This year's coding activities build on
students' interests and passions, connecting their lives to the
invisible forces behind what they love
SEATTLE, Sept. 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Code.org today unveiled the
theme for this year's Hour of Code, "Make the Invisible, Visible,"
celebrating computer science as the invisible force that powers all
of the things that students' love and use every day. Every year,
Code.org introduces millions of K-12 students worldwide to computer
science through Hour of Code with accessible, hour-long coding
activities. This year's campaign aims to inspire students to learn
and explore computer science by making the technology behind their
favorite activities—like gaming, music, sports, and art—visible and
relatable.
Hour of Code 2024 will take place from December 9-15 in tandem with the annual Computer
Science Education Week. This year, Code.org spotlights real-life
applications of coding, showing students how technology shapes
their everyday experiences, whether it's through video game design,
fashion analysis, or music creation. By bridging the gap between
students' passions and the technology that powers them, Code.org
defines coding as not just a set of algorithms and data but as a
language of creativity and thinking.
"Computer science isn't just about what happens behind the
screen; it's the force that powers our everyday experiences and
future innovations," said Hadi
Partovi, founder and CEO of Code.org. "This year's Hour of
Code is about showing students that technology isn't just something
they consume—it's something they can create with. We want to
inspire every student to see how their ideas can shape the world,
turning their visions into reality through computer science.""
Despite the momentum building around computer science,
disparities in access persist. In the 2023-24 school year, access
to computer science instruction remained low for students in small
and low-income schools, disproportionately affecting rural, Native
American, Latinx, and Black students. There is also a persistent
gender gap in computer science, with girls making up only 30
percent of enrolled students nationally. Through this year's Hour
of Code campaign, Code.org hopes to lower the barrier to entry to
empower educators and students everywhere to explore computer
science.
Hour of Code is designed to be beginner-friendly and accessible
to students and teachers at all levels, featuring popular games,
characters, and challenges that resonate with students including
Minecraft and Star Wars-themed exercises. Code.org provides
easy-to-follow guides, lesson plans, and activities, making it
possible for all teachers to bring coding into the classroom, even
those brand new to computer science.
"At Amazon, we believe computer science education unlocks
opportunities for students to become builders of technology, not
just consumers of it," said Victor
Reinoso, global director of Amazon's philanthropic education
initiatives. "Through our Amazon Future Engineer program, we're
proud to continue our collaboration with Code.org on initiatives
like the Hour of Code that make computer science fun, engaging and
accessible to students everywhere. This year's theme powerfully
illustrates how coding skills can bring students' interests and
passions to life in new ways."
Since its inception, Hour of Code has reached tens of millions
of students around the world. With support from over 400 partners,
20,000 educators, and 58,000 volunteers, the campaign continues to
grow and evolve each year. For more information about how to
participate in this year's Hour of Code, and to explore resources
and activities that bring computer science to life in your
classroom, visit www.hourofcode.com/us.
About Code.org
Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to
expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing
participation by young women and students from other
underrepresented groups. Our vision is that every student in every
school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of
their core K-12 education. The leading provider of K-12 computer
science curriculum in the largest school districts in the United States, Code.org also created the
annual Hour of Code campaign, which has engaged more than 15% of
all students in the world.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hour-of-code-2024-celebrates-how-computer-science-powers-everyday-passions-302257966.html
SOURCE Code.org