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Rye Neck High School, Middle School Students Collaborate On Computing

MAMARONECK, N.Y. --  Rye Neck middle school and high school students teamed up earlier this month for the Hour of Code, an international event that is a highlight of Computer Science Education Week.

The Hour of Code enabled the students to choose from a variety of self-guided coding activities, such as a “Star Wars”-based module called “Building a Galaxy with Code.”

The Hour of Code enabled the students to choose from a variety of self-guided coding activities, such as a “Star Wars”-based module called “Building a Galaxy with Code.”

Photo Credit: Provided/Rye Neck Union Free School District
Rye Neck middle school and high school students collaborated during the Hour of Code.

Rye Neck middle school and high school students collaborated during the Hour of Code.

Photo Credit: Provided/Rye Neck Union Free School District
The partnership between the students – some of whom are enrolled in the Advanced Placement Computer Science course – encouraged them to collaborate with peers with similar interests and gain a deeper understanding for the applications of coding.

The partnership between the students – some of whom are enrolled in the Advanced Placement Computer Science course – encouraged them to collaborate with peers with similar interests and gain a deeper understanding for the applications of coding.

Photo Credit: Provided/Rye Union Free School District

The Hour of Code serves as an introduction to coding and programming. It enabled the students to choose from a variety of self-guided coding activities, such as a “Star Wars”-based module called “Building a Galaxy with Code,” that helped nurture their creativity and problem-solving skills, according to a release from Rye Neck Union Free School District.

“Computer science is such an important industry in our world today,” said Linda Costelloe, the middle and high school librarian. “For our students to use their imagination and realize that they can be creators, not just consumers of what’s already out there, is an amazing set of skills.”

The partnership between the students – some of whom are enrolled in the Advanced Placement Computer Science course – encouraged them to collaborate with peers with similar interests and gain a deeper understanding for the applications of coding, the release said.

“I find it interesting that there is a ton of math involved [in coding], but also a bit of language arts because in order to make a command work, you need to word it properly,” said sixth-grader Lily Ferraro, who participated in a “Minecraft” coding exercise. “I like creating stuff. People should learn how to code…and if you start with something like [programming language] Scratch, it can be pretty easy.”

Costelloe added that the district is focused on teaching students to be self-directed learners and creators rather than users, which are skills integral to the students’ success.

For additional information on the Hour of Code, visit www.hourofcode.com.

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