Hour of Code

In December, there was a very important week called "Computer Science Education Week." The week was declared to bring computer science into schools and promote student interest in coding. A challenge was put forth for students to participate in an hour of code. The students of Connected 1.0 participated and wrote over 1500 lines of code in class. I see some future programmers in this class.

We started as a class working through a tutorial on the computer science education week website: csedweek.org.  The students had to solve puzzles to program an angry bird to move through mazes.  While they are "playing" the students are learning how code with repeat-loops, conditionals, and basic algorithms.  As they move up levels, the students received video tutorials by gifted computer scienctists in the field like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.  The children were amazing.  After we worked together for awhile, the students went to the Chromebooks and began their own coding.  Look how intense!  The children can code from their home computer as well.  Just follow the link above.

 Of course, we also had to try coding on the ipad.  We used the app LightBot where students use programming to move a robot and light up tiles in a series of puzzles.  On free choice Friday, ALL of the students choose programming with this app.  WOW!