Vermont Celebrates Computer Science Week

Earlier this month schools from all around Vermont joined schools in 180+countries to celebrate Computer Science Education Week by participating in Hour of Code.  We saw students developing computational thinking skills as they worked through some of the many tutorials on Code.org’s website while others participated in special events organized in their community.

Throughout the week, Vermont’s Agency of Education worked with Vita-Learn to create special opportunities for Vermont students to experience during the week. 

Almost 500 students had the opportunity to interact with code using kits that Lego Educator, Bonnie Morrisette brought to Barre City School. The students interacted with Analog programming and coding and digital coding on iPads using activities designed by Lego Education.

On Tuesday afternoon, students from North Country Career Center and Lake Region High School joined author of “Before You Code”, Coder, and Digital Designer Jennifer Kramer to chat about increasing the amount of women and girls in tech courses and tech careers.

Mid week, Green Mountain Career Center brought students to Hyde Park Elementary School to demonstrate how code is used to program robots. Secretary of Education, Dan French came by as he was in the area for the Governor’s Capital For a Day tour. Tours were also had of the new addition that was completed at Hyde Park Elementary School. 

Hyde Park Elementary School w/visitor Secretary of Education, Dan French

At the end of the week students in Windham SE Supervisory Union at the Academy School, Putney School, and Guilford school were treated to a coding experience using Apple Swift Playground -- a platform that Apple has devised for the iPad.

Peter Drescher & Greg Young, AOE, Brian Schwartz, Green Mountain Tech Center, Lucy Rogers, Lamoille County Representative, (newly elected).

But as many Vermont educators will tell you, there goal is not limited to providing students with ONE hour of Code, but to use that Hour to launch deeper experiences around computer science for Vermont students and educators.

Vermont School Librarians, Donna McDonald (Orchard School) and Joanne Allen (Enosburg Elementary School) were honored for their commitment to integrating code in their libraries. Libraries. 

Vermont’s Agency of Education has joined with University of Vermont, Code.org, and Vermont Virtual in a new alliance aimed an increasing access to computer science education to all K-12 students. Through this statewide partnership, VCSA is broadening access to professional learning opportunities for schools and educators. You can find more information about this Vermont Alliance, including Summer PD from the Alliance and Code.org PD from the Alliance

Over 125 Vermont schools participated in Hour of Code Events this year and as you can tell from pictures through Vermont, the experience brought smiles to both students and teachers.