Introducing local students to the Hour of Code

It’s called the Hour of Code and local students at St Luke Catholic School joined in the global introduction to computer science and programming today (Friday).

Technology-Enabled Learning Facilitator with the Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic Board, Peter Anello says the next Mark Zuckerberg could be in the classroom.

He says there are numerous applications for coding, everything from art to fashion, music or video games.
Anello says the basis of the Hour of Code is to show students what is possible.

“We don’t want students to just use their phones, we want them to potentially program their phones,” he added.

Students were tasked with fixing a glitch in a game.

Grade 7 student Genevieve Dunn is excited about coding, “It’s so much fun to learn how to get people to move and say different stuff,” she said. “It’s really fun to watch your game afterwards.”

While there are careers in coding, Grade 7 student Indiana Coffin wants to have fun with it.

“I want to learn how to make games and fix glitches on other games,” she said.

Board officials say learning to code has a number of benefits for students, to help with curriculum learning in units like math, literacy and social studies along with providing unique problem solving skills, all in a 21st century learning environment.