New (and free) Digital Literacy course from Microsoft uses TouchDevelop to teach development basics

Microsoft UK Faculty Connection - New Digital Literacy course teaches coding basics with TouchDevelop

“Build Your First App” – a free two-hour eCourse – launched today at www.microsoft.com/digitalliteracy this is  the newest addition to the Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum.

The course is a collaboration among Microsoft Learning experiences, Microsoft Research, and Microsoft YouthSpark. Students start on a path to learning computer science and are inspired to use Microsoft tools and platforms as they build their first apps

If your interested in the Touchdevelop course see at http://aka.ms/buildyourfirstapp

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Microsoft UK Faculty Connection - Get Started with Microsoft Digital Literacy

Whether you are new to computing or have some experience, Digital Literacy will help you develop a fundamental understanding of computers. The courses help you learn the essential skills to begin computing with confidence, be more productive at home and at work, stay safe online, use technology to complement your lifestyle, and consider careers where you can put your skills to work.and click “go”, and you will be taken to the appropriate page.

Choose your language English (UK) & Welsh both available

The Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum has three levels.

The Basic curriculum features a course called A First Course Toward Digital Literacy. This course teaches the value of computers in society and introduces you to using a mouse and the keyboard.

The Standard curriculum features five courses that cover computer basics; using the internet and productivity programs; security and privacy; and digital lifestyles. These five courses are available in four versions that use examples and screenshots from different versions of Windows and Microsoft Office. Please read the details below.

The Advanced curriculum features five courses that cover building your first app, creating an e-mail account, creating a great resume, searching for content on the World Wide Web and social networking.

Digital Literacy Standard Curriculum Version 4

Digital Literacy Standard Curriculum Version 4 teaches generic ICT skills and concepts. The curriculum features screen shots and simulations from Windows 8 and Microsoft Office 2013 to illustrate and provide hands-on examples.

• Computer Basics
• The Internet, Cloud Services, and World Wide Web
• Productivity Programs
• Computer Security and Privacy
• Digital Lifestyles

Microsoft Digital Literacy: Advanced Curriculum

Building on the essential computing skills mastered in the Digital Literacy Standard Curriculum, the Advanced Curriculum provides courses that explore core concepts in more depth. Learners may take any or all of the advanced courses in any order.

The Digital Literacy Advanced Curriculum consists of the following course:

• Build Your First App
• Creating an Internet Email Account
• Writing a Great Resume by Using Microsoft Office Word 2007
• Finding and Evaluating Resources on the Web
• Using Social Networking to Connect with the World

Each course has an e-learning module that can be played online or downloaded to a local computer. There is also a Word version that can be downloaded and printed.

Build Your First App

Estimated Time: 2 hours
Prerequisites: Students should have taken the course “The Internet and the World Wide Web” or have equivalent computing skills.
Description: This online course helps you learn basic programming concepts and skills by creating scripts on the TouchDevelop web site. You will learn about code execution, creating loops and defining and modifying variables. You will learn how to include physics, sprites and touch in your apps and games, and learn how to publish your apps online.
View Course Topics

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Free resources to help those who need a Digital Literacy leg up, be them young or old...