New Zealand joins in global ‘Hour of Code’ event

New Zealand joins in global ‘Hour of Code’ event

Microsoft NZ and High Tech Youth Network encourage students and teachers from across the country to try coding for an hour during Computer Science Education Week, Dec 8-14

AUCKLAND, 8 December 2014 – Students from New Zealand will today be among the first in the world to participate in this week’s ‘Hour of Code’ event, a global campaign sponsored by Microsoft Corp, which aims to encourage 100 million students around the world to try an hour of computer coding to see how fun, easy and empowering it can be.

Described as the largest learning event in history, the Hour of Code is supported by over 100 partners and organized by Code.org for Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 8-14). During the week, students and teachers can visit the web site (http://hourofcode.com) and complete an hour of activities that will introduce them to the basics of coding and computer science.

In the recent international announcement for the 2014 campaign launch, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella said the Hour of Code aims to help students discover the fun of coding and – more importantly – how it can be a catalyst to create and achieve great things.

“Together, we can foster a vibrant pool of technically talented young people who are passionate and empowered to change the world,” said Nadella.

Mike Usmar, CEO of the High Tech Youth Network – which is partly funded by Microsoft through its YouthSpark programme – says HTYN will be actively participating in the Hour of Code event this week through its three main studios in West Auckland, Otara and Hamilton.

“It’s vital that Kiwi youth become fluent in the language of digital technology. This is why coding is already one of the core components of our teaching programme at the Network,” says Usmar.

“We have been seeing an increasing groundswell of interest from teachers who ask why coding isn’t part of their core school curriculum. The Hour of Code event provides a great opportunity for educators to change this by familiarising themselves and their students with the basics of coding, so they can encourage their school to incorporate it into general school curriculum.”

Microsoft New Zealand is also encouraging schools, teachers and students to participate in the Hour of Code event this week as a lead up to the main ‘Week of Code’ event Microsoft will be spearheading in schools during March 2015. (http://www.wespeakcode.net/)

“With young people today facing an unprecedented level of technological change in the workplace, supplying them with the right level of digital training can propel them into interesting and exciting careers,” says Evan Blackman, Education Sector Director for Microsoft New Zealand.

“Equipping young people with digital skills isn’t only about helping them in the job market, however. Coding is just one important part of developing broader digital skills which can help students grow their creativity, flexibility and problem-solving abilities,” says Blackman.

“Learning to code can help students understand the increasingly digital world around them. In today’s knowledge-based economy, Computer Science Education should be considered a curriculum cornerstone, as much as reading, writing or mathematics.”

Now into its second year, the Hour of Code movement initially reached 20 million students in December 2013 alone. Half of all participants were girls. Since then, the Hour of Code movement has gone worldwide, with tutorials translated into more than 30 languages.

Tutorials on the Hour of Code site include activities hosted by Angry Birds, and Anna and Elsa from the movie ‘Frozen’ on how to code, as well as guides that lead kids through creating their own version of the popular game app ‘Flappy Bird’.

To find out more about how you can participate in the Hour of Code, visit http://hourofcode.com, or to get involved with the Week of Code in March 2015, visit http://www.wespeakcode.net/

For more information on the High Tech Youth Network, visit: http://hightechyouth.org/

For local news and information from Microsoft New Zealand, visit the News Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/en-nz/news/

ENDS

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