“If you can create technology,” says YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, “you can change the world.” Whether you want to program droids and create your own Star Wars game in a galaxy far, far away; understand the basics of JavaScript programming for art and design; or use code to join Frozen’s Anna and Elsa as they explore the magic and beauty of ice, it all starts with “an hour of code.”
The Santa Barbara County Education Office is proud to announce that over 70 schools in all 20 school districts in Santa Barbara County will be participating in the 3rd Annual Hour of Code during the week of Dec. 7-13. The Hour of Code is a global event involving millions of students in over 180 countries. Students, teachers, and parents can implement the tutorial with no background in computer science or coding. “No experience needed,” the website helpfully states, and adding that it is targeting “ages 4 to 104.”
Since Hour of Code’s launch in 2013, more than 145 million people have tried their hand at coding. Over 48% of those have been female, according to their website.
The Hour of Code was created by Code.org as part of their efforts to promote computer science education. Code.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color, with the idea that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science as part of the core curriculum.
Information about Hour of Code, along with supporting resources and videos, can be found at http://hourofcode.com/us, or by contacting Scott Spector, Coordinator of Innovation and Academic Events at the Santa Barbara County Education Office at sspector@sbceo.org or 964-4710, ext. 5348.
