Nowadays, we do almost everything online and probably wouldn't be able to imagine what would happen if the internet was down for a day.
Around 94% of the population of New Zealand are active internet users and this percentage only goes up for younger age groups.
Since you can find almost anything you want on the internet, why not consider learning more about computer science by using the very systems that are made possible by it?
Whether you're completely new to computers and IT, looking to change careers, or deciding to commit to a career in IT or computer science, there are plenty of courses and resources that can help you right here on the internet.
Let's have a look at the advantages of online computer science courses, how you can find them, and the best ways to use them.
The Advantages of Online IT and Computer Science Courses
When you learn how to use a computer, you'll likely study basic commands, using the internet, common software packages, multimedia, etc., but this all takes time and effort.
Online resources can make this easier, especially with guides and tutorials, but what are the advantages of learning in this way over face-to-face tuition from a private tutor or from a school or one of the best universities for computer science?
Firstly, the cost. Many of the resources and guides you can find online are available for free (excluding the cost you pay for your own internet access) and you can use them at whatever time works for you.
This doesn't necessarily mean that the courses or resources aren't worth paying for and there are plenty of online courses that you can pay for. More often than not, you get what you pay for and the "premium" content often comes at a price, albeit one that's far less than the cost of a bachelor's degree.
This isn't the only advantage, though.
Study Computer Science at Your Own Pace
One of online study's biggest advantages is being able to learn at your own pace and at times that suit you. Even if your course includes lectures, seminars, or presentations, these are either pre-recorded or available after they've been streamed live, meaning you can watch and learn at whatever time suits you and your schedule.
Learning at your own pace is also a great way to stay motivated as you study computer science. In other courses, you might end up losing motivation if the course is too slow or too quick or the lessons take place at times that aren't ideal.
If you're not much of a morning person, the last thing you want is an early class on something complicated when you're barely awake. Conversely, it can be tough to learn anything after a long day when you're quite sleepy.
Study What You Want
Whether it's programming languages, cybersecurity, algorithms, networking, or any other aspect of computer science, when you study online, you can choose what you want to learn.
Naturally, larger courses may include content that you're not interested in, but with smaller courses and micro-credentials, you can get really specific about what you learn.
Much like with a private IT or computer science tutor, online courses give you much more freedom over what you learn, which can be really useful if you're studying computer science in order to land a particular job that requires a very specific set of skills.
Practice Makes Perfect
With online courses, if you want to test your knowledge or practice something you've just learned, you can. You can often stop a video lecture or a class at any point to make sure you've understood everything. If you're feeling a bit lost and want to check something, you can do that, too.
The Disadvantages of Online IT and Computer Science Courses
Online computer science courses obviously aren't perfect or they'd be the only way every computer science student would study.
One of the biggest disadvantages is that you won't get to enjoy the benefits of peer learning. Students in groups can quite effectively learn from one another as well as from their teacher.
With most online courses, there's also little accountability from a teacher to check if you're actually learning. While many online courses have tests and assessments so you can check your learning, there usually isn't somebody to make you study. If you want to just give up, you can and that's why students are far more likely to drop out of online courses than they are face-to-face courses.
If you're motivated and won't have too many problems teaching yourself, online courses can be great, but if you struggle to motivate yourself to study or set aside time for your course, online courses will be really challenging.
Finding Online Computer Science Courses
Before you can enjoy the benefits of online computer science courses, you need to first find them. Fortunately, there's an abundance of great online courses for almost every subject and computer science, computing, and IT are among the most popular subjects.
If you're not sure if computer science is for you, start with the free courses. There's no point in spending any money on your courses until you're certain that it's what you want to learn.
It's also a good idea to look for more general courses so you can see which aspects of IT or computer science you find the most interesting. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a really specific online course just to find that you hate it.
With online courses, much like everything else, you get what you pay for so don't expect the free courses to be of the highest quality. The premium courses that you have to pay for are generally better than free options, but it's still worth considering the free options while you make your mind up.
Once you've experienced an introduction to computer science or information technology, you can start looking to more advanced areas of study like specific programming languages, data structures, algorithms, web development and design, or cybersecurity.
