The Math 9 students at Gordon F. Kells High School participated in an Hour of Code on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The directive was to help students learn the basics of coding in the field of Computer Science.
It is a worldwide effort which focuses on an hour of code one day out of Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 4-10).
“We’ve been coding and are familiar with it, but today is about them exploring something new and learning something different,” teacher Amy Rutten says. “Their project outside of Hour of Code is do design a multi-level game for a grade 1 or 2 to play.”
“What’s cool about this Hour of Code is that it’s worldwide. There’s not enough kids and schools doing this, coding is everywhere now because everything is done on the computer. So, I use it as an extension activity in Math 9, it’s the only class I have which applies to the curriculum, but it’s been a great thing. It motivates them, once they get their math done then they get to work on it or between units I give them time to work on it. Coding is really algebraic thinking and reasoning.”
On the Hour of Code website it states that all students should have the opportunity to learn about computer science which is routed in problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st century career path.
In addition to the Grade 9 Math class, anyone interested in coding from grade 6 to 12 were encouraged to log on for an Hour of Code and learn what it is.
