Hour of Code Badge

Hour of Code is a program designed to introduce people to coding (Hour of Code, 2019). Code.org (2019c) is a great website for Hour of Code programs and resources for students of all ages. One awesome activity that they have is called Dance Party (Code.org, 2019b). This activity uses blocks of code to create a scene and control different dancers to dance to music of the user's choice. Prior to beginning the activity, users input their ages to ensure that the music selection available to them is age-appropriate (Code.org, 2019b). Check out my Dance Party by clicking here (Code.org, 2019b).

To use Hour of Code in the classroom, teachers could bring their students to the computer lab or use the technology that is available in their room. Students could work individually or in partners to complete one of the activities on Code.org that is meant for their grade level (Code.org, 2019c). For example, Dance Party is labelled as being appropriate for students in grade 2 and above (Code.org, 2019b). At the end of their activity of choice, students can download a certificate of completion that they can submit to their teacher to show that they finished the activity. Check out my certificate below.

When most people think about coding, they think that computers are a must. However, code.org has created an 'unplugged' curriculum that allows students to learn about coding without using any technology (Code.org, 2019a). This is another way that teachers could include Hour of Code in the classroom. For example, one activity has students read through a piece of code on a worksheet to determine what error the coder has made (Code.org, 2019a, p. 55). This teaches students about the importance of debugging their code, as well as how to do it, without needing one computer for each student. Furthermore, the code on the worksheet is written in simple language and uses pictures so that students can learn the principles of coding without actually having to know how to code.

One reason to use Hour of Code in the classroom is because of the applicability of its lessons to other areas. For example, the worksheet described above teaches students about debugging (Code.org, 2019a, p. 55). Although the word debugging is typically only used when talking about technology, the concept is the same as editing. Students need to learn to edit their work and how to do so. This specific worksheet requires students to remove unnecessary pieces of code, similarly to the way that they must remove unnecessary words or sentences from their writing (Code.org, 2019a, p. 55). By teaching this lesson through a fun activity, students are more likely to learn from it and use what they have learned going forward (Pandey, 2015).

References

Code.org (2019a). CSF curriculum guide 2019 [Google Doc]. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UqCgO06NzB1L6y83fnwnUcYdKr3MooJAaUZajj48DnI/preview

Code.org (2019b). Dance party. Retrieved from https://studio.code.org/s/dance

Code.org (2019c). Hour of code activities. Retrieved from https://code.org/learn

Hour of Code (2019). Hour of code. Retrieved from https://hourofcode.com/ca

Pandey, A. (2015). Top 6 benefits of gamification in elearning. Retrieved from https://www.eidesign.net/top-6-benefits-of-gamification-in-elearning-2/