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The Hour of Code today launched with a Downing Street event hosted by the Prime Minster, David Cameron, and 50 school children who each took their first steps in learning to code. With over 1,000 primary and secondary schools already signed up, the campaign aims to reach 6 million people in the UK – from ages 6 to 106.
The biggest global initiative that gives anyone the opportunity to experience the creativity and power of coding, The Hour of Code aims to reach 6 million people in the UK in the next seven days.
Individuals are given an introduction to the basics of computer programming in just sixty minutes, through very simple and fun tutorials including programing your very own Angry Bird or creating a snowflake with Elsa from Disney’s Frozen.
In addition to schools, a number of businesses are bucking the trend to actively offer employees their first step into further digital literacy by encouraging their entire workforces to take part in the Hour of Code. These include – Condenast, Microsoft, Moo.com, The Guardian, The BBC, ABRS, The Engine Group, Harper Collins, and CapGemini.
Avid Larizadeh, Head of Hour of Code UK comments:
“It has become essential to understand the fundamentals of technology as it underpins so much of our daily lives. The Hour of Code has been designed to provide an insight into the creative power of coding and computational thinking. Regardless of age or gender, anyone from a 48 year old Prime Minister to a 6
year old girl can learn the basics of computer science in a fun and engaging way.”
Over 3.5 million people have already tried an Hour of Code in the UK and over 50 million worldwide.
The campaign is run by Code.org. It is led in the UK by Avid Larizadeh, General partner at Google Ventures and supported by some of the UK’s most influential people in technology and business including Digital Advisor to the Prime Minister, Baroness Joanna Shields, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Ian Livingstone CBE, Co-founder Games Workshop and the Government’s Creative Industries Champion, Sherry Coutu CBE, Chairman of Founders4Schools; Karen Price OBE, CEO of Tech Partnership UK, Alex Asseily, co-Founder, Jawbone, Michael Acton Smith, Founder, Mindcandy, and Kathryn Parsons, Founder, Decoded.
Organisations, schools, businesses and individuals in the UK are all encouraged to participate in the Hour of Code UK by visiting hourofcode.com/uk.