By Sana Chaudhry
Advances in technology propelled the world into the twenty-first century and continue to transform the ways that people communicate, collaborate, and learn. And there is no sign that it is slowing down.
This week, December 8th to the 14th, is Computer Science Education Week. The White House announced that the seven largest school districts will be joining 50 others to begin offering introductory computer science classes to all students in hopes of getting girls and minorities to join.
By 2020, there will be more than a million computer science jobs nationwide. Yet, less than 2.4% of students graduate with a degree in computer science.
President Barack Obama, who joined the Hour of Code event this week, stated that we need to learn “not just how to use a smartphone, but to create the apps for a smartphone.”
Miami Lakes Educational Center is at the forefront of this movement. Joanna Luo, Sabrina Cerquera, and Michele Wu launched Girls Who Code after participating in a six week Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program, where they learned Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and jQuery Mobile. The experience inspired them to bring coding to girls at MLEC. The club works to help close the gender gap in technology, educating and inspiring girls from all academies to pursue careers in computer science.
But, they don’t just want girls coding, so they scheduled an Hour of Code event at our school this Friday, December 12 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm in the media center. Students will be introduced to the basics of writing a computer program through fun projects.
Hour of Code is an event launched by Code.org alongside other organizations, such as Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code, created to raise public awareness and encourage schools throughout the Unites States to participate.
Hour of Code hopes to get computer science education within schools and to get students involved in writing code.
“Coding is fundamental for all the technology we use. It is what makes things work. Learning how to code allows you to create websites, applications, and video games,” said Michele Wu, co-founder of MLEC’s Girls Who Code.
Within a few months, more than 20,000 teachers have participated in the Hour of Code and about 10 million girls participated last year. Now, it is MLEC’s turn to make their impact.
“Technology is everywhere – learning how to program will open so many doors to new opportunities,” said Joanna Luo, co-founder of MLEC’s Girls Who Code.
