This week is Computer Science Education Week, and schools all around the world participated in an activity called Hour of Code. This is an effort to introduce computer programming in the classroom, with special activities designed to help all students realize that anyone can code, anyone can create.
Students in Terese Scott's 6th period multimedia class participated in a live video web chat with Jess Lee, the CEO of Polyvore, a popular social-based e-commerce site. This class was one of only eight classes around the country that were invited to participate in this particular web chat. Ms. Lee talked about her career path in the computer industry and answered questions for each school.
In addition to special activities during technology classes, Hour of Code activities were available for all students during the mid-day flexible instructional time. All students were invited into the technology classrooms to participate in hands-on game, app and animation coding activities, using tutorials provided on the Code.org web site. Other students learned more about secure coding and ethics of hacking, before participating in a hands-on secure coding activity utilizing PHP.
“I was impressed that one student who hadn't coded before was able to program a ping pong game during the time allotted,” said Scott. “Another finished a multiple projects.”
Find out more at hourofcode.com/us.
Pictured: Jess Lee and the multimedia class participate in a web chat.