Computers are cool

by DEVIN HEILMAN/Staff writer
| December 4, 2015 8:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE — What do "Star Wars," "Frozen" and "Minecraft" have in common?

Aside from being pop culture phenomena, these much-loved franchises will be in the midst of learning and fun during Gizmo-CDA's Hour of Code event, happening from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday.

Hour of Code is a worldwide movement to get kids and students involved with computer science. This one-hour instruction period introduces youths to the fundamentals of coding while showing them that anybody can learn the basics. The students use problem-solving skills to create pathways in JavaScript for characters to move along while completing tasks such as turning left and right.

Gizmo-CDA is partnering with University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene for a free Hour of Code event. Those who complete an hour of Code at Gizmo will be eligible for a drawing to win prizes including free tickets to the new "Star Wars" film.

"Coding is relevant for just about everyone in the way of video gaming, programming, security, etc.," said Jocelyn Stott, marketing and communications manager for University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene. "This is a relaxed and informal way to get a little experience in something that might be intimidating to some."

Gizmo and University of Idaho's Hour of Code is occurring in conjunction with Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 7-13. Participants will be using characters from "Star Wars," "Frozen" and "Minecraft" to explore computer programming. All ages are welcome. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop, smartphone or tablet, but Gizmo does have some for participants who not have their own.

Many other schools and institutions in the region are participating in Hour of Code during, before or after Computer Science Education Week. Post Falls High School is participating in Hour of Code for its first time during a school-wide event Dec. 18, the last day of school before winter break.

Business and technology teacher Angela Blair said this is also the first year PFHS has offered a computer science class, so those students will be leading their peers as they explore coding together.

"Technology is everywhere,” Blair said. "There are hundreds of thousands of jobs going unfilled because there aren't enough people with the skills necessary to fill them."

She said Hour of Code breaks barriers for students as well as teachers who may be intimidated by computer programming.

"You’re not fluent in a foreign language the first day you take that class,” she said. “It’s the same with computer science; it's its own computing language. You start with the basics and build into something more difficult.”

All PFHS classrooms are also participating in the Hour of Code event to vie for prizes that the Hour of Code organization will be awarding, such as the "Making of 'Star Wars'" grand prize experience in San Francisco with Disney and Lucasfilm. Classrooms can also win a video chat with a guest speaker, such as Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom or Microsoft CEO Julie Larson-Green, or win a class set of laptops or $10,000 for other technology.

Mullan Trail Elementary School will be bringing in presenters from the community to explore Hour of Code with some classes on Tuesday while other classrooms will conduct Hour of Code sessions throughout the week. Principal Katrina Kelly said it's a unique and fortunate situation at her school because Mullan Trail has a computer for every student, so each kid has computer access all the time.

"Coding is what our kids are going to be doing in the future," she said. "It's important for us to be ahead of the game in teaching our students the skills they’ll need for the future."

More than 177,400 Hour of Code events are scheduled to take place around the world in celebration of computer science. North Idaho's participating schools and institutions include: Gizmo, PFHS, Mullan Trail, Sorensen Magnet School, Venture High School, Woodland Middle School, Holy Family Catholic School, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy and many more. To view the map of participating locations and information about Hour of Code, visit www.hourofcode.com/us.