Malverne Students Participate in 'An Hour of Code'

Fifth and sixth-grade students in the Malverne School District celebrated Computer Science Education Week on Dec. 9-13, by participating in an “hour of code.” 

Organized by fifth-grade math teacher Norma Carbone and computer science teacher Laura Forsyth, all fifth- and sixth-graders spent one hour learning about and engaging in computer coding.

 Coding, which is a set of directions for programming on a computer, has proven integral for teaching students basic problem-solving skills. 

“I’ve seen fireworks go off over students’ heads, not light bulbs,” Ms. Carbone said of the reaction. “The kids really loved it.”

The national campaign served to spark interest in the field of computer programming while encouraging creative thinking, problem-solving and collaborative learning among students. 

Ms. Carbone and Ms. Forsyth hope to expand the program next year beyond the fifth and sixth grades, as coding is appropriate for all grade levels, K-12.