Hour of Code 2015 from Tech Tosa
This week, many teachers (and their students) across the district participated in Hour of Code, an annual celebration of computer programming and the engineering/design process.
One of those teachers is Julie Hembree, librarian at Cougar Ridge.
Through her work participation in the Microsoft Innovative Educators program, she struck up a friendship with Michael Braun, who is former teacher, who now works for Microsoft. His work at Microsoft is centered around a joint program with the BBC (yes that BBC) to develop a programmable computer peripheral called Micro Bits. This device can be programmed to do a number of cool things, including flash messages, interact with the environment and be connected with other Micro Bits. The goal of the program is to get a million Micro Bits out into schools in the UK.
Michael came out with a set to Cougar Ridge and taught the course to 3rd through 5th graders during Hour of Code Week.
While teaching kids the basics of coding, logic and problem-solving, the best part is that students involved with the Micro Bits program get to literally move their code from the 2D world into the 3D world.
As you can see in the video above, students were engaged by Micro Bits and the possibilities they open up.