By Mike Marsee and Brenna R. Kelly
michael.marsee@education.ky.gov
brenna.kelly@education.ky.gov

By learning to write even a few lines of code last week, Kentucky students also may have been rewriting their future.

Thousands of students across Kentucky participated in the Hour of Code, a worldwide, hands-on experience in learning to write computer code held as part of Computer Science Education Week. The week is designed to introduce students to coding in hopes of filling the growing number of jobs in which computer programming is a necessary skill.

At the STEAM Academy (Fayette County), freshmen in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class wrote short poems and learned to code them with some help from teachers and fellow students. At Beechwood Elementary (Beechwood Independent) students in 2nd through 6th grades participated with the help of librarian Jennifer Tierney. To make sure they get a full hour of coding the students will continue their coding work this week.

“It’s really cool to watch the problem solving skills develop as they continue,” Tierney said. “It’s building their 21st century skills.”

Brenden Talbert, left, a student at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County), helps Chyna George, center, work on coding her poem as Chaz Berry, right, works on his own project during an Hour of Code activity in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class. Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

Brenden Talbert, left, a student at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County), helps Chyna George, center, work on coding her poem as Chaz Berry, right, works on his own project during an Hour of Code activity in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class.
Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

Student leader Zach Eichner, center, and Billy Stiefel, right, check out the work of Hayden Thacker, left, during an Hour of Code activity in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County). Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

Student leader Zach Eichner, center, and Billy Stiefel, right, check out the work of Hayden Thacker, left, during an Hour of Code activity in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County).
Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

Ashley Rosen, left, offers advice to student Keanu Garner, center, as student Tony Wilson works during an Hour of Code activity in Rosen’s integrated science class at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County). Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

Ashley Rosen, left, offers advice to Keanu Garner, center, as Tony Wilson works during an Hour of Code activity in Rosen’s integrated science class at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County).
Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

A quote from Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs is projected on the whiteboard as students Robbie Craig, left, and Jayden Banks work at their computers during an Hour of Code activity in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County). Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

A quote from Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs is projected on the whiteboard as students Robbie Craig, left, and Jayden Banks work at their computers during an Hour of Code activity in Ashley Rosen’s integrated science class at the STEAM Academy (Fayette County).
Photo by Mike Marsee, Dec. 9, 2015

Joey Yeager (left) and Chase Flaherty (right), both 3rd-graders at Beechwood Elementary, use an iPad to code during Hour of Code. Dec. 7, 2015 Brenna Kelly

Joey Yeager (left) and Chase Flaherty (right), both 3rd-graders at Beechwood Elementary (Beechwood Independent), use an iPad to code during Hour of Code.
Photo by Brenna Kelly, Dec. 7, 2015

Beechwood Elementary Librarian Jennifer Tierney works with 3rd-grader Isaac Macke during Hour of Code. Dec. 7, 2015 Brenna Kelly

Beechwood Elementary Librarian Jennifer Tierney works with 3rd-grader Isaac Macke during Hour of Code.
Photo by Brenna Kelly, Dec. 7, 2015

Third-graders Tyrese Myrick and Omar Hernandez-Resa code on laptops during Hour of Code at Beechwood Elementary. Dec. 7, 2015 Brenna Kelly

Third-graders Tyrese Myrick and Omar Hernandez-Resa code on laptops during Hour of Code at Beechwood Elementary (Beechwood Independent).
Photo by Brenna Kelly, Dec. 7, 2015

Beechwood Elementary 3rd-graders move Minecraft characters Steve and Alex by using code during Hour of Code. Dec. 7, 2015 Brenna Kelly

Beechwood Elementary 3rd-graders move Minecraft characters Steve and Alex by using code during Hour of Code.
Photo by Brenna Kelly, Dec. 7, 2015