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Coding to Take Over Classrooms for Computer Science Education Week

Students build programs with Code.org. Watch our video.
 
Ranney students are once again participating in the Hour of Code Week, taking place December 7-13. The Hour of Code is held annually in celebration of Computer Science Education Week and aimed at engaging people of all ages in computer science through a one-hour introduction or skill-building tutorial.
 
Our Kindergarten-Grade 5 students will code throughout the week using Code.org and Scratch Jr. programs that incorporate fun, age-appropriate animation. Middle Schoolers will participate December 8-11.
 
Upper School students taking computer science courses (about 61) will spend the month of December training in three different Hour of Code activities offered at Code.org (Star Wars, Lightbot and Minecraft). Junior Nicole Rasmussen who is focusing her Girl Scout Gold project on coding will help faculty member Mrs. Chiara Shah facilitate this training. On January 6, the 61 students will push into the Upper School advisories (three per advisory) to lead an Hour of Code for all Upper Schoolers.
 
Says Nicole, “I’m ecstatic to bring the Hour of Code to all Upper School students who will enjoy its activities while learning the basics of coding, and to see the computer science students teach others a hobby they enjoy.”
 
In fact, so many students have grown passionate about coding that the Upper School started a new “Girls Who Code Club” this year. Currently, seven girls participate in the club, which is advised by Mrs. Shah.

Girls Who Code is a national organization that aims to introduce more females to coding through a welcoming, fun and educational curriculum. The Ranney club meets weekly to focus on learning the Python programming language through a series of activities at the online coding website called Codesters.

“We are also looking at bringing in guest speakers, women who work in technology, to explore ways that we can use our coding skills in the future,” says Mrs. Shah. By the end of the year, students will complete a programming project and will earn a certificate from Girls Who Code, testifying to their programming skills. “As a teacher, I enjoy watching my students with more programming experience mentoring and helping the girls who are new to coding. This supportive environment is what Girls Who Code is all about,” adds Mrs. Shah, who also advises Ranney’s Robotics program.

Learn more about the Hour of Code with this Code.org video. 
 
Read an article about our robotics program in Community Magazine’s December 2015 issue—see page 48. 
 
 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.