[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfZrX5YDltU[/youtube]

Computing is all around us, from movies to manufacturing to marketing. But only a handful of Americans learn how computers work or can to create software, websites, or applications.

Computer Science Education Week (December 9-15, 2013) is an annual effort to change that equation.

Organized by the Computing in the Core coalition and Code.org, CSEdWeek celebrates computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, who was born on December 9, 1906. (See photo, right.)

This year’s tribute includes an Hour of Code — a one-hour introduction to computer science designed to demystify “code” and show that anyone, even kindergarten kids, can learn the basics of programming and become an innovator. The goal is to have 10 million students participate in the hour of code.

Organizers will provide a variety of self-guided tutorials that anybody can do, on a browser, tablet, or smartphone. There will even be unplugged tutorials for classrooms without computers. No experience needed.

Communities can participate, too. In Illinois, for example, the Mathnasium of the Glen and Mathnasium of Kenilworth are hosting the Hour of Code on Dec. 14, according to the Chicago Tribune.

There are some compelling reasons to learn to code, the paper reports: Software jobs outnumber students 3-to-1, and the gap is expected to be 1 million jobs over 10 years. Many countries require students to learn computer science.
In the United States, however, 90 percent of schools don’t teach it.

See eGFI Teachers’ computer-science resource page for additional links and ideas for helping kids learn to program.

Filed under: For Teachers, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Special Features

Tags: code writing, code.org, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, computer science education week, Grace Hopper, Public Policy, STEM education, Technology for Learning