Hi All, An Exciting Program from Vision-Aid
Computer Programming Classes for the Visually Challenged Applications for Sprint & Fall Semester 2019 Open. Limited Enrollment. Apply soon! Overview Are you a blind or visually impaired person who wants to learn computer programming? Vision-Aid is continuing with an exciting program to teach Python programming. After successfully teaching computer programming for the visually impaired in 2016, 2017 and 2018, we are thrilled to offer an even more comprehensive program in the Spring & Fall semester of 2019. There have been some recent changes in the program and admissions policy. Please review this message carefully to note the details. Schedule The Spring session class begins in mid-March 2019 and ends in June 2019. The course will run for around 14 weeks. The Fall Semester will run from September - December 2019. Depending on space availability, performance in the admissions process and other factors, some students may be taking the course in one semester (either Spring or Fall of 2019) and some may ask to take it spread over two semesters (both Spring and Fall 2019). Opportunity to participate in Hackathon Qualifying students who successfully complete the course will be invited to attend a hackathon for the visually impaired organized by iStem, Vision-Aid and other leading organizations in India in January 2020. All travel and lodging expenses for the conference will be borne by Vision-Aid and other organizers/sponsors, and students will have a unique opportunity to meet with the top IT companies in Bangalore, the technology hub of India to explore employment opportunities and to gain valuable experience in this unique event. Financial Aid for edX/Coursera and other Online Courses For students who successfully complete this program, Vision-Aid, in collaboration with iStem, will further offer scholarships and mentorship, to pursue advanced programming courses from leading US universities including University of Michigan and Stanford University and others via the edX.org and Coursera platforms. (Note: Many of our students have successfully obtained such certificates via this program). Students will also be eligible to apply for mentorship on advanced courses and internships. About the Course This is a virtual class. Students can participate from their own homes. During this program, the students will be introduced to computer science and programming concepts using Python, one of the most popular languages for getting started with computer programming. Students in this Vision-Aid program will learn from the experts in the field using the best online learning resources. The classes will be offered over SKYPE/ZOOM. Each student will be paired with a teacher who will work with the student to guide them through the course. We will try to work with selected students to find times which are convenient for them to take the classes. We realize many of our students are currently working full time jobs or pursuing higher studies so there will be options to take classes on evenings or weekends also. The course will have a midterm and final exam. The Vision-Aid course is based on a course "Programming For Everyone" offered over Coursera by University of Michigan. Cost Vision-Aid is pleased to offer this course free of cost to the students. However, students are required to have their own laptops/computer and a good internet connection. Please note this semester we have waived the advance refundable deposit requirement which was required in the past. Admission Criteria No prior computer programming experience is necessary, but some pre-requisites do apply. The application form will outline these pre-requisites. Vision-Aid will shortlist the qualified applications/students. Students will be required to complete a screening test and interview as part of the admissions process. The students qualified in the screening test, will go through a personal conversation /interview over the phone. At this stage, qualifying students will be placed in beginner or advanced classes. Time Commitment and Coursework Completion Requirements This course is an intense programming course. It will require a minimum of 10-15 hours of dedicated study and homework each week. Students who do not put in the required time and effort may find it very difficult to complete the course and master the concepts. Therefore, regular attendance and time commitment are very important. A student should apply to the course only if they are sure they can invest the needed time for the entire duration of the course. Once admitted a student MUST commit to attending all classes regularly without exception. Any student who misses more than 2 classes without prior written permission from the program coordinator may be dropped from the course. Students are required to submit all homework assignments, mid-term and final exams on time. Only a teacher can recommend an extension if needed for special cases, in consultation with the program coordinator. Why you should join? We believe in training the students, so they can be lifelong learners, and reach their highest potential. We encourage and guide our students to participate in Hackathons such as the iStem hackathon at IIIT Bengaluru. Vision-Aid students have earned MOOC certificates from leading Universities using edX and Coursera and some have also secured excellent advanced learning and employment opportunities. Please view the following Videos of some of our Vision- Aid star students – Aditi <https://youtu.be/KNhyKfJ1Xck> and Bhargav<https://youtu.be/ZBOr7LNB2pY> on Vision-Aid's Youtube channel: http://visionaid.org/videos <https://youtu.be/ZBOr7LNB2pY> <https://youtu.be/ZBOr7LNB2pY> How to apply Please fill out the form below. Please note that the demand for the course in prior semesters has been strong and we have quickly filled up the course and reached wait list status. Admission of qualified students is on first come first serve basis. You are encouraged to apply early if you are really interested! Fill out the entire form carefully, answering all questions. Incomplete forms may result in the application being rejected or delayed. Click the link below for applying. Application Form for Vision-Aid Python Programming Class<https://tinyurl.com/zsj35th> Questions? If you have any additional questions on the program, please send us an email to i...@visionaid.org<mailto:i...@visionaid.org> Thanks, Balaji Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
