Consistent with Microsoft’s commitment to preparing students for the future, we’re happy to announce the release of our latest product to empower the next generation of developers—Visual Studio Code for Education.
Visual Studio Code for Education is a free online computer science education platform that provides integrated curriculum and a sandbox coding environment for everyone. With zero setup, anyone can be a developer and start learning to code with Visual Studio (VS) Code, the code editor preferred by software development professionals around the world.1
Learn to code using real-world tools
Visual Studio Code for Education is a version of VS Code designed for students and educators. Using the same tools and platforms used by professionals, students will learn modern technologies and languages like Python and JavaScript that will help prepare them for the future.
Learn modern technologies and languages with Visual Studio Code for Education.
Coding for everyone
Visual Studio Code for Education is free and available online, so educators and students in any classroom can use it across devices and platforms. Choose from short bite-size lessons or full Python or Web Development courses with interactive assessments and coding challenges.
Visual Studio Code for Education is free, available online, and includes courses with interactive assessments and coding challenges.
Accessibility built-in
To ensure that every student can learn to code, accessibility features like Immersive Reader, high contrast, zoom, and screen reader support have been built into Visual Studio Code for Education from the beginning.
Immersive Reader in Visual Studio Code for Education. Accessibility features have been built into the product to ensure that all students can learn to code.
Courses and coding activities
Visual Studio Code for Education currently offers the following courses:
- Introduction to Python: A full year introductory-level course appropriate for both secondary school and university level classes. The course covers the fundamentals of the Python programming language like functions, if statements, for loops and structures.
- Intro to Web Development: A semester-length introduction to web design course focused on using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This project-based curriculum introduces students to the design thinking process to create websites for a client to solve a problem or serve a purpose. Students will learn basic HTML syntax, explore styling with CSS, and add dynamic web elements using JavaScript.
In addition to these courses, there are also bite-sized, 45-minute or less, fun coding activities available—like a Python Fortune Teller or a Spooky Manor text-based adventure game. These activities focus on specific elements of a programming language and support student creativity, exploration, and expression.
Visual Studio Code for Education offers full courses and bite-sized coding activities to fit the needs of educators and students.
Projects in Visual Studio Code for Education
If you would rather use your own curriculum or lessons with Visual Studio Code for Education, you can also use a project workspace that supports both Python and Web development projects. With zero setup required, students can start editing and running code in the browser. For web projects, students can preview their websites and publish them to the internet.
The project workspace in Visual Studio Code for Education supports open-ended Python and Web development projects.
Safe and secure for students and schools
At Microsoft, we value, protect and defend student data privacy and school security with rigorous governance practices and a privacy-by-design approach. To learn more, see Frequently Asked Questions about Visual Studio Code for Education.
Microsoft and Visual Studio Code for Education protect and defend student data privacy and school security with rigorous governance practices.
Created with educators
Visual Studio Code for Education was designed by educators, for educators. As part of an Advisory Board, a group of a dozen educators worked with the engineering and design teams to provide feedback and guidance on computer science education as the product was being developed.
“The Advisory Board was an incredible opportunity to help create a tool that can help fill a necessary gap in teaching computer science.” – George Lias, CS Teacher, Fredericksburg, Virginia, US
“I love that Microsoft is taking seriously the feedback from the teachers who will use their product. I feel that I am heard during the session, and that my feedback is seriously considered and incorporated where possible.” – Amy Pezzoni, CS Teacher, Modesto, California, US
We continue to work with CS educators as we explore new features and curricula. Learn more about the Advisory Board, access educator resources, and join fellow learners and educators at the Visual Studio Code for Education Community.
How to get started with Visual Studio Code for Education
It’s quick and easy to get started teaching with Visual Studio Code for Education:
- Open a web browser to https://vscodeedu.com
- Sign in using a Microsoft or Google account.
- Browse the catalog of courses to select a full course or coding activity to follow along with or create your own website or python project.
To verify connectivity and access to Visual Studio Code for Education on your school network, we encourage you to visit Visual Studio Code for Education Domains and Connectivity.
As you plan your professional learning, be sure to sign up for one of our free “Getting Started with Visual Studio Code for Education” or other course-specific webinars. Check out our events and workshops for educators to sign up and learn more about the professional learning opportunities available.
Get started with Visual Studio Code for Education and see how it can be a valuable resource in preparing students for the future!
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