With constant development and evolution of technology, one South Jersey school has taken part in a global movement to motivate and educate students with computer science.
PILESGROVE TWP. -- With constant development and evolution of technology, one South Jersey school has taken part in a global movement to motivate and educate students with computer science.
Mary S. Shoemaker School, an elementary school located off East Lake Road in Salem County, is starting kids young with technology education and what better way than engaging them in computer coding through a world-wide program.
Hour of Code is a one-hour activity that uses self-guided tutorials for any modern browser, tablet, smart phone, or even robots.
Students all over the world -- 100 million in 180 countries -- use the Hour of Code program to teach young students how to use coding and build other technological skills.
RELATED: Valley View School in Lebanon to participate in Hour of Code
During Computer Science Education Week, which ran from Dec. 7 through 13, elementary students worked on foundational 21s century skills using the online program and school tablets.
"We live in a world surrounded by technology. We know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works," teacher Jamie Morgan said.
Morgan teaches the S.T.E.L.L.A.R. (Success in Technology, Enrichment, Literacy, Library and Research) program at the Shoemaker school.
Not only does coding expand the knowledge for 21st century skills, but also preps students and gets them career and college ready, according to Morgan.
"Studies find that younger students learn to code like learning a second language. There are 25,000 jobs in computer science open in New Jersey," Morgan said.
There are roughly 450 kids at Mary S. Shoemaker, and all participated in the Hour of Code.
"We're taking it to the next level," Morgan said.
The enthusiasm for coding has caught on to the young pupils. In fact, three students at the elementary school took the initiative to hold a fundraiser to gather enough money to purchase robots for their school to enhance coding opportunities.
These robots, "Dash and Dot," allow students to program codes into ten to do a multitude of amazing things, Morgan explained.
Caleb Carter, Danielle Hughes, and Ava Hyland, all just 10 years old, put their brainpower together and came up with the idea to hold a bake sale-type fundraiser to purchase the robots for their school.
Ava's brother, Greyson, 8, also helped his sister out during the fundraiser.
"We thought of the idea because it's not like he (Morgan) could just pull money out like 'whoop!'," Caleb said.
"He (Morgan) looked like a little kid in the candy shop when we did it," the 10-year-old continued.
Danielle and Ava said the robots would be a great gift to the school. Single-handedly, these students raised $150 to purchase the robots.
In addition to Mary S. Shoemaker School. other district's have jumped on board throughout the state by using the Hour of Code, including schools in the Bridgeton area, Salem, Carneys Point, and Woolwich Township in Gloucester County.
For more information on the Hour of Code, visit code.org.
Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.