If you are looking to break into the world of programming, Harvard University offers free computer science courses to help you get started. One such course is an introduction to programming using Scratch, a visual programming language designed by MIT’s Media Lab.

This course teaches aspiring programmers how to write code by dragging and dropping graphical blocks that resemble puzzle pieces, instead of typing out text. Scratch is used at the start of Harvard College’s introductory course in computer science, CS50. It empowers students with no prior programming experience to design their own animations, games, interactive art, and stories.

The course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of programming, not only in Scratch itself but also in traditional text-based languages such as Java and Python. Topics covered in the course include:

• Functions, which are instructions that perform tasks
• Return values, which are results that functions provide
• Conditions, via which programs can decide whether or not to perform some action
• Loops, via which programs can take action again and again
• Variables, via which programs can remember information
• Abstraction

By the end of this course, students will have a solid foundation in programming and will be prepared for subsequent courses in programming.

Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in computer science or just looking to learn a new skill, Harvard University’s free computer science courses are an excellent resource. Start your journey into the world of programming today with this introductory course in Scratch.