Facebook site helps start your programming career
Facebook knows that it can't hire a more diverse workforce unless there's a broader interest in computer science, and it just launched a website to help that happen. TechPrep provides resources to learners (and parents) who are curious about programming, but might not know where to start. It suggests services and gadgets based on your age, skill, and what you're looking for. If you're a teen just starting out, you'll be pointed toward a simple programming language like Scratch. Come to the site as an adult with a bit of experience, meanwhile, and you may see a link to Arduino boards instead. It's a small effort, but it could mean a lot if it starts you on a coding career that you wouldn't have considered otherwise.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki]
Today we're launching TechPrep -- a website to help people start programming careers.It shows parents and students what programming is, why it's important, and what sort of jobs are available for those who can code. It guides people to resources to get started -- everything from classes to college prep. And it features real stories from people from under-represented groups who've used the resources to start careers in tech. Improving diversity in the tech industry is an important challenge, and something we're deeply committed to at Facebook. Everyone should be able to take advantage of the opportunities created by the internet. Giving everyone the opportunity to learn to code will create even more valuable tools to serve society. Through research with McKinsey, we found that there are very few resources in particular for Black or Hispanic learners, and we wanted to change this. We've also put together resources for parents and guardians so they can provide young people with advice and support. We hope this is a valuable resource for people in our community, and that it helps makes a small contribution towards making our industry more diverse. Check out TechPrep at: https://techprep.fb.com
Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday, October 21, 2015
