Hour of Code Encourages Participation in Computer Science Activities

Every year, tens of millions of students in 180+ countries participate in Hour of Code, a week-long global movement that encourages students to participate in activities that provide a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming. During Computer Science Education Week from December 9-15, 2019, the students and faculty at YISS participated in the Hour of Code for the sixth year in a row. 

This year, we had the most participants--273 ES students and 120 MS & HS students--complete an Hour of Code activity either in class or at home when compared to any other year! These activities ranged from simple block coding, to more complex activities that had students coding in HTML, Python, Javascript, Scratch and some students even coded their TI calculators. Each student who completed an Hour of Code had the opportunity to enter their name for a chance to win one of four amazing coding-themed prizes.

This is the third year that the Hour of Code at YISS included a prize draw. For K-2nd grade students, the prize was a Dot Creativity Kit, for 3rd-5th grade students the prize was a Star Wars R2D2 Droid, for 6th-8th grade students the prize was a 3Doodler Create+ 3D Printing Pen Set and finally, our 9th-12th grade students had the opportunity to win a CoDrone Pro Programmable Drone. Congratulations to the Hour of Code raffle prize winners who were notified earlier this week and were overjoyed to collect their prizes!

If you would like to continue to develop your coding abilities or were not able to participate in Hour of Code week, we want to encourage all parents, students, and teachers to try out a coding activity at Hour of Code 2019 and go Beyond an Hour of Code!