There are a LOT of GREAT online learning resources available today where anyone can get great instructional content ... much of it available for free.
However, there are three different problems with using online free learning tools, especially applicable to technology (and a few other) fields.
Which one will prepare you for a career or college program?
Unless you have a job in the career/field that your student is pursuing, it can be difficult trying to narrow down exactly what online learning resource would be most applicable. Not all computer technology/programming courses are helpful to all careers in technology. And many resources out there are unique to a specific industry. If you are going to write software for web sites you generally use a different programming language than you use for data research. Going down the wrong tech path may lead to wasted time and a frustrated student.
How old is the content?
It's generally widely understood that the technology you own will be obsolete within 2-3 years. Well, the technology education can be similarly outdated rather quickly. Just a couple years ago the Virtual Reality area was 'the future' , but now it is everything AI and 'Chat GPT'. Although programming languages last a bit longer, the individual languages evolve over time. The best/easiest language to use when you first start has changed over the years. With teaching that is live/current you have a better chance of keeping up with the latest needs in the tech industry. All our tech course contents are reviewed and revised each year and contextualized for each session.
What happens when something goes wrong?
Professional programmers and other technologists often have to consult with others in the industry to try to solve things that they can't solve. For those just starting out the need it significantly higher to have someone qualified to review their work and provide live help when needed. Online tools that provide video tutorials and possibly an online quiz at the end of sections of learning don't address the problem when the student is learning to code and can't figure out why their code doesn't work - or why their wired circuit isn't performing as it should. In both cases the student needs to have a live human being available to look at their work and HELP them figure out the problem (not just provide the final answer). Learning to 'de-bug' your own work is a critical skill in the technology industry. Learning this skills is best done with the help of others - both those who have done it for a long time but also those who are learning along side you. Because of this all of our tech class instructors work with students to review their work. For students in our live courses the instructor reveiws the students work during the class session. For those online (and also in-person) the instructor is available throughout the week to review work and give tips on finding the solution.