too. With the course in question, you will be able to study the subjects whenever you see fit - there are no strict deadlines in place! Naturally, you’d want to develop some sort of a schedule, in order to not allow yourself to forget the information that you’ve learned two classes prior!
That said, the schedule can be as flexible as you’d like it to be - you can cater to all of your other needs (work, family, other studies) while still also learning how to program. Awesome!
Professional Instructors
On the same aforementioned Udacity Intro to Programming landing page, you will find the list of instructors that you’ll have the chance to learn from if you do decide to study the course in question.
While these instructors all come from different backgrounds, you will quickly notice one feature that unites them all - they are all professionals in their respective fields.
If you’ve even searched for a high-end, online-based course before (no matter the topic!), you can likely appreciate how important of a feature this is.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different courses available online that claim to teach you “everything you need to know” about a particular topic, and yet, are taught by people who are… Let’s just say, less-than-competent to teach you that topic.
Why is this the case? Well, mostly because online learning has become really popular nowadays - with an increase in popularity come the malicious intent-possessing individuals, too.
Not something that you would need to worry about when it comes to Udacity Intro to Programming, though. Let me quickly list out the instructors involved in the creation process of this course:
- Karl Krueger - course developer over at Udacity, ex-SRE at Google.
- Kelly Howard - product lead for web development Nanodegrees on Udacity.
- Julia Van Cleve - content developer at Udacity, prior experience includes teaching maths and being a freelance web developer.
- Abe Feinberg - science teacher, educational psychologist.
- James Parkes - instructor for several programs at Udacity, has a Computer Science and Mathematics degree.
- Richard Kalehoff - course developer, a degree in Computer Science.
Yet again - while the backgrounds of the instructors differ quite a bit, they are all professionals that can surely aid you in studying programming, if you do choose the Udacity Introduction to Programming course!
It’s extremely important to get your knowledge and education from people who do actually know what they’re talking about - an amazing aspect of the course in question!
Your Questions Answered by Professionals!
Studying an online course is all fine and dandy, but what should you do if you run into a difficult problem with your homework? Or you have a question about some of the course material, and aren’t sure whom you should ask for help regarding the matter?
Many online courses are a standalone product - what this means is that you purchase the course, and then you’re left with it. Sure, you can always find the instructor on social media or via other avenues and submit your questions through there, but that rarely yields satisfactory results.
This isn’t something that you would need to worry about in regards to the Udacity programming course in question, though. Whilst studying this course, you will be able to submit questions, and get them answered by technical mentors of the platform!
Udacity claims to have over a thousand technical mentors - that’s a huge number of professionals! They will answer all of the technical questions that you might have, in a timely and professional manner.
Getting feedback from real people and not an outdated textbook is very beneficial. It means that you will both be able to overcome any difficulties much faster, and also that you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the topic, as a whole.
It’s also not something that’s very common, either! As mentioned earlier, more often than not, you’re just left to deal with the problem by yourself. Definitely a huge advantage, as far as this Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree review is concerned!
Study Different Programming Languages in a Single Course
One of the main strengths of the Udacity Intro to Programming course is the fact that you will have the chance to study and learn a few different programming languages. This, for a fact, is amazing news.
A good programmer isn’t an individual who knows a single language well. While it’s crucial to have a starting point, the more languages you have under your belt, the more versatile you are going to be, in the eyes of your potential employers!
With the course in question, you will have the chance to get to know HTML, CSS, Python, and JavaScript. These four programming languages are at the core of web development, and serve different purposes in the process of creating websites.
The best part about this is the fact that you won’t need to venture out and find different courses for each of the aforementioned programming languages - all of them are packed into the same syllabus of the Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree!
Note, however, that the course only focuses on the basics of each language - in other words, the fundamentals that you will need to get started with programming. This way, after finishing the course, you will be able to further your knowledge with the languages that you’d like by yourself - however, don’t expect an in-depth look into all of the possible applications of the languages within the course in question.
Makes sense, granted that it only takes 4 months to complete!
Create Real-World Projects
Undoubtedly one of the core strengths of Udacity’s Nanodegrees - Udacity Introduction to Programming included - is the fact that, while studying them, you get the opportunity to create real-world projects.
