“Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.”

— STEVE JOBS, THE LOST INTERVIEW

In order to raise awareness about Computer Science, Code.org is sponsoring a Hour of Code next week (December 9-15).   So far, over 4 million students across 166 countries have signed up to participate.  In addition, almost 10,000 schools have agreed to hold campus-wide events.  My home school, Piedmont High, is one of those institutions.  It is a thrill working with programming teacher Angie Medlin and her class.  Her programming students will be hosting the event and we have set up a Google Site to help everyone at the school take part: PMHS: An Hour of Code.

In many ways coding is becoming the new literacy of the 21st Century.  There will be great economic advantage for those that learn to write code.  In addition, coding teaches problem solving, engages students in other curriculum areas and leads to innovation.  Some countries, like Britain, have even gone as far to make it a part of their national curriculum.

While the United States enjoys a competitive advantage in the technology sector with homegrown companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook, the competition to fill jobs and innovate is heating up across the globe.  The United States alone faces a 1 million person per job shortfall by 2020 if we do not begin to train students in the field of computer science.  Computer programming is a top paying job and the field is growing at twice the rate of other available occupations.   This, along with the field’s gender and racial equity gap, is reason for concern.  Participation in the Hour of Code is just one way to raise awareness and let students know that there are many benefits to pursuing the computer sciences.

To get involved you can visit Code.org’s Help page.  There you will find links on everything from signing up your school to making a financial donation to the non-profit.  If you want to try the different programming activities being used throughout the week you can visit Code.org’s Learn page.  There are activities for beginners and advanced users.  There are even several activities for people who do not have computers or an internet connection.

Best Core: Convince Your School or State (Hour of Code);  Computer Science is Fundamental (Hour of Code)