Coding. Computer science. Javascript. HTML. Sound like a foreign language? Don’t worry – Hour of Code™ is here to help. Hour of Code™ is a world-wide celebration of all things computer science with a strong emphasis on coding, the language of computers. The campaign was created by two brothers, Hadi and Ali Partovi, who saw a gap in the growing number of careers in computer science and the low number of schools that taught computer science. They decided to create games that introduce the student in an innovative way during the annual December celebration of Computer Science Education Week. They especially wanted to target those who do not have access to computer science education anywhere else. For the fourth year in a row, Anythink is participating in Hour of Code, the world’s largest learning event, this Dec. 5-11. Throughout the district, we'll host a variety of programs and join in the international celebration of coding.

Why participate? According to Code.org, there is an explosion of computer science careers available, but not enough people to fill them. Additionally, the digital shift in our culture requires more creators of technology than just consumers.

Resources to get started at home

Even if you can't make it to one of Anythink's Hour of Code™ programs, there are a number of resources to help you get started at home. To make coding more accessible, Code.org and others have gamified coding to introduce people of all skill sets to the various computer languages. For example, instead of typing you can move blocks to create a sequence of commands. Check out Code.org/learn to try your hand at some fun games.

Many other wesbites have joined in Hour of Code by creating games and interactive videos that teach computer science. Khan Academy teaches interactive classes that cover the basics of wesbite design. Tynker, like Code.org, provides a range of game types for all ages. You can also get creative with Scratch, an interactive platform from MIT that allows you design your own game, animation or story that you can share with others across the globe. 

Moreover, if you would like to advocate for more computer science education in your community, Code.org provides templates to send to parents, teachers, principals, and government officials. 

Click here to learn more about Hour of Code™ programs at Anythink. 

Click here for more information and resources to get started coding.