What does that mean, exactly? Well, it’s pretty simple - your tasks won’t consist of some outdated, good-for-nothing assignments where you’d have to do something simply in order to please your instructors or teachers. Rather, you will get the chance to have a hands-on approach towards projects that you might actually have to partake in with a real-life job as a programmer.
This is extremely valuable.
Oftentimes, one of the main critiques towards traditional education and many online courses is that the students don’t really get to experience what it’s going to be like whilst working in an actual job related to their specific field. This is the case simply due to the tasks that you have to perform in these classes - more often than not, they aren’t really going to represent real-world scenarios.
Yet again, however - this is not something that you’d need to worry about regarding the Udacity programming course in question.
Flexible Pricing Options
Online courses offer students a way to study and learn a specific field that they want to delve into, without having to, say, enroll into some college program and spend a huge amount of money while doing so.
That said, though, online learning can also get pretty expensive - especially when it comes to high-quality courses taught by true professionals in their field.
Take this Udacity Intro to Programming review, for example. The course in question isn’t necessarily cheap - it can actually be labeled as “expensive”, when compared to some other courses that claim to teach similar topics! However, the awesome thing here is that you will receive flexible pricing options.
What does that mean? Well, you could pay for the full experience up-front - in other words, for the entirety of the 4 months, no questions asked. However, you could also pay “as you go” - in increments, each month.
Different individuals will have the chance to pick and choose the option that suits them best - that’s great! It’s nice to know that Udacity does support such different options, as far as the platform’s Nanodegrees are concerned!
A Great First Steppingstone
While exploring the landing page for the “Udacity learn programming” course, at the very end, you might notice a section called “Related Nanodegree Programs”. Looking into it a bit further, you will quickly learn that the Udacity Intro to Programming course is but a first step in the path of web development - and Udacity has outlined the next steps that you should take quite well.
The assumption here is that, once you finish taking the course in question, you will have all of the basic knowledge needed to continue your programming- and web development-related studies further. Now, you would choose the direction that you want to go in (front-, back-end development, or full-stack), and then continue on with the courses that suit you best.
While it’s not necessarily an individualized learning path, it can surely act as one! The awesome thing here is that Udacity does provide students with all of the tools that they might need to grow in this field - all that’s left is for you to decide whether you want to use the online learning platform further, and if so, which programs you should pick!
While not being a benefit that’s directly related to the Udacity learn programming Nanodegree, it’s still nice to know that everything you might need can be found on the same platform, with no hassle involved!
Nothing but Good News?
Now, evidently, we’ve covered a lot of good things surrounding the Udacity Intro to Programming course. Judging by various student reviews up to this point in time, it’s obvious that the course does bring a lot to the table, as far as programming-related education goes!
However, is it all nothing but good news? Or are there any critiques regarding the Udacity programming course in question?
Taking a deeper look, the latter does prove to be true - let’s see why that’s the case.
Not Ideal for Experienced Programmers
One of the main issues that some students have regarding the Udacity Intro to Programming course isn’t actually necessarily an issue in of itself!
At the beginning of this Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree review, I’ve emphasized the fact that the course is very beginner-friendly - you do not need to have any prior knowledge or experience with programming in order to start studying.
This is awesome for beginners. However, it’s not so great for any of the more-experienced programmers who would like to further their knowledge in the field.
Brushing up with the basics is always a good idea - sure. Following that, many experienced programmers tend to work on specific projects, and get further experience this way - this is also true.
That being said, what if you’re somewhere in the middle - you still haven’t started your programming career path, but do also know most of the fundamentals regarding the topic? Well, if that’s the case, unfortunately, this specific course might not be the best option for you.
- Easy to use with a learn-by-doing approach
- Offers quality content
- Gamified in-browser coding experience
- Free certificates of completion
- Focused on data science skills
- Flexible learning timetable
- High-quality courses
- Nanodegree programs
- Student Career services
- Nanodegree programs
- Suitable for enterprises
- Paid certificates of completion
- A wide range of learning programs
- University-level courses
- Easy to navigate
- University-level courses
- Suitable for enterprises
- Verified certificates of completion
Nanodegree Certificates are Not Accredited
Probably the biggest qualm that students have regarding this course can actually be applied to all of the courses that Udacity offers - the certificate of completion that you receive at the end isn’t accredited by any major educational institution.
