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They participated in the Hour of Code, a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in more than 180 countries, according to a release from The Chapel School.
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code," to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science, the release said. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with one-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts.
According to the Hour of Code's website, “Every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science. It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path.”
Middle School students taught the preschool and elementary school grades how to use the online coding program Lightbot. This cross-generational opportunity helped students share their coding knowledge to more than 350-plus participating students, the release said.
“The turnout was great and so much more than expected! I even ran out of certificates because of the high number of participants," said Matthew Martinez, The Chapel School technology teacher.
Visiting grades were also able to view a 3D printer in action, experience virtual reality applications, tinker with an Arduino, and observe a drone in flight.
Later in the week, Andy Iyer, senior software engineer at IAC Applications, visited and volunteered his time to speak to the students about his experiences while working at IAC Applications.
Iyer graduated with a degree in computer science and has more than 13 years of experience in computer software development.
“My main goal to volunteer for this initiative is to empower kids with technology," said Iyer.
IAC has created many popular browser, mobile, and desktop applications including TelevisionFanatic, WeatherLive, and Emoji Keypad, the release said.
The Chapel School will also partner with Legends of Learning to expose students to the process a video game goes through before official release. The students will be beta-testing games, aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards throughout the year.
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