Hour of Code features tutorials inspired by 'Minecraft,'
Source: Kimberly Wright
This week is a great time to plug in to code.
Young and old are invited to spend an hour dabbling with computer code during the Hour of Code in celebration of Computer Science Education Week.
Tutorials available on the Code.org website are self-guided and available in 40 languages. Coding explorers can choose between programming droids in Star Wars, crafting adventures in the Minecraft universe or creating worlds with ice alongside Anna and Elsa of Frozen.
Through partner tutorials, learners also can learn other programming languages such as Javascript and create games.
Organizers said tens of millions of students in more than 180 countries have dabbled in computer code as part of the Hour of Code.
The nonprofit Code.org was launched in 2013 in order to expand access to computer science, particularly among women and underrepresented groups and boost its value in the K-12 curriculum.
"Our vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science," the organization stated. "We believe computer science should be part of core curriculum, alongside other courses such as biology, chemistry or algebra."
The group believes the nation's educational system isn't doing enough to inspire the next generation of programmers. Currently, only 27 states count computer science courses toward high school graduation credits in math or science, according to Code.org.
According to statistics cited by Code.org and obtained from the National Science Foundation, in 2013 fewer than 8 percent of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, degrees pursue computer science.
Women and minorities are underrepresented in computer science fields, according to a 2007 study by the College Board cited by Code.org. Women make up 23 percent of those employed in computing occupations, while blacks and Hispanics represent 8 and 6 percent, respectively.
The U.S. Department of Education is pushing STEM studies because the U.S. is facing a shortage of qualified workers and teachers in those fields.
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