GREENFIELD — More than 100 students at St. Michael Catholic School in Greenfield earned certificates in coding this week as part of a global computer science event held in schools worldwide.
Teacher Emily Capen invited parents into the classroom on Tuesday to see first-hand what students have been learning.
Standing in front of a Smart Board screen at the front of the class, 7-year-old Leo Adkins grinned as he tapped various shapes, sizes and colors of fish swimming across the screen, inputting data into an artificial intelligence program.
The child-based program, called AI for Oceans, teaches how a computer develops and uses artificial intelligence to help keep our oceans clean for marine life. The same program was used throughout the world this week for the Hour of Code program.
Leo’s mom — Brooke Palmer of Greenfield — was happy to see her son learning computer coding at such a young age.
“It’s very different from what I grew up learning, but it’s what we’re going to see moving forward,” said Palmer, a local insurance agent.
Capen was excited to offer the Hour of Coding program to her students as part of a global effort to promote computer science in the schools.
This marks the 10th year for the program, which coincides with Computer Science Education Week at the start of each December.
Hour of Code is organized by Code.org, a public nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students form other underrepresented groups.
The organization uses kid-friendly games like Minecraft, Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds to teach students the science of coding, which is another term for computer programming.
Capen said an Hour of Coding is a great way to introduce children to the principles of coding, inspiring them to learn more moving forward.
“I think it was a great experience. The kids had fun showing their parents what they had learned,” she said near the end of Tuesday night’s program.
Students and parents gathered for Mass at 6 p.m., followed by dinner before the Hour Coding started at 7 p.m.
Palmer said all four of her sons — ages 6-9 — enjoy learning about coding, especially as it pertains to how video games work.
“Teaching them coding is a great way to introduce them to technology,” said her husband, Andrew Adkins.
Capen was happy to see parents learning from their kids Tuesday night.
Only 51% of all high schools offer computer science, she said, but programs like an Hour of Code are working to one day provide all students with access to computer programming.
More than 100 million students have tried an Hour of Code as of last year, said Capen, and the numbers keep growing.
According to Code.org, over 100 partners have joined together to support the movement. Every Apple Store in the world has hosted an Hour of Code, and leaders like Pope Francis wrote their first lines of code as part of the campaign.
More than 100 Hour of Coding certificates hang like badges of honor on the wall outside Capen’s classroom.
“This is the future. It’s important that kids begin learning these skills at an early age,” she said.
