Learning to code: in-person courses vs. online videos. Which way to choose?

We don’t need a fortune teller to know that if you’re reading this article, you’re almost on your way to a career in tech. So, first of all, congratulations—you’re in the right place. At K2 College, we help anyone get the skills to analyze data, work on cyber security, and build everything in between these fields.

There are numerous ways to reach the peak of code: from university studies to completely self-led unstructured learning—each path can work. However, the easiest way to get going is to rely on experienced lecturers. So, should you learn from them through in-person courses or online videos? We’ll try to end this everlasting debate in our article.

Pros and cons of in-person courses

In-person programming courses have been the traditional route for many tech specialists. There‘s a good reason for this: such courses offer a structured environment that inspires beginners and can provide much-needed motivation.

Many say that one of the most significant advantages of in-person courses is the immediate access to an instructor. Any learning obstacle, such as a bug or an error, is less frustrating if a knowledgeable teacher is around, potentially saving hours of unproductive time trying to figure out what’s wrong. The immediate feedback available at in-person lectures is similarly helpful.

Another reason why people choose in-person learning cannot be ignored—it’s the community. Collaboration with peers is useful on it’s own, however, networking is a whole different beast. The connections made during the courses can transform into career opportunities and life-changing experiences.

How about the drawbacks of in-person learning? These are pretty straightforward: price, commutes, and inflexible schedules. For someone trying to switch careers, in-person courses can be unachievable due to scheduling, while for a recent school graduate, they are often too pricey. In addition, depending on the structure of the courses, missing a lesson or two can impede learning—and nobody wants that.

Pros and cons of learning to code from online videos

First, let us explain what we mean by studying from online videos. Here, we will review the experience of learning from YouTube tutorials, MOOCs, and subscription-based platforms like Udemy and Coursera.

So, while in-person learning can make it difficult to balance studies with other personal commitments, online videos promise complete flexibility as the learners set their own pace. On the flip side, this benefit of online videos is, at the same time, the most significant drawback—many beginners find it really difficult to stick to a learning routine when the studies provider doesn’t assign one. In this case, completing specific courses depends on the student’s discipline alone.

It’s worth mentioning that online videos are unmatched in the range of topics they cover. Virtually any subject has already been explained on the internet at the depth required by the learner. With additional elements, such as quizzes and exercises that mimic real-life learning, online video courses can also be a fun way to learn—that’s why sometimes students choose online videos as a supporting way in addition to their main studies.

The main con of online video courses is often the decisive factor. No feedback and the possibility to consult with the lecturer can make the student feel alone and frustrated, especially when the difficulty of tasks and material increases. Having to Google and research various issues on your own can dampen motivation and lead to dropping the ambitious task of conquering code.

K2 College: the best of both worlds

We started K2 College with one idea: to make it easy to put your hard work into learning to code. Sounds confusing, right? But it’s not. We acknowledge that ideal learning experiences will differ for anyone. However, we also have years of experience and thousands of case studies that prove how important the right study approach is for successful learning.

That’s why we chose a method that blends both approaches: traditional in-person learning and the flexibility provided by online courses. K2 College is a real-time online learning platform that gives access to the best of both worlds—personal contact with the lecturer and immediate feedback, with the possibility to revisit the material whenever you want.

For the resilience and well-being of our students, we prepared complementary mental fitness material. Because balance is everything—especially when working in tech. With our strong focus on mental well-being, we respond to the common threats of the job market (burnout, long-term stress, anxiety, etc.) and give our students the tools to build a career without sacrificing their happiness.

We also care about giving our students an easier access to the job market. With mandatory soft skills training and a vibrant community, K2 College allows future tech professionals to get a well-rounded learning experience from anywhere in the world. This secret recipe has worked for many students, motivating them to keep going even when it gets tough or tricky. To make it easier to put the acquired knowledge into practice, we created a career center that helps prepare for entering the job market.

When presenting K2 College, we want to stress that learning to code is never easy, whatever learning format you choose. But it is highly rewarding. So choose a well-designed course and get motivated to use your brain’s full potential. Explore our courses.