American history owes a large share of its richness to the efforts of the large Hispanic population living within the country. With over 65 million Hispanic people living in the United States as of July 2023, their hard work and dedication have created everlasting impacts across a diverse range of areas, including art, music, literature, science, politics, and sports.
However, when it comes to the tech industry, Hispanic people have been grossly underrepresented. As victims of the large digital divide in the USA, Hispanic tech students often face a large number of challenges when trying to enter and make a name for themselves in tech.
Some of these challenges include a lack of tech-related education in many communities and financial barriers, which make it tougher for Hispanic individuals to pursue further education. These barriers collectively result in a lower level of Hispanic representation in tech, which, in turn, means lower inspiration and a lack of potential mentors for Hispanic students seeking careers in tech.
For the 9 percent of Hispanic people living in rural areas, limited access to internet services also hindered their ability to educate themselves in tech-related fields. Fortunately, technologies like satellite internet have provided a ray of hope for Hispanic tech students living in such areas.
With satellite internet providers like Hughesnet, students can access a large range of online learning platforms that can help them establish a future in tech. While you can access reliable and high-speed satellite internet by reaching out to Hughesnet servicio al cliente en español, identifying the right online learning platforms is a tiny bit trickier.
Not to worry, though, as I have done the hard work for you! In this article, I will share the best online learning platforms that Hispanic tech students in remote areas can use to advance their skills. Without further ado, let’s dive into them!
1. Codeacademy
Founded in 2011 by Columbia University students Zach Sims and Ryan Bubinski, Codeacademy offers a wide range of tech-related courses and certifications. Their goal is to help underrepresented communities like ours achieve a secure future in the world of tech.
The platform is renowned for its user friendliness, large range of industrially relevant courses, and scholarship programs. They offer a range of plans, including a free one, which can help those facing financial difficulties greatly. Additionally, they also offer discount programs on their paid plans, allowing everyone access to an even larger library of useful content, features, and career paths.
The platform focuses on hands-on practical training for all skill levels. This takes the form of exercises, projects, and real-world coding challenges that help students develop relevant skills. It also includes a range of accompanying resources, such as practice packs and community support to further assist students. Upon completion, students are awarded a certification based on the skill they chose to pursue.
2. edX
If you’re looking for a large range of courses from some of the best universities across the world, then this is the right platform for you. Founded in 2012 by the brightest minds from MIT and Harvard, their goal is to make education accessible for all.
You can find programs across numerous tech-related subjects, such as programming, data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and many more. They offer a range of free and paid plans; however, you will have to pay to achieve the certificate upon completion. You can also apply for financial assistance that takes the form of promo codes on select courses and discounts on verified certificates.
The free courses help develop your skills using a range of homework projects, readable resources as well as community support in the form of forums, where you can contact instructors and peers. The paid courses, however, offer a range of upgrades, such as unlimited access to study materials and the chance to sign up for a few premium programs, including master’s level programs as well as a range of professional certifications.
3. Coursera
Coursera was founded in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, both of whom are Stanford University computer science professors. Today, it is one of the most renowned online platforms that aims to provide job-relevant skills to students, businesses, universities, and government organizations worldwide with an unmatched level of cost-effectiveness and flexibility.
They offer students the chance to develop a diverse range of tech-related skills by offering free and paid hands-on projects, courses, job landing certificates and degree programs. The content in the free courses can be accessed easily; however, they do not provide a certificate unless you pay. Fortunately, you can apply for financial aid if you cannot afford the certificate but need it crucially.
In addition to financial aid, the platform also offers frequent discounts on their paid plans. Other features include interactive study materials, such as on-demand videos and quizzes. They also focus on community building through forums and programs like their Community Meet and Greet, where students can come together to learn from, network with, and support others like them.
Online Learning – Enabling a Secure Future for an Underserved Community
While it is necessary for Hispanic students to put in the hard work to make it in the tech industry, it is also necessary to avail opportunities that can make the experience a little more convenient.
The power of satellite internet, paired with the literal ocean of knowledge the 3 platforms I mentioned in this article have to offer, can pave the way for numerous Hispanic students to embark on their tech careers.
