Hour of Code

Today, in my daughter’s take home folder, her teacher had placed a notice that she and her classmates had been encouraged to participate in an Hour of Code at the school library. I had previously not heard of this program and after a little investigating found that this something that more libraries are participating in globally.

This fosters an interest in computer Science at a young age. Beginning at 4 years old, anyone who has an interest can learn about programming. This discipline is surprisingly under represented in curriculum in schools throughout the U.S. and seems like a strong initiative to build interest in a profession in which demand for eligible applicants is outgrowing the applicant pool.

Introducing girls in particular to this work may be the stimulus to compel girls to pursue computer science after being exposed to the process. Providing access to information about coding and demonstrating how things work and exposing engaged minds to an entry point is a good move for libraries to be involved in.

I wonder if these ideas couldn’t be expanded to offer students a taste of real life jobs they might pursue. How often there is no conceptual connection between the work people do in the world and the disciplines and ideas children and young adults encounter in school. Can we better prepare a generation to change their world by giving them access to the tools they need to make it happen?