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October 2, 2023
Unable to go to work, see their friends, or participate in normal extracurricular activities, some students are finding it hard to stay positive as days devoid of purpose stretch into summer. They have gone on walks, tried yoga, caught up on their favorite tv show, started reading (or…. maybe they are still procrastinating on that one), and picked that guitar back up but still are not feeling fulfilled. For those students who have done everything else, here is a collection of free, online resources and activities to help fill their days.
Coding
If a student has a computer, internet connection, and an email address, they have all they need to learn how to code. Whether students want to add another skill to their resume, build a website or blog from scratch, or just need to flex their technical and creative skills, coding can be a rewarding venture.
There are tons of options when it comes to learning how to code. Students can try multiple platforms and use the one that works best with their learning style.
Free Code Camp
Free Code Camp is as the name implies, 100% free. Start learning in an easy-to-understand, step-by-step format. Students can work their way towards free certifications.
Khan Academy
Those who like to hear a lecture before they get to work may prefer Khan Academy. Khan Academy also has games and visuals that learners may find helpful.
Codecademy
Unfortunately, Codecademy requires users to pay for the pro subscription, but all of the basic languages are free. Codecademy’s lessons are very similar to Free Code Camp’s. CodeCademy has a couple of helpful features for those who are not sure what kind of coding they want to get into. Codecademy lessons are also available on mobile.
Github
Github also has coding lesson plans but more importantly, it has the ability to host websites whenever students are ready to start their own project.
W3Schools
W3Schools is full of helpful tools and templates for students who are working on their own coding projects.
Hack Club
For students who prefer to learn socially, Hack Club has plenty of events and forums to talk about coding (or cute dogs) with highschool students from around the world.
Cooking
After being couped up with their families for weeks on end, some students may find themselves dreaming of the day they leave the nest. To prepare for that day and fill the coming days, here are some resources that will have students ready to cook their own meals.
Tasty
Buzzfeed has student chef’s backs with tons of unique recipes and entertaining instruction videos on their cooking site Tasty.
Allrecipes
Allrecipes is a comprehensive, crowdsourced cookbook with plenty of entries that fall under the category of grandma’s secret.
Project Foodie
Whether students truly do not know how to cut an onion or simply can not stand that they are not cutting it in the most efficient way, Project Foodie has detailed tutorials that will have them slicing and dicing like a pro.
Film
The past three years have been pretty heavy in nostalgia but quarantine has kicked this trend into high gear. Students are not just reminiscing over 2000s Disney originals, they are wistfully scrolling through pictures and videos from last February. While they are at it, why not put those memories together and test out their editing skills with a home video?
Adobe Spark
Spark includes simple video editing software along with a collection of themes, titles, and music that will turn any student’s collection of clips into a polished video. Spark’s video editing software is available on mobile and includes Instagram friendly settings for those who are planning on posting their creations. Adobe is offering two months of spark premium for free during the pandemic, so there has never been a better time to try out the app.
Wevideo
Wevideo is a step up from spark with a few more tools and effects, and a more complex timeline. It is available on Chromebook and on mobile.
DaVinci Resolve
Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems.
For those who are ready to take off the training wheels and get into some industry-standard editing, DaVinci Resolve offers a free, standard version of their software. Students will need a Mac or Windows computer in order to install the software. Students will also need to watch a few tutorials before jumping into DaVinci. With great editing power, comes a lot of confusing settings and details, but students can expect to come out on the other side with some seriously amazing videos.
Khan Academy
Students who want to try their hand at narrative filmmaking should check out Khan academy’s collaboration with Pixar, Pixar in a box: the art of storytelling. Hear Pixar creators breakdown the steps to creating captivating stories.
Etc.
If students have read through these resources and still have not found a hobby that speaks to them, no need to fear. There are still plenty of activities and areas to be explored. Here are some websites with free courses and classes on everything from biochemistry to Feng Shui.
Harvard
Harvard is offering 67 free online courses during the pandemic including classes in Shakespeare, divination (well the history of it), and the physics of cooking. Why not come out of quarantine (technically) having an ivy-league education?
Future Learn
Future Learn connects students to the university and technical courses from all over the web. They offer tons of free courses ranging from two-week programs to online degrees, and they have a special collection of boredom-busting to keep learners busy during the quarantine.
Udemy
Udemy has a mammoth collection of at-your-own-pace video classes. If it exists, there is probably a Udemy course for it.
Hopefully, students can use these resources to find new and exciting passions and keep their spirits up during these anxiety-inducing days.
