The Hour of Code has arrived
In a year that’s been unlike any other, this year’s Hour of Code will be unlike any other, too. Despite the upheaval of school closures and many classrooms going remote this year, tens of thousands of you took a Code Break to learn from guests like Bill Gates or Yara Shahidi, more than 8 million new students joined Code.org to begin learning computer science, and as we kick off Computer Science Education Week today, many of you will be joining us for a CodeByte.
Whether you’re at home or in the classroom, anyone can host or participate in an Hour of Code — and it’s not too late to get started!
CodeBytes: Tune in today at 8am or 1:30pm PST!
If you’re navigating a virtual classroom, CodeBytes are a great option. Students can tune in for these short, 20-minute lessons with computers, tablets, or smartphones, to learn about various CS topics with Code.org staff.
Best of all, there are two daily livestreams, beginning this morning at 8:00am PST / 11:00am EST and in the afternoon at 1:30pm PST / 4:30pm EST. Plus, recordings will be available after episodes have aired on our YouTube channel.
Explore Artificial Intelligence with Microsoft
We’re excited to partner with Microsoft on a series of videos, curriculum, and more to bring the world of AI to students from elementary to high school. As AI and machine learning continue to transform the way we live, it’s more important than ever that every child understands how these technologies work and how to think about them ethically.
Join us to explore AI in a new video series, tune in to our panelist discussion on December 8th, and help our bot, A.I., clean the oceans. We also have a brand new AI page with even more resources and lessons.
Tools for everyone to enjoy the Hour of Code
All classrooms and students have different needs, especially this year. With that in mind, we’ve expanded our resources to guide you through a variety of options for hosting a fun Hour of Code. If you haven’t already, check out our library of How-To Guides, which include new tips for teachers, parents, and virtual events.
We’ve also created a printable Hour of Code Unplugged Activity Packet for ages 4–18 so that students using limited technology at home can still participate. Plus, there are new unplugged activity options from our partners at Google, Kodable, iRobot, and more.
With classroom instruction becoming increasingly virtual this year, there has never been a more important time to introduce computer science. It’s vital that every student understands not only how to use these technologies, but how they work, how they’re built, and how to think about them through the lens of CS for Good.
Every child deserves to learn computer science. By learning today, they can build a brighter tomorrow.
Hadi Partovi, Code.org