There are also courses for specific roles like computer engineers, IT experts, systems integrators, programmers, web developers, ICT teachers, computer scientists, IT technicians, webmasters, computer maintenance repair specialists, etc. so think about what you want to do with your new knowledge when searching for courses.
The quality of the course will also depend on who's offering it. There are courses from some of the world's greatest universities that are often available through MOOCs (massive open online courses) as well as more intimate courses by YouTubers and IT professionals. The latter are often more casual than the former and the university courses tend to be dryer and more academic in their presentation style.
It's up to you to choose which approach you prefer.
Once you start to work out the kinds of courses and content you enjoy and what exactly you'd like to study, you can start looking for premium content. Decide on a budget after you've done some research as you don't want to waste your money by having to stop learning because you can't afford it anymore.
What Do You Need to Study Computer Science Online?
If you've decided that online computer science courses are right for you, you'll need the right equipment to get the most out of them. Fortunately, these courses are very accessible so you don't need anything really specific.
Choosing the Right Computer for Online Computer Science Courses
If you want to learn about computers, it certainly helps to have one, especially if you're going to be studying online. A desktop or laptop will be enough to enjoy most online courses as you just need to be able to play videos, read web pages, etc.
You can still take a retro approach to notetaking by using a pen and paper while you study. There are also useful ways to take notes digitally using your smartphone, a tablet, or even your computer if you prefer.
If you're learning about certain programs, however, you'll definitely need a computer or laptop that is powerful to run said software. Software packages will tell you what the minimum hardware requirements are for them.
In most instances, you need a powerful enough processor and enough RAM (memory) and storage (another type of memory) for the software you want to use. For certain software packages, graphics will also be a consideration.
If this is all alien to you, though, you can always speak to professionals in electronics stores or even ask customer service when buying from online stores.
Software
It's usually a good idea to have the Microsoft Office Suite (now known as Microsoft 365) or a free version of similar software packages that include word processing, spreadsheets, etc. Most of these software packages are now available as subscription services so you'll need to pay for them on a monthly or annual basis.
Fortunately, there are lots of free versions and equivalents to most of these software packages that you can get started with if you're not ready to make a large financial investment in subscriptions.
Accessories
There aren't many computer accessories you'll need to study computer science online, but some learners prefer using a real keyboard and mouse over a touchpad and the on-screen keyboards available on phones and tablets.
Similarly, if you're going to be storing lots of photos, images, or video files, it's a good idea to invest in some extra external storage as these kinds of files can take up lots of space on your device.
How to Get the Most Out of Online Computer Science and IT Courses
For most online courses, you're on your own, but that doesn't mean that doesn't mean that you can't get the most out of online courses.
Motivation is key and to achieve your learning objectives, you need to find ways to motivate yourself. It's generally a good idea to set yourself small and achievable goals as part of your broader long-term goals.
Set Clear and Achievable Goals for Your Online Course
The success of studying an online course depends fully on you so you need to make sure you give yourself the best possible chance to succeed.
Ambitious targets are not only more likely to be missed, but they can cause you to become demotivated and give up altogether. You can set yourself bigger goals, but remember to focus on the smaller achievable goals and celebrate every victory, no matter how minor.
Even something as simple as creating a checklist of what you want to learn and checking off skills as you master them can make self-study more fun. Just remember not to procrastinate by spending lots of time creating to-do lists and schedules rather than actually studying!
Regularity
To get the most out of self-study, you need to be quite strict with yourself. Get into a habit of studying at a particular time and opt for shorter and more regular sessions than infrequent cramming. You learn more effectively by studying little and often and by regularly studying, you'll form positive habits.
Get Help When You Need It
Whether you're studying an online computer science course or learning about computing at university, you can get help with your studies from a private tutor.
With online computing and IT programs, you're technically studying on your own, but you don't have to. You can get academic support from private tutors with everything from programming languages like Python, Java, C++, etc. to algorithms, web development, data structures, machine learning, and any aspect of computer science or IT you can think of.
Learning computer science isn't necessarily the easiest thing in the world, but even if you choose to tackle it on your own, you can find tutors to help you.
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