Computer Science Education Week/Hour of Code initiative under way at Providence schools

PROVIDENCE – In honor of Computer Science Education Week, instructors from local companies and the nonprofit IntraCity Geeks are teaching Hour of Code classes to 1,500 students at city schools.
Besides IntraCity Geeks, Citizens Bank, Dassault Systèmes, Infosys Foundation, Providence After School Alliance, Providence Public Library and Mayor Jorge O. Elorza are involved in the code project, which continues through Friday.
Arnell Milhouse, founder and executive director of IntraCity Geeks, said this is the largest collaborative Computer Science Education Week and Hour of Code initiative in state history.
“An innovative computer science education pipeline initiative for K-12 students could transform R.I.’s economy. Our children are our future, and we also know that their histories will be written in code,” Milhouse, founder and executive director of IntraCity Geeks, said in a statement. “Innovative leadership is needed to bring about a coding revolution in Rhode Island which is why IntraCity Geeks has teamed up with a panoply of organizations and stakeholders to kick off an unprecedented level of collaboration for Providence: Computer Science Education Week.”
Brian O’Connell, head of technology services, Citizens Bank, said the bank is “proud” to participate in the initiative, to help students learn “real-world technology skills.”
Citizens Bank and the Infosys Foundation is funding “Providence: Computer Science Education Week/Hour of Code,” Milhouse said.
Participating schools include Times2 Academy, the Paul Cuffee School, E-Cubed Academy, Nathan Bishop Middle School and Esek Hopkins Middle School.
Milhouse said students will be immersed in coding throughout the week. He said they will learn HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create games like Angry Birds. Students also will receive Providence Hour of Code T-shirts. On Friday, from 3-5 p.m., select high school participants will be able to present what they have learned at a “Hackathon Demo Day” at the Providence Public Library.

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