Microsoft has launched its “I Can Program” initiative to teach computer programming to more than 1 million young people in Latin America via an “easy and fun” approach.
The project will target people between the ages of 12 and 25 who will be able to sign up for the free online courses “One Hour Coding” and “Learning to Program.” In Colombia, the training will kick off during Coding Week from Oct. 6-10.
The Redmond, Washington-based company said the online courses also will be available in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico.
“One Hour Coding” is a short introductory course in which participants will learn how the technology works and how to create applications, and it offers “a playful immersion in the computer sciences,” Microsoft said in a statement.
In the virtual, 12-session “Learning to Program” course, students will discover that “technical complexity in application development tools is a myth and that everyone can do it,” the statement added.
Trainees enrolled in these online courses will be equipped with the tools needed to develop technology “from the first steps to the final product,” the company said.
Microsoft will provide the young participants with tools such as videos, downloadable files and evaluations to deepen their knowledge.