Cape students learn programing basics
Nine-year-old Megan Smith had no problem helping “Frozen” characters Elsa and Anna create intricate designs as they skated across the ice.
“I can relate because I saw the movie,” Megan said. “But it may be the hardest one I've done.”
On Dec. 8, Megan, her classmates and more than a million students worldwide participated in the Hour of Code. Created by computer-industry giants Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and others, the Hour of Code gives students an opportunity to learn computer programming through fun and games. This year's big draw was based on “Frozen,” featuring the stars of the Disney movie. The activity requires students to write code that guides Elsa and Anna through a series of twirls and turns to create snowflake or star-inspired patterns on the ice.
“It's about finding the pattern and telling the computer what it is and how many times it needs to be done,” said Cheryl Baldwin, computer lab manager at Shields Elementary.
The code for Frozen required an understanding of the angles needed to make the patterns, so that activity was aimed at fourth- and fifth-graders, Baldwin said.
Younger students could try their hands at Angry Birds and Zombies and Flowers – programs that debuted during last year's Hour of Code. Those activities have linear paths that the characters follow to reach their destinations.
By mid-morning at Shields, the Frozen drill was nearly impossible to log onto because so many students throughout the world were trying to play it, Baldwin said. Thankfully, she said, students could access other coding options through Lightbots and Tynker.
Playing Tynker, nine-year-old Anna Nauman moved a bear-like creature along a path so he could eat candy.
“I like that you're making up your own way of moving,” she said, as she typed in code to make the creature move forward or jump over obstacles.
Lily Manlove, 9, had finished the Frozen activity a few days earlier. She said she enjoyed creating the ice designs.
“I got all the angles on mine,” she said. “I like to ice skate but I usually fall.”
Teacher John Sell said his students were thrilled when they entered the classroom and realized they would be coding on their iPads.
“The kids love it,” he said.
James Webster, 10, said he wouldn't be doing the Frozen activity. He was only interested in an Adventure program in which he created a character who could cross through a desert-type area with bombs.
“Look I can add this voice and he can wear this,” he said to a classmate nearby.
Hour of Code was launched in 2013 to introduce students to computer coding. The code.org website estimates there will be a shortage of computer programmers in the future and the program is trying to increase participation by women and underrepresented students of color.
