SAN ANTONIO — The Hour of Code gives millions of kids across the world an introduction to computer programming and computer science.
- Hour of Code is available to millions of students
- Program teaches problem-solving
Turns out there are a number of students in San Antonio that are already coding on a daily basis. In fact, 2,500 students in Northside Independent School District took part in the Hour of Code last week, including the kindergartners at Hatchett Elementary.
Melinda Valdez, the STEM teacher at Hatchett, says she realizes just how important coding can be.
Photo of Hatchett Elementary teacher Melinda Valdez with her students (Bryan Boes/Spectrum News)
"It really teaches problem-solving. Kids have to look at different perspectives. It's teaching them that a code uses their language, robot language," said Valdez.
That language can come in a number of different forms and each grade is learning it at different levels.
"Sometimes we even start with unplugged activities. Just paper and arrows and a game board, and get their characters to go a different direction," said Valdez.
Photo of a laptop at Hatchett Elementary (Bryan Boes/Spectrum News)
The practice isn't so much for the present, but a future that is only getting more and more reliant on computers.
"Think about how quickly technology moves and it's always changing. We don't know what it's going to be like in the next five years, the next ten years, so we're giving them this spark," said Valdez.