This week, December 9-15, is Computer Science Education Week with several websites determined to increase awareness regarding coding (aka computer programming). One of the websites, code.org, has an initiative called The Hour of Code, which provides anyone with free access to learn coding for an hour. The initiative is seeking 10 million individuals who are willing to participate, hoping that many of these individuals will pursue an estimated 1.4 million computer science jobs expected by the year 2020.

Our owner, Eric Sailers, has already participated in The Hour of Code: https://twitter.com/esailers/status/410073570660732928. Plus, he is planning to educate his students this week about coding. Here is his lesson plan that may inspire you to do something similar with your students:

1. Show The Hour of Code introduction video from code.org – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQilo5ecSX4#t=14
2. Discuss my involvement with developing apps (e.g., ArtikPix and LinguaPix) that I use regularly with my students in speech-language therapy
3. Watch the BrainPOP iPad app featured movie: “Computer Programming” – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brainpop-featured-movie/id364894352?mt=8&at=10lcso
4. Practice coding via Blockly: http://learn.code.org/hoc/1

Computer science has provided us with so many effective tools including apps that we use daily on our phones and tablets. So, please join Expressive Solutions as we celebrate Computer Science Education Week.

Link to blog post image by fabiantheblind