Communications of the ACM
Preview of Writing Code for Future
Seventh-graders at Littleton Middle School in Massachusetts focus during their "Hour of Code" session.
Credit: The Boston Globe
About 200 schools in Massachusetts participated in the Hour of Code, a nationwide campaign sponsored by Code.org aimed at introducing millions of students to programming. "We think that computer science is emerging as a 21st-century literacy," says Massachusetts Computing Attainment Network (MassCAN) executive director Jim Stanton. "Computer science provides the tools to become creators of technology, and we think that's where there is huge excitement."
The Hour of Code was designed to make computer science less intimidating by guiding students through introductory coding tutorials. The event took place during the recent Computer Science Education Week, and introduced approximately 15 million students in 170 countries to basic coding. In addition, Computer Science Education Week organizers said more girls participated in computer science in U.S. schools during the event than in the last 70 years.
Nine out of 10 schools do not offer programming courses, despite the fact that jobs in computer-related fields are predicted to outnumber students by 1 million by 2020, according to Code.org. Furthermore, 33 states, including Massachusetts, do not count computer science courses toward math or science requirements for a high school diploma. MassCAN is a coalition of educational nonprofits, business associations, corporations, and educational institutions working to encourage students in computer science through local initiatives.
From The Boston Globe
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