Students in the two computer courses were part of the December 11 global Hour of Code, a web event that promotes the study of computer science. Dr. Al DeGennaro’s Web Design and Game Design classes and Len Tabaj Web Design class used the guided tutorials on the HourOfCode.org site to write and alter computer code. Students used the programming language javascript to create multiplayer games.
“The Hour of Code tasks set the stage for more complex coding and computer programming,” said Dr. DeGennaro. The end products of the work were student created apps that will run on any suitable browser from anywhere in the world.
Freshmen LaDaishare Lockwood and Mikayla Robinson (L-R above) were two of the students who participated in the coding event. Mikayla is in Dr. DeGennaro’s Game Design class and is interested in learning more complex game design skills. LaDaishare is in Dr. DeGennaro’s Web Design class and uses her new skills to create web pages for her other courses.
Rockwell Automation Electrical Engineer Dale Reed helped guide the students through the technical aspects of the work. “Mr. Reed’s knowledge of computing and how computer programs can control complex machines was very helpful,” said Dr. DeGennaro. "We hope to have him back in the near future to tell us about his role at Rockwell Automation and to demonstrate some of the systems that he has built."
Community volunteer and retired NASA scientist Allen Wilkinson also helped with the activity.
The Hour of Code event is sponsored by a consortium of computer industry and educational groups. The event website included a video message from President Obama encouraging students to learn computer coding and programming.