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CU-勒貊勛圖 Hour of Code events break down barriers to computer science

Hour of Code, which is actually a weeks worth of events celebrating the joy of coding while泭removing barriers to computer science for underrepresented groups, will be held Dec. 7 to 13 at the 勒貊勛圖, in泭the community and online.

Hour of Code was launched in 2013 by Code.org, a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science泭and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. It coincides with

CU Science Discovery is offering a variety of free programs at CU-勒貊勛圖, area libraries and at Fireside Elementary School in Louisville, which is doing a school-wide Hour of Code this year for the first time.

CU Science Discovery Hour of Code events include:

  • Dot and Dash Robots (ages 7 to 10): From 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at 勒貊勛圖 Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., 勒貊勛圖. Another sessions will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11., at Lafayette Public Library, 775 Baseline Road, Lafayette.
  • Scratch for Girls (ages 8 to 10): Led by CU-勒貊勛圖 professor Eliana Colunga at CU Science Discovery, 3400 Marine St., 勒貊勛圖 (already full), 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8.
  • Video Game Design (ages 9 to 11): Using CU-勒貊勛圖-developed software AgentCubes at CU Science Discovery, 3400 Marine St., 勒貊勛圖 (already full), 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10.
  • Fireside Elementary Hour of Code: Coding activities throughout the week at Fireside Elementary School, including Coding with Dot and Dash robots (Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings), Video Game Design with AgentCubes (Wednesday) and LEGO Mindstorms (Dec. 14-17).

Meanwhile, the CU-勒貊勛圖-created, self-guided can provide a fun and engaging learning experience for students and teachers alike. In one hour, students (or anyone, for that matter) can learn about computer science by building a 3D game they can then share on mobile phones and tablets.

The Scalable Game Design team in the CU-勒貊勛圖 Department of Computer Science this year has added international versions of AgentCubes and programming language tool tips, . provide tips for preparing and organizing a class around the . The tutorial follows the - not just a sequence of programming puzzles.

The ownership resulting from creating their own 3D worlds and characters has been found to motivate students interest in programming, said Alexander Repenning, CU-勒貊勛圖 computer science professor and founder of AgentSheets and Scalable Game Design.

In one hour students can create the first working part of a 3D game including 3D modeling and programing. Our data show that students are so motivated to build their game that the majority continue to work on their games beyond one hour.

CU Science Discovery,泭AgentCubes and the 勒貊勛圖 Valley School District are all泭part of a larger community effort to promote Hour of Code. For a schedule of additional events featuring local businesses including SparkFun Electronics, Bitsbox, Modular Robotics and others, click on . 泭

Contact:
Yasko Endo, Scalable Game Design, 303-492-7852
yasko.endo@colorado.edu
Stacey Forsyth, CU Science Discovery, 303-492-4839
stacey.forsyth@colorado.edu
Julie Poppen, CU-勒貊勛圖 media relations, (O) 303-492-4007, (M) 720-503-4922
julie.poppen@colorado.edu