News & Views
Birmingham Public Schools and Vectorform Teach Students How to Code
Birmingham Public Schools is again partnering with local invention company, Vectorform, during Computer Science Education Week to teach students how to code at Pierce Elementary School
ROYAL OAK, MI — (December 1, 2016) — Birmingham Public Schools is again partnering with Vectorform during Computer Science Education Week to teach students how to code at Pierce Elementary School. Students in grades K-5 will complete a one-hour, self-guided, themed programming lesson as part of the Code.org Hour of Code initiative.
Hour of Code youth workshops have reached more than 100 million learners across 180 countries to date. At Hour of Code workshops, students will take steps toward building the next big thing, not just using it. Vectorform engineers will be on-site to guide the nearly 600 students through the interactive workshops on December 5th, 7th, 8th, and 12th.
“If we are going to make a dent in today’s STEM talent gap, we need to mentor and guide our youth now,” said Kurt Steckling, Co-Founder of Vectorform. “This global movement fosters creativity and innovation which are two crucial building blocks for inventing the future. At a young age, students will gain the understanding of how to code, feeling empowered to continue.”
Code.org has curated a list of options for schools wanting to teach computer science. Each school has a different approach, but all share one thing in common: a commitment to adding computer science into their formal curriculum.
“We are dedicated to ensuring every K-5 student has the opportunity to learn computer science,” said James Lalik, Principal, Pierce Elementary School. “It is a community-wide effort, and we are proud to partner with Vectorform to bring computer science into our school, inspiring students from all backgrounds and re-shaping their futures.”
Over 100 partners have joined together to support the Hour of Code movement. To learn more about how you can get involved contact us or visit, http://hourofcode.com/us.
About Birmingham Public Schools
Birmingham Public Schools is committed to excellence in education, consistently ranking among the highest achieving school districts in the state. With optimal class sizes, high academic standards, a comprehensive curriculum, expansive extracurricular menu and nurturing environment built on a foundation of Character Education, our students have an advantage. For more information about Birmingham Public Schools, visit www.birmingham.k12.mi.us.
About Vectorform
Vectorform is an invention company that creates digital products and experiences for the world’s leading brands with a focus on Mobile, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, Smart Home, Connected Vehicle and Wearable Technology. Founded in 1999, Vectorform has five global offices: Seattle, Detroit, New York, Munich and Hyderabad. Visit Vectorform.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.