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Hour of Code uses Star Wars to teach students new computer skills

By Wesley LeBlanc Staff Writer
Posted 12/11/19

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Students across the nation took part in an Hour of Code and Green Cove Springs Junior High coders used their time to code Star Wars-themed games that they can share with …

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Hour of Code uses Star Wars to teach students new computer skills


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Students across the nation took part in an Hour of Code and Green Cove Springs Junior High coders used their time to code Star Wars-themed games that they can share with friends and families.

The Hour of Code is an hour where students spend time learning to write computer codes. It’s the first time many students have attempted coding. Regardless, the students that participate are gaining valuable knowledge that teachers hope can take with them into their future.

“There’s such a demand for people who can code in the workforce and that demand is not being filled,” Career Technical Education Teacher Kathy Sheridan said. “Coding is something that one day every business will need of their employees so to give students a head-start like this, it’s really important.”

Clay Virtual Academy went from school to school this week to give students an hour of coding and the academy found itself at Green Cove Junior High last Tuesday. Starting at 10 a.m., more than a dozen seventh graders spent an hour learning about coding through Star Wars-themed games.

R2D2 needed help escaping a corridor and it was up to students to safely escort the droid out. Another game had students helping C3PO navigate the sand dunes of Tatooine.

“It’s cool that we have something like Star Wars helping keep the students engaged,” Sheridan said.

Max Frakt is a 12-year-old seventh grader who wrote code on Tuesday. Unlike many, he already had experience coding.

Frakt first learned to code in his business keyboarding class last year. After taking a liking to it, he began to practice coding at home on his own. He was excited to learn that one of his home hobbies made its way to school.

“I’m challenging myself today by actually typing the code myself,” Frakt said. “I like the challenge. It keeps me engaged.”

Students have the option to use block coding, which requires them to move blocks with preassembled code into the correct place, or type the complete code, which Frakt did to challenge himself.

Frakt loves coding so much that he’s considered a future career in the field, although for now he’s really set on the medical field.

“Maybe I can use coding in medical,” Frakt said. “Who knows?”

When students finished up the program with their very own code, they were able to send the game to themselves so that they can share it with friends and family, giving them the ability to play something coded.

Superintendent Addison Davis used the week to tour the schools taking part in the Hour of Coding and he was present at Green Cove to observe students clicking away on keyboards. Davis said he was excited to see so many children engaged in coding this year because it’s a pathway to curriculum that will push Clay County students to the forefront of 21st century career fields.

“This week is the national week for coding and our schools are taking immediate action to expose our children to critical thinking, collaboration and creativity through lessons in coding, which allows them to prepare for 21st century career paths,” Davis said. “Curriculum like this will prepare our children for jobs that don’t exist today and give them the ability to compete outside of our classrooms when that day comes.”