Future computer science leaders get first look at jobs with ‘Hour of Code’

Fifth grader Zachary Conklin loves learning how to code computer programs.

"It is probably one of the most fun things I have learned in school," the Palmetto Bays Elementary School student said. "It is something I really like doing and want to do all the time."

Coding is a language computer programmers use to make a program or game run properly on a computer, phone or tablet. Without coding from programmers, there would be no Microsoft Word or Angry Birds.

Third, fourth and fifth grade students at Palmetto Bays Elementary participated in the weeklong, nationwide "Hour of Code" initiative through the nonprofit organization Code.org. Organizers say the kids learn valuable skills that can lead to high-paying jobs in the future.

Many other schools across the county also participated in the "Hour of Code."

The initiative asks schools, teachers and parents across the country to help introduce more than 10 million students of all ages to computer programming during Computer Science Education Week, which runs through Sunday.

Meg Torrens, librarian at Palmetto Bays Elementary, said she was already teaching her students in the school's technology club how to do computer coding, but when the weeklong event was announced she thought it would be good for all of her students.

"Computers and technology are part of our everyday life and it is sad that 90 percent of schools nationwide do not teach computer coding," she said. "I read a statistic that said in 2020, there will be one million unfilled jobs in the computer science industry because our children don't have the skills needed to take these high-paying jobs."

Each class of third, fourth and fifth grade students spent an hour in the library coding a game through the Code.org website.

"It is fun for them because it is like a game," she said. "I had some kids finish all 20 lessons in the one hour and want to do more."

Fifth grader Miah Pearson said she is part of the technology club and is happy to see all the students learning to code.

"This is something that everyone should learn how to do whether they go into computer programming or not," she said. "I never thought I was going to do it, but it is cool that you can create your own movies and games."

Torrens said the coding program teaches students problem solving and logic.

"They really have to work through problems in order to make the program run correctly," she said. "It is tough once you get past the first few levels."

Conklin said everyone should learn how to code a computer program.

"It is a really cool thing to do," he said.

Experts like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Timothy Cook agree.

They and many other community leaders and pop stars joined with Code.org to promote coding in an effort to spark an interest in computer programming while students are young.

President Barack Obama even says coding is something everyone should learn.

"Learning these skills isn't just important for the future. It is important for our country's future," he said in a YouTube video supporting the "Hour of Code."

S.C. Superintendent Mick Zais also supported the weeklong program.

"Dr. Zais is excited that more than 62,000 students across our state are learning about computer coding this week," said Dino Teppara, spokesperson for the S.C. Department of Education. "The activities being planned in schools will certainly open the doors to successful IT careers for many students down the road, and that's a great thing for our communities and our economy in the future."

Because of the nationwide participation, students have written more than 163 million lines of computer code.

Torrens said she expects her students to write more than 4,000 lines of code by the end of the week.