Have you ever heard about the Hour of Code? It sounds like a challenge level of a video game. Well, that’s not too far off. The term Hour of Code was coined to introduce computer science and “demystify code.” It’s an easy and simple way for anyone to learn the basics of computer coding. And it’s gone global.
Every December, St. Cloud Area School District uses the Hour of Code in collaboration with Code.org during Computer Science Education Week to teach elementary students code basics starting in kindergarten. District technology integrationists along with media specialists and teachers spend one hour a day with students computer coding.
Though the focus of Hour of Code is emphasized during Computer Science Education Week, the lessons learned are continued throughout their entire curriculum all year long. Coding gives students the skills to think critically and problem-solve.
Students at Oak Hill Community School worked through their courses on Code.org while also exploring STEM resources. The goal this year is for teachers to connect these resources to their curriculum in order to make coding and problem-solving part of everyday learning.
In the beginning of the year, classes at Discovery Community School read problem-solving books during morning announcements and later viewed videos in preparation for coding.
Other schools like Madison Elementary School and Talahi Community School expanded the learning to include families by holding Technology and Math (STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Nights. Families were able to interact with drones and robots, code and even earn certificates of completion through the Hour of Code.
Kennedy Community School invited Logan Farrell, application engineer at NASA, to speak to Ms. Keil’s class via webcam about his career at NASA. Students learned how he worked on the Modular Robotic Vehicle (MRV) and Robonaut.
One piece of advice Farrell gave students, “Find something and make it do something.”
Recently Amy Jensen, a Westwood Elementary second grade teacher, presented “The Techie Teacher Transforms the Terrified Teacher” at TIES 2017 Technology Education Conference with technology integrationist and Code.org facilitator, Angie Kalthoff, how second-graders are using Dash and Dot robots in the classroom.
One hour of coding a day transforms District 742 students into curious problem-solvers and critical thinkers. And, just maybe, takes a little mystery out of computer programming and turns it into something fun.
