Hour of Code: Learning the basics of computer programming at a young age

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NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Students in some New Hanover County schools will learn the language of computers this week.

An educational movement called "The Hour of Code" is aimed at introducing more than 100 million students worldwide to computer sciences. Students in kindergarten through high school will learn the basics of computer programming by doing hands-on coding activities through coding websites and iPad apps.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be one million unfilled jobs for programmers in the U.S. by 2020—and nonprofit Code.org is using the program to change that.

Second graders at Alderman Elementary hit the computer lab today to play games on an iPad that taught them coding without them even knowing it. Instead of the game giving them instructions, they instructed the game on what to do by pressing different keys.

According to media specialist Mark Quindlen, programming is just the beginning. What those kids are learning now is what they must learn, if they hope to be employed in the 21st century.

"It teaches them problem solving, how to take a big problem, break it down into steps and figure out each particular step in order to figure out a solution," Quindlen said.

Laney High School is also participating in the program.

Last year, every Apple Store in the world hosted an Hour of Code, and President Obama even wrote his first line of code as part of the campaign.