Certificates are basically the main evidence that you have to show to your potential employer in order to prove that you do actually possess the knowledge in the field, and that you’ve spent the time required to learn and develop the skills needed to work in a particular company.
Accredited certificates are extremely valuable! They hold a lot of weight in a job interview, mostly because they are backed by a major educational institution.
On the flip side, non-accredited certificates are a different story. These often hold no tangible value attached to them, mainly due to the fact that anyone (any institution) can issue them - no one knows if the material that you’ve studied was truly any good!
Is this the case with the Udacity programming courses, too? Are they completely valueless?
No, not exactly. When it comes to Nanodegrees, things are a bit more complicated than that.
While Udacity’s Nanodegrees aren’t accredited, they do hold some significant value. Given all of the benefits we’ve discussed earlier on in the article, many potential employers might be aware of these specific programs offered by Udacity, and thus, look favorably upon potential employees who have completed the aforementioned course.
Even though that’s the case, it’s still disappointing that Udacity doesn’t actually offer accredited certification to its students. Whether it’s a huge con or not, this is something for you to evaluate!
You’ve Taken the Course… What Now?
So, you’ve decided to take the Udacity Intro to Programming course, have completed it, and now possess all of the fundamental knowledge regarding the field of programming that the Nanodegree could give you.
What’s the next step?
There are two options, actually - you can either choose to deepen your knowledge in the field, or start looking for an entry-level position. Let’s explore both of them.
If you’re still unsure about your skills as an entry-level programmer, and feel that you could use more practice, there are multiple paths to take from here. You could surely participate in some projects, join some programmer communities, and so on. However, if you liked what the learning platform had to offer with the Udacity Intro to Programming course, why not stick with it, further?
What I am referencing is the Udacity web developer career guide. The course in question was just the first step - there’s a lot more learning material available to be accessed on the platform, and you can definitely spend the time researching the different paths that you could take in order to continue with your studies this way!
If, however, you prefer to start looking for a job, be aware that, at this level, there’s going to be a lot of competition! Top-tier programmers are very difficult to find, but when it comes to entry-level jobs, they might even be oversaturated - programming is that popular of a career path!
The two ways of going about it that I’ve mentioned above do not have to necessarily be mutually exclusive, however.
Indeed - when it comes to Udacity learn programming, you can perfectly well do both things - continue your studies, while also looking for the aforementioned job in the field of programming. It’s totally up to you!
Most individuals are, admittedly, going to opt for this particular path - whether it be studying programming with Udacity or in some other way, while also starting their career paths in the field.
Lastly, do note that if you’re having trouble with finding an entry-level programmer job, you could always consider freelancing, too! While this method of work does have its own pros and cons, most individuals agree that it’s usually packed with some interesting and unorthodox experiences that will jump-start your programming career in no time!
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Conclusions
Right, then - at this point in the Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree review, you should have developed a rather informed opinion about the course in question. So, what do you think - is it worth checking out?
If you were to ask me, and the vast majority of other students that have tried this Nanodegree out, the answer would probably be quite similar - it definitely appears to be an amazing course for anyone who’s interested in starting to learn programming!
It’s not every day that you’ll come across courses that would both be created by true experts in the field, but would also have the possibility for you to contact technical staff, and get all of your questions answered by competent professionals!
Following that, the course is structured in a way that would allow you to learn at your own pace, while also getting all of the necessary, fundamental knowledge regarding different programming languages that a high-end programmer might need to have at their disposal.
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Table: Comparison between Udacity and edX
Sure, the course certificate that you receive at the end isn’t accredited, but that doesn’t seem to sway too many people away - it would appear that the Nanodegree certificates offered by Udacity do hold some tangible value!
All in all, the general sentiment surrounding the course in question seems to be more than positive. Students do appreciate the experience that they receive from studying programming on Udacity!
If, however, you’re not convinced, you can always check out some alternative options - online learning platforms such as Coursera or edX do offer programming-related courses, too!
All of that said, I’d like to thank you for reading this Udacity Intro to Programming review! I hope that you found it informative and useful (and perhaps even entertaining, too?), and wish you the best of luck with all of your programming ventures to come!
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