Seaford spends an hour on code

Seaford students joined millions of youngsters around the world last week by logging into Code.org to learn the basics of computer coding during the organization’s annual Hour of Code campaign. 

The Hour of Code is typically held in conjunction with Computer Science Education Week, which was celebrated between Dec. 5 and 11 this year, across the globe. Seaford School District officials said that the campaign’s goal is to demystify computer coding and show how anyone can learn the basics. 

Seaford High School computer science teacher Lauren Thompsen, who also advises the Computer Club, has coordinated the event in the district since the campaign’s inception in 2013. She asked some of her club members visit both Harbor and Manor elementary schools to assist students with coding activities. 

“They took to it pretty easily,” said Computer Club members Steven DelPozzo, Scott Wilson and Trevor Donohue. The trio helped students in Candice Kaplan’s fourth-grade class at Manor, demonstrating what type of coding they would be doing in high school and assuring them that it “really isn’t hard to do.” 

District officials said many of the youngsters were exposed to coding for the first time through the program. The website made concepts more accessible for the younger students, they added, because activities featured characters from “Frozen” and “Star Wars.” 

Computer Club members also used the Fisher Price Code-A-Pillar toy to teach kindergartners at both elementary schools to help them learn the basics of coding. At the high school, local Girl Scouts, computer science alumni and current Seaford students attended a special two-hour event called Girls Who Code.

At Harbor, fourth-graders participated in a lunchtime Hour of Code, which was led by a parent and computer programmer named Nancy Setzler. Students worked in groups on a “Moana” –themed activity on the Code.org site with help from Setzler and her fifth-grade daughter, Jacqueline Bodycomb, District officials noted that Setzler used visuals to illustrate coding concepts, such as “looping” to repeat a command. 

Students also learned coding during their library periods. According to Thompsen, such concepts allow children to develop their critical thinking skills, which she said are essential to be college and career ready in the 21st century. 

“Introducing the Hour of Code to our youngest students in a fun and engaging way encourages them to develop their skills and perhaps even pursue a career in one of the fastest growing fields around the globe,” she said.

Submitted by Seaford Schools