The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in over 180 countries. The idea is simple: give students one hour to try out coding through engaging and easy-to-follow tutorials. The beauty of the Hour of Code is that it requires no prior experience in coding. In today’s digital age, understanding the basics of coding is becoming just as important as learning to read or write.
For early learners, these tutorials are specifically designed to be approachable. They start with basic concepts like sequencing and cause and effect, that don’t overwhelm young learners. Instead, students feel like they’re playing a game, all while absorbing the fundamental concepts of coding. Starting young builds confidence and an early interest in subjects like math and science, which are often tied to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers.
Our class participated by moving a car through a magna tile obstacle course from start to finish. Students took turns as the “programmer” and “robot” to make this happen. They used numbers and directions to get the car from the beginning to the end.
