‘Nanodegree’ Is Google’s Answer To Apple’s ‘Swift Playgrounds’

Apple recently released a video game app called “Swift Playgrounds,” which is intended for children to learn to code. In response, Google ramped up its efforts to reach novice programmers with their much more user-friendly “Android OS” and what they are calling “Android Basics Nanodegree.” The search engine company is hoping that with a more focused approach in educating potential coders, they will be able to culture new recruits to their army of programmers.

As the name suggests, a “Nanodegree” is basically a course that has a narrower set of lessons and goals to accomplish as opposed to the broader concept of coding. As Android Headlines explains, having a more specific course to teach students about specific subjects makes them more viable for specific jobs.

Those who are able to finish these types of courses in less than 12 months will get a refund worth 50 percent of their tuition fee. The monthly fees will be $199 and the course will revolve around subjects that have to do with Android programming. By the end of the course, students will learn how to code with JavaScript, SQLite, and they will be able to create their own apps.

This is the first time that Google has designed a class that is meant for complete programming novices, according to Tech Crunch. Google is also partnering with the online education institution called “Udacity” in order to accommodate the new students, Google program manager, Shanea King-Roberson wrote on a blog post.

“Google, in partnership with Udacity, is making Android development accessible and understandable to everyone, so that regardless of your background, you can learn to build apps that improve the lives of people around you,” she wrote.

To make things even more enticing, Google is also offering full scholarships to the first 50 students who can complete their “Android Basics Nanodegree” courses. This will allow them to proceed to the more advanced “Career-Track Android Developer Nanodegree” if the wish.