UW News

May 2, 2014

Teaching kids the language behind their devices — Code.org co-founder to speak

A second grade student participates in the 2013 Hour of Code.

A second grade student participates in the 2013 Hour of Code.kjarrett, Flickr

In December 2013, more than 20 million students around the globe participated in the Hour of Code, organized by Code.org – a Seattle-based non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science. The event allowed students to try their hand at coding and prompted discussions among policymakers and educators about how to provide students with greater access to computer science education.

That discussion – and Hadi Partovi, co-founder and CEO of Code.org – will come to the University of Washington’s Seattle campus May 8 for the Washington Education Innovation Forum.

“Coding is the new Spanish or Mandarin. It’s the new language of tomorrow’s jobs,” said Robin Lake, director of UW Bothell’s Center on Reinventing Public Education, which is organizing the event.

Partovi will talk about the impact of the Hour of Code and what parents, educators and policymakers in Washington state can do to prepare students for science, technology, math and engineering jobs.

Ed Lazowska, UW professor of computer science and engineering and member of the Code.org advisory board, will provide introductory remarks. Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, will facilitate the conversation.

The event will be held at Kane Hall Room 110. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event and live-streaming on UWTV will begin at 7 p.m. Free registration is on EventBrite.

Along with the Center on Reinventing Public Education, the event is in partnership with UW Computer Science and Engineering, UW College of Education and Washington STEM.

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