Does creating computer programs sound like an intimidating task? It doesn’t have to be! This past week, students, teachers, and administrators have been teaching and learning how to write code for computer programs as a part of the annual “Hour of Code” event.
The “Hour of Code” event is an international movement created by Code.org that invites students in grades K-12 to complete at least one 45 – 60 minute lesson on the basics of computer science and coding. Students get a chance to learn the basics of coding at their grade level and then play interactive games that use coding to earn points and complete tasks.
While “Hour of Code” content is available throughout the year, PSD chose to participate during the week of Dec. 5 – 11, which is Computer Science Week. Computer Science Week celebrates STEM education and takes place during the week of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper’s birthday. Admiral Hopper is known as the “Queen of Computer Code.”
Swift Water Elementary School third-grade students enjoyed a whole week of coding once a day. They created multiple lines of code to manipulate worlds in Minecraft, make cartoon characters dance, and to build online robots.
PSD leaders also took time during Computer Science Week to participate in “Hour of Code.” For a lot of the administrators, coding seemed like a daunting task. But after just one-hour, they realized the potential everyone has to learn how to program, and how fun it can be.
Check out some photos from the past week.
#InspiredAndEmpoweredPSD #HourOfCode
A third-grade student at Swift Water Elementary School writes lines of code to manipulate a landscape in Minecraft as a part of the 2022 “Hour of Code” event.
Two third-grade boys at Swift Water Elementary School work side-by-side as they write code during the 2022 “Hour of Code” event.
Dec. 8, 2022
A third-grade boy at Swift Water Elementary School shows his teacher, Shauna Coxford, how to place lines of code in a Minecraft program on a interactive Promethean Board during the 2022 “Hour of Code” event.
Dec. 8, 2022.
A third-grade student at Swift Water Elementary raises her hand while participating in the 2022 “Hour of Code” event.
Dec. 8, 2022.
Erin O’Neal, Executive Director of College, Career, and Life Readiness, writes lines of code in a computer game as a part of the 2022 “Hour of Code” event.
Dec. 6, 2022.
Department of Learning and Innovation Instructor Donna Squires shows Assistant Superintendent John Helwich how to fix an error in a line of code during the 2022 “Hour of Code” event.
Dec. 6, 2022.
Assistant Superintendent Daniel Gregory places a sticky note with his thoughts about coding on a large idea pad.
Dec. 6, 2022.
A sticky note on a large idea pad reads “Before today I thought coding was … hard and just a bunch of 000s … now I think it’s accessible and fun!
Dec. 6, 2022.