Microsoft, UW participate in ‘Hour of Code’ events to get students interested in computer science

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, left, and Principal Anitra Pinchback-Jones, right, observe as Rainier View Elementary School students take part in the Hour of Code on Monday Dec. 7, 2015 in Seattle. Hour of Code introduces to programming and computer science throughout the world. (Stephen Brashear/AP Images for Microsoft)
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, left, and Principal Anitra Pinchback-Jones, right, observe as Rainier View Elementary School students take part in the Hour of Code on Monday Dec. 7, 2015 in Seattle. Hour of Code introduces to programming and computer science throughout the world. (Stephen Brashear/AP Images for Microsoft)

Computer science is taking over classrooms all across the world this week thanks to a Seattle-based non-profit.

Code.org is organizing its “Hour of Code” event for the third consecutive year as part of Computer Science Education Week. Starting today, students will have the opportunity to learn about programming with free online tutorials and instructional videos at 191,000 events in more than 180 countries. One-third of all U.S. schools are participating, and Code.org says it expects to reach 50 million students this week.

Founded in 2013 year by brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi, Code.org offers free online learning courses to help expand participation in computer science. Along with other organizations encouraging computer science education, Code.org is already having an impact with school districts all around the world adopting curriculum that teaches programming skills. It has inked key partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Apple, Disney, Lucasfilm, and more, while having people like Bill Gates and President Barack Obama tout the importance of computer science education.

There were several Seattle-area organizations participating in “Hour of Code” events at schools around the region. Here’s a quick round-up of the coding activity.

Rainier View Elementary School

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, middle, observes as Rainier View Elementary School students take part in the Hour of Code on Monday Dec. 7, 2015 in Seattle. Hour of Code introduces to programming and computer science throughout the world. (Stephen Brashear/AP Images for Microsoft)
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, middle, observes as Rainier View Elementary School students take part in the Hour of Code on Monday Dec. 7, 2015 in Seattle. Hour of Code introduces to programming and computer science throughout the world. (Stephen Brashear/AP Images for Microsoft)

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Amazon Senior VP of Consumer Business Jeff Wilke stopped by Rainier View Elementary School in South Seattle on Monday morning to present a $10,000 prize and visit with students.

Nadella spent the first part of his morning teaching fourth-graders how to code using the new Hour of Code Minecraft tutorial that Microsoft unveiled last month. The tutorial, which is available for free, walks students through 14 levels. It looks and feels like the Minecraft game that kids are so familiar with, but they have to use basic computer science principles to play. Students click and drag blocks to form a string of commands. They click “run” and their character carries out the actions.

Minecraft Tutorial_screenshot

Wilke then spoke to the students at an assembly, where students themselves taught the Amazon exec how to complete the Minecraft tutorial. The Amazon exec joined Code.org’s Alice Steinglass to give Rainier View Elementary School the $10,000 donation.

wilke
Photo via Code.org.

Microsoft also hosted Hour of Code events at its stores across the world and at other schools.

University of Washington

Newly-appointed University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce spent an hour with a small group of students on campus Monday morning going through tutorials on Code.org’s website and learning to code.

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce and student Sukhdeep Singh participate in the Hour of Code. Photo via Dennis Wise/University of Washington.
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce and student Sukhdeep Singh participate in the “Hour of Code.” Photo via Dennis Wise/University of Washington.
UW President Ana Mari Cauce poses with her fellow programmers at the conclusion of their Hour of Code. Photo via Dennis Wise/University of Washington.
UW President Ana Mari Cauce poses with her fellow programmers after finishing the “Hour of Code.” Photo via Dennis Wise/University of Washington.

The UW also hosted a separate event at the largest lecture hall on campus, where about 100 students invited a friend or family member to try coding for the first time.

UW CSE Hour of Code_KO7
UW student Eric Keenan and his mother, Gayle, participate in the Hour of Code in Kane Hall. Photo via Kristin Osborne/University of Washington.
UW CSE Hour of Code_KO5
UW students participate in the Hour of Code at the largest lecture hall on campus. Photo via Kristin Osborne/University of Washington.

The UW is hosting a series of similar events throughout the week and expects to have more than 400 people participate in Hour of Code lessons.

Queen Anne Elementary

Each of the 400-plus students at Queen Anne Elementary participated in Hour of Code on Monday, along with 45 parent and community volunteers who helped the kids learn about computer programming.

Students at Queen Anne Elementary participate in "Hour of Code." Photo via Julie Smith.
Students at Queen Anne Elementary participate in “Hour of Code.” Photo via Julie Smith.
Students at Queen Anne Elementary participate in "Hour of Code." Photo via Julie Smith.
Students at Queen Anne Elementary participate in “Hour of Code.” Photo via Julie Smith.

Here some scenes from other Hour of Code events around Seattle:

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