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Apple Announces 'Hour of Code' 2014 Campaign for Students, Offers Free Programming Workshops in December

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Apple today announced that it will once again join Code.org's "Hour of Code" campaign, hosting a free one-hour introduction on the basics of computer programming at various Apple Stores on December 11. The company also plans to host other workshops and special events for Computer Science Education week, from December 8 to 14.

"Hour of Code" is an initiative that's sponsored by non-profit website Code.org, which hosts a variety of tools for learning and teaching programming. Each year, the site hosts a global movement aimed at reaching millions of students through a free workshop that teaches basic programming techniques.
Computer Science Education Week is December 8-14. We're supporting Code.org by hosting workshops and other special events at your local Apple Store. Join us on December 11 for the Hour of Code, a free one-hour introduction to the basics of computer programming.
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Along with the one-hour workshop being hosted at many Apple Stores around the world, Apple has also set up special events featuring developers and engineers that will take place over the course of the week in select cities.

The Apple Store in SoHo, New York, for example, will feature the team behind Hopscotch, a visual programming language designed for young programmers, and the Apple Store on Regent Street in London will feature NaturalMotion, the team that has created games like Clumsy Ninja.

Article Link: Apple Announces 'Hour of Code' 2014 Campaign for Students, Offers Free Programming Workshops in December
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/04/apple-hour-of-code-campaign/
My introduction to information systems class had the 20-hour of code project as an optional final. It was a bit juvenile, but still a good beginners guide to learning coding. I prefer a good textbook, but many people appreciate an interactive guide.
 
I believe we need more developers especually in the UK. The UK taught (and still does in some parts) kids how to make documents, excel sheets and so on. Ok this may make short term sense but now there is not enough people who can program as kids weren't inspired by coding!
 
There's a huge coding push right now, thats a field that is going to see some drastically falling salaries in a few years with all these new entry levels.
 
I've described the Apple Store closest to me as Mardi Gras in a shoebox. You have to yell to make a purchase, don't see how they could teach code in that environment.

Their insistence on austere materials results in quite a bit of cacophony. They could use some acoustic buffering material on the walls.
 
Does anyone think this would be worth the time? Or is this something that can probably be found online?
 
Doctor Q said:
Oddly, the store selector at apple.com/retail/code lets you pick stores that aren't having an Hour of Code event.
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Every store is likely doing the workshop, just not a big event. The bf was his store's host last year and said its rather lame. They just walked through the stuff on the site. They have four large stores in the area and none had an actual event although several companies that could have are in the area.

And at least at his store it was totally unorganized. He was grabbed at the last minute to do it (they literally told him as he was walking out to dinner and he was coming back right when it was starting), they had no gear set up or space set aside. They had to use sales floor demo ipads and customers kept butting into look at them. Plus it wasn't clear that it was a kids workshop so several adults turned up expecting a real coding class and screamed at the managers.

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frozencarbonite said:
Does anyone think this would be worth the time? Or is this something that can probably be found online?
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It's online. Be warned, it's Frozen themed this year. So if you despise that movie stay away from the "hour of code".
 
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This is unfair! Why not "An hour of civil engineering" Where we teach people how to design a freeway overpass in an hour?

It's silly. All you can do in an hour is is so kind of gross overview.
 
ChrisA said:
This is unfair! Why not "An hour of civil engineering" Where we teach people how to design a freeway overpass in an hour?

It's silly. All you can do in an hour is is so kind of gross overview.
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I agree that an hour is not nearly enough time, but if it plants a few seeds into people that otherwise would've have had the push, then it was a success.
 
I've been promoting programs like code.org and KidsCanCode.org to preteens for a few years.

Of course, this is stupid of me. They'll soon master the art of programming and come after my job!
 
Kids event? Ach. Oh well, reservation made.

...if it's too stupid I'll just go across the mall to have my shirt blown off by Imax speakers blaring the sounds of a rocket taking off to the mad squall of pipe organ again.
 
ThunderSkunk said:
Kids event? Ach. Oh well, reservation made.

...if it's too stupid I'll just go across the mall to have my shirt blown off by Imax speakers blaring the sounds of a rocket taking off to the mad squall of pipe organ again.
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I just left that experience myself an hour ago for the second time in the past couple of weeks.
 
Signed up just now. It stated only 2 slots available. I now wonder if I'll be the ONLY one attending or if I will be ONE of TWO attending. :)
 
charlituna said:
Every store is likely doing the workshop, just not a big event. The bf was his store's host last year and said its rather lame. They just walked through the stuff on the site. They have four large stores in the area and none had an actual event although several companies that could have are in the area.

And at least at his store it was totally unorganized. He was grabbed at the last minute to do it (they literally told him as he was walking out to dinner and he was coming back right when it was starting), they had no gear set up or space set aside. They had to use sales floor demo ipads and customers kept butting into look at them. Plus it wasn't clear that it was a kids workshop so several adults turned up expecting a real coding class and screamed at the managers.

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It's online. Be warned, it's Frozen themed this year. So if you despise that movie stay away from the "hour of code".
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Doubt it'll be frozen themed at the workshop. What if a 16 or 17 year old goes in there? No way they're gonna be wanting to work with frozen stuff. Seems a bit too juvenile...
 
Its about time, Apple did something, we use app inventor for Android in our school as there is no IOS alternative! google Apps for education is a fantastic resource..where is the iCloud version?
 
ChrisA said:
This is unfair! Why not "An hour of civil engineering" Where we teach people how to design a freeway overpass in an hour?

It's silly. All you can do in an hour is is so kind of gross overview.
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It's not really teaching code but rather the logic behind code. Which is useful and even vital. Thus it can be done, or a good bit of it, in an hour.

It's a kid's thing so the idea is to give them just enough to get them interested in learning more.

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batting1000 said:
Doubt it'll be frozen themed at the workshop. What if a 16 or 17 year old goes in there? No way they're gonna be wanting to work with frozen stuff. Seems a bit too juvenile...
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It is. My boyfriend has seen the materials and they are using the same Frozen themed stuff from the website.

And it's not really meant to be for older kids. More like 10-12 year olds. Trouble is that like last year they aren't explaining that detail.
 
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