Hour of Code Week Dec. 3-9--let's Connect #vted

This year's Hour of Code participation in Vermont is sure to break some new records and we hope you will join some exciting events happening in our state and also help us showcase your school's events.  Here's a preview of what's to come.


Announcement from Peter Drescher - Vermont AOE (Nov 19, 2018)

We are trying to go through multiple communication venues this year on Hour of Code Week, so you might see some more on this over the next week or so after the holday.    To remind, Hour of Code week is put together by Code.org, an entity that promotes computer science in all schools.    If you are not aware yet, this year’s Hour of Code Week theme is:  Creativity!  Let’s show the nation how Vermont shows creativity in schools! 

The Agency of Education along with Vita Learn, and our new VT Computer Science Alliance are trying hard to build a number of events into this week.  You may recall the great website created by Lucie Delabruere and Vita Learn we have used in the past to “advertise” and organize this work over the course of the week.  We hope to include your school in some activities that week!    

A few things are in the works:

• An Apple Swift workshop in the Southern portion of the state
• Connections between schools on all things coding and programming
• Lego Challenge—seeking schools to join in a conversation/competition around Lego programming
• Girls Who Code, a national advocacy organization will host a conversation about opportunities for careers
• Other guests from the VT business community including women in programming careers
• Connecting legislators to your local classrooms, so your students can teach them coding! 
• More planning coming soon….

We are seeking from you, the school audience:

·         Classrooms interested in connecting virtually and sharing their HOC activities

·         Classrooms seeking a Scratch Challenge

·         Students wanting to talk to people currently in careers with programming and coding—we’ll set up a virtual conversation

·         Simply sharing your activities so we can broadcast news of VT schools during Hour of Code Week—register your school at the national Hour of Code activity website!

CONTACT:  Send an email to Peter Drescher, or Greg Young at the Agency of Education if you would like to involve your classroom in some virtual connections and conversations during Hour of Code week.  Peter.drescher@vermont.gov, greg.young@vermont.gov

If you have questions about celebrating and sharing your school's participation in Computer Science Week or Hour of Code activities on the ThinkAboutCode website, contact Lucie at ignite@vita-learn.org 

AND Don’t forget, if you are an educator wanting to take your interest in Hour of Code to the next step, check out the Vermont Computer Science Alliance, and join the professional development offerings that are in the works for next summer!

REACH OUT and share what you are doing locally!  We’d love to hear about it!