Drive Digital Literacy This Computer Science Education Week With The Hour of Code

| MSFT Chicago Staff

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Every December, something special happens for students around the world. Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), held annually in December in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Grace Hopper (December 9, 1906), is a grassroots campaign dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science. The campaign, originally conceived by the Computing in the Core coalition, is now spearheaded by Code.org alongside 350 partners and 100,000 educators worldwide.

According to Code.org, Illinois has 20,463 open computing jobs (note: 3.9 times the state average demand rate) and 1,471 computer science grads. Illinois has no dedicated state funding for computer science, does not require it in all high schools, and has no K-12 curriculum standards for computer science. Via code.org.
Stats via Code.org.

This year, CSEdWeek runs from December 5, 2016 through December 11, 2016, and we’re ready to once again be on board. With over 500,000 open computing jobs nationwide — despite the fact that only 42,969 computer science students graduated into the workforce in 2016 — we’re ready to engage the next generation of coders and drive innovation throughout the world. Chicago’s CS4All program helps drive this change, bringing events and curricula to Chicago’s students to provide equity, empowerment, and opportunities. In fact, computer science became a graduation requirement at Chicago Public Schools just this year, prompted by CS4All.

But that’s just the first step. Computer science is a foundational skill and it’s up to us to ensure that every 21st century child gets the chance to learn how technology works.

So how do we get this done?

The centerpiece of CSEdWeek lies within a program devised by Code.org named the Hour of Code. An Hour of Code is a basic coding tutorial that new coders of all ages — and over 45 languages — can use to begin their journey in computer science. In over 180 countries, 305,078,080 students have performed an Hour of Code since its inception. It’s time to add to this total.

This CSEdWeek, we’re inviting you to take the coding challenge: give a child the gift of computer science and join them in an Hour of Code.

Local Hour of Code programming this CSEdWeek at the Microsoft Store:

YouthSpark: Hour of Code

Join us for this free, 90-minute workshop to take part in the global Hour of Code movement during Computer Science Education Week. Go behind the scenes to learn how to code, program, and play in your own gaming world. You’ll use fun, interactive coding to learn how creativity and problem solving come together to make something all your own. Workshop designed for ages 8 and older.

Monday, December 5, 2016 | 3:30 PM

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 | 3:30 PM

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 | 3:30 PM

Thursday, December 8, 2016 | 3:30 PM

Friday, December 9, 2016 | 3:30 PM

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