“Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer…. Because it teaches you how to think.”
- Steve Jobs 1995
Welcome to Computer Science Education Week (CSed); "...an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field." (CSedWeek.org)
Did you know that Olympia has an AP Computer Principals course, a CS mentorship program through State Farm, and many teachers from K-12 who incorporate computer science principals into their curriculums on a regular basis? This is a week to raise up those teachers and students who actively pursue computer science.
An annual tradition during CSedWeek is to participate in an Hour of Code. What is that you ask? Well...
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts.
- HourofCode.org
Ask your children if they are learning anything about computer science this week; you might be surprised at what you find out! And if you are interested in participating in an Hour of Code at home, checkout this official parent's how-to guide! You do not need any background in coding or computer science, we promise!
To learn more about CSedWeek or the Hour of Code, check out these links:
- About #SCforSocialJustice (this year's CSedWeek theme)
- Celebrate CS Teachers
- Register for the Kick Off Live stream on 12.7 @ 12:00 PM
- Hour of Code
- CS Helps Students Outperform in School, College, and Workplace - Code.org