Saltus’ Head of Creative Digital Technologies and Business Enterprise, Ms Tina Fountain, challenged Secondary students to participate in the Hour of Code before the break. Launched in 2013 by non-profit Code.org®, the Hour of Code is a “…one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics needed to write their own programmes.” Even US President Barack Obama encouraged students to participate (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDw1ii7aKwg&feature=youtu.be).

At Saltus, students from S7 through SGY participated during Computer Science Education Week (December 8 through 14). After students logged on, their progress was tracked online. There were even ICT/CS student helpers for those who felt technologically challenged. Ms Fountain walked around the classrooms and remarked that it was great to see so many students engrossed in the tasks, and commented that many completed the hour activity in well under the hour! According to Ms Fountain, “This was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to have a go at writing a programme.”

Saltus Primary are planning a similar activity in the near future.