For the second year of CAIS involvement
participation schoolwide in grades K‐8. As Ms. Willa explains, "We feel it is important for our students to be exposed to computer science." The project dovetails with Makers Movement integration at CAIS to help children see themselves as creators and not simply consumers. CAIS students and teachers embraced the activity. In fact, when school closed for inclement weather on the Thursday of that week, Ms. Willa heard from a first grade student, "I wanted to come to school today because I wanted to do the Hour of Code!"
Organized as part of Computer Science Education Week each December, the Hour of Code is designed to demystify coding and show students that anyone can learn the basics of programming. As Ms. Willa (@kbwilla) tweeted: "Fifth graders collaborated to solve some vexing Lightbot coding challenges" and "Kindergarteners and first graders worked with the Kodable app."
Propelled in part by high profile help with its awareness campaign (see PresidentObama participating), the program has grown spectacularly since its inception just a few years ago. However its leap from 10 million participants to 92 million in one year is just as much a testament to the excitement kids have around discovering this is something they too can do.
