Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming

Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming is a comprehensive introduction to the topic of programming, which aims to get people, interested in the topic but unsure where to start from, to develop coding skills. Designed by the University of Edinburgh in conjunction with Universidad ORT Uruguay, this online course teaches participants how to code using the programming language Scratch. Learners will also grasp the basics of what it means to work as a programmer and gain knowledge of essential concepts such as algorithms, software engineering, and computer components. 

Course topics

Learners are introduced to basic foundational concepts, pertaining to software, web development, and programming. The course also zooms in on the main software engineering practices, employed by developers in the field, and takes participants through the main ways of documenting computer programmes. 

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to describe the basic principles of programming and coding, list different programming languages, and demonstrate basic knowledge of the programming language Scratch. They will gain a first experience of writing their own computer programme, remixing computer games, and modifying code written by themselves, or other people. Finally, they will also learn the basics of reusing one's code, i.e. procedures and cloning using Scratch. 

Course details and schedule 

Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming takes 4 weeks to complete and learning material is organised in 4 weeks, each focusing on a particular element of interest. In total, the course can be completed in approximately 12 hours and requires no prerequisite knowledge of coding or mathematics. It is available in English with subtitles in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish (and English). Learning is organised via shorter and longer instructional videos, questions that stimulate self-reflection and discussion, and reading material. The course is free of charge to audit via the Coursera learning platform, and participants can opt to certify their skills by purchasing a certificate for a fee.