1. Promoting Computer Science Through an Hour of Code Helen Schneider & Mary Jo Geise The University of Findlay

2. Agenda  What is the Hour of Code (HOC)?  Why is the HOC needed?  What makes the HOC successful?  Can the momentum be sustained?  Our efforts at UF  Is this a good approach?  What do the experts say?  Beyond the HOC 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference2

3. What is the Hour of Code?  Effort from code.org to celebrate CS Education Week  Original Vision – Spring 2013 1  Bring computer programming into the mainstream dialogue  Raise national awareness  Larger Vision – Spring 2014 1  Bring computer science to every American public school district  From the code.org website  Inspire students, create fantastic courses, reach classrooms, increase diversity  Prepare new CS teachers, change school district curriculum, change policies to support CS, go global  Partovi, H. (2014). Transforming US Education with Computer Science. SIGCSE ‘14 [proceedings]. 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference3

4. Code.org Stats: Predicted Shortage of Computer Professionals 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference4

5. Code.org Stats: Fewer CS Majors than 10 years ago (Shrinking % are Women) 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference5

6. Code.org Stats: Underrepresentation in HS 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference6

7. What Makes the Hour of Code Successful?  Good marketing  Rock stars, cool workplaces, awe & wonder  Grass roots approach  Use of industry and educational professionals to enhance the resources  Tutorial style, easily led, reviewed by educators  Low barriers to entry  Equipment, time, available resources 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference7

8. HOC Tutorial Guidelines: (Reviewed by CS Educators) 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference8 Tutorials Listed Higher in 2014 Tutorials Listed Lower or NOT at all in 2014 High qualityLower quality Self-directed, don’t require any instruction More advanced level of teaching required for success Designed for beginnersNot for beginners Designed as a roughly 1 hour activity Not designed to be a roughly 1 hour activity Work across many OS/device platforms, including mobile and tablets Limited number of OS/device platforms; Web-based platforms: should aim to support: IE9+, the latest Chrome, Firefox, and Safari

9. HOC Tutorial Guidelines: (Reviewed by CS Educators) 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference9 Tutorials Listed Higher in 2014 Tutorials Listed Lower or NOT at all in 2014 Work across multiple languagesWork only in English Promote learning by all groups (especially under-represented groups) Have a gender-specific bent (e.g., thematically aimed primarily at boys) Not pure HTML+CSS web design focus - (goal is computer science, not just HTML coding) Serve as an upsell to a learning platform that charges tuition Free and easily accessibleRequire sign up, payment, or installation

10. Can the Momentum be Sustained? 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference10 Code.org GoalEnd of 2013End of 2014 Inspire students with the Hour of Code Hour of Code 20 million served90 million served Bring our online courses to classrooms and schools ( intro CS curriculum) intro CS curriculum 10,000 classrooms 500,000 students 90,000 classrooms 4,000,000 students Improve diversity in CSdiversity N/A Online classes: 43% female, 37% African American or Hispanic; HS classes: 34% female, 60% African American or Hispanic Change school district curriculumdistrict 10 district partners 60 district partners (including the 7 largest US school districts)

11. 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference11 Code.org GoalEnd of 2013End of 2014 Number of new CS teachers trained across grades K-12 N/A4,000 Policies to support CS: Graduation policy changes 5 states 16 states (including CA, NY, FL, IL, OH) Go global 30 languages supported 34 languages 7 international partnerships Team size 1438 Total $ spent (since founding) $3.2 million$11.7 million Can the Momentum be Sustained?

12. Approximate Cost per Student Code.org OutcomeApproximate Cost Try an Hour of Code2 cents per student Study a 20 hour introductory computer science course in grades K – 8 $1 per student 1 Learn an introductory computer science class in middle school $10 per student 1, 2 Learn a full-year introductory computer science class in high school $20 per student 1, 2 1 cost: professional development of the teacher 2 cost: management of the school district partnership 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference12

13. Our Efforts with the Hour of Code  Middle school girls at Mini-Math & Science Day  Post-secondary/high school computer literacy class  Prospective student visit day  Computer literacy for education majors, as alternative introduction to ~5wks of Alice in classroom  Coming this Spring  COF scholars with local Explorers post  Alternate assignment in the general computer literacy course 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference13

14. HOC: Good Approach to Educational Reform?  Student Journals  The Before Picture  I think I can get the hang of it  Dang! That was easy! 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference14

15. What Do the Experts Say?  Everyone should code – like reading and math skills  Not everyone should code – like surgery skills  Journals/blogs for coders vs educators/public  What is the question?  Should everyone learn to code?  Should everyone understand how to code?  Everyone should have access to CS courses 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference15

16. 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference16 I wish someone had done this for me to help me learn (Student Journal, week 4) Beyond the Hour of Code

17. Questions?  Contact info  Dr. Helen Schneider schneider@findlay.eduschneider@findlay.edu  Dr. Mary Jo Geise geise@findlay.edugeise@findlay.edu 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference17