​​​Introduction to Coding

Coding is the act of designing instructions between the language we speak, and the language a computer understands. Computers understand only ones and zeroes, i.e. binary. We speak a particular language, e.g. English. Since I speak a different language to a computer, how can I get the computer to understand an instruction? This is where coding comes in. 

A code is a piece of instruction that translates humans' instructions to instructions that computers understand. This might sound like coding is only for computer scientists and engineers. So, why should you learn to code? The ability to code can give you a new skill that may be useful in your future. It can open up new avenues of learning and career choices. Click here for an article on why historians should learn to code. Here is another article​, for artists.

If you want to learn how to do some basic coding, here is a great resource:

Go to https://grasshopper.app and click on “Start coding today”.

Another great resource is Coursera (if you want to do these courses free, then click on “Audit the course” and NOT “Start Free Trial”):

• Programming for everybody (getting started with Python)​
• Introduction to computer programming​
  

Hopefully, the above has awakaned your interest in learning to code. If you are interested in finding out more about Data Science and Computational Thinking, go to “Introduction to Data Science”. If this resource has been useful to you, let us know at kanshu@sun.ac.za.

​Introduction to Data Science

Have you heard someone talk about Data Science and data scientists? Data Science is one of the most necessary skills out in the working world. Data Science is an inter-disciplinary field that uses Statistics, Computer Science and domain or business areas to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. You may have heard of related phrases such as Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Here is a great video on how Artificial Intelligence is used in making decisions:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOnsbd7rdhc​)​​

Data Science can open a world of career possibilities. Do you want to learn some basic Data Science? Here is an excellent resource for Data Science (if you want to do these courses for free, then click on “Audit the course” and NOT “Start Free Trial”). It consists of four courses from What is Data Science to Databases and SQL for Data Science​. 

Introduction to Data Science Specialisation

Hopefully, the above has awakaned your interest in finding out more about Data Science and Computational Thinking. If this resource has been useful to you, let us know at kanshu@sun.ac.za.