ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Code.org The Hour of Code with Hadi Partovi, Code.org founder (Friday)
Have you ever wondered how someone decides to start a company? Let’s dive into the story of Hadi Partovi, the founder of Code.org, and learn about the exciting world of coding!
Hadi Partovi didn’t start Code.org as a big project. It began as a hobby because he believed everyone should learn computer science. He made a video to show why it’s important, and it became super popular, with 13 million views! So many teachers wanted to bring coding to their classrooms that Hadi decided to create courses and support them. That’s how Code.org was born!
Code.org has many fun tutorials and activities. One of Hadi’s favorites is the Star Wars tutorial. Growing up, he loved Star Wars, and now he gets to help others learn coding with it! Another cool tool is App Lab, which lets kids create their own projects and explore their creativity through coding.
Did you know that one of the first computer programmers was a woman named Ada Lovelace? She lived in the 1800s and wrote a computer program before computers even existed! Her work shows how programming is all about solving problems, and it’s inspiring to see how women have been part of computer science from the start.
Even though Hadi runs a company now, he still loves coding. He doesn’t code for hours every day, but he enjoys testing tutorials and experimenting with tools like App Lab. Recently, Code.org released a new Minecraft designer, which lets users change character behaviors and learn coding in a fun way!
The Hour of Code has become a huge success, with over 100 million students participating! It started with a goal of reaching 10 million students, and it grew beyond expectations. The biggest challenge was making sure the website could handle so many users, but this year, everything worked perfectly!
Coding is becoming more popular and is now seen as cool! Many famous people, like athletes and politicians, are encouraging everyone to learn coding. The goal is to make coding a regular part of school, just like math and science, so everyone can learn this important skill.
Not every electric device needs code. Simple things like light bulbs and fans don’t require it. However, many devices can become “smart” with code, allowing them to do tasks automatically. It’s amazing how coding can make everyday objects more useful!
Thank you for exploring the world of coding with us! Remember, learning to code is not just for one hour—it’s a skill that can open up many exciting opportunities. Encourage your parents to learn about coding too, and let’s make computer science a part of every school!
Explore with Star Wars: Since Hadi Partovi loves the Star Wars tutorial, why not try creating your own Star Wars story using code? Use simple coding platforms like Scratch to animate a short scene with your favorite characters. Think about what actions you want them to perform and how you can use coding blocks to make it happen. Share your creation with your classmates and explain how you used coding to bring your story to life.
Invent a Smart Device: Imagine a simple device in your home, like a lamp or a fan, and think about how you could make it “smart” with coding. Draw a picture of your device and write a short description of what it could do if it were smart. For example, a lamp that turns on when it gets dark. Discuss with your family how coding can change everyday objects and make them more helpful.
Learn from Ada Lovelace: Ada Lovelace was one of the first computer programmers. Research more about her life and her contributions to computer science. Create a timeline of her achievements and share it with your class. Think about how her work in the 1800s is still important today and discuss why it’s inspiring to learn about pioneers in technology.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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**Interviewer:** How did you get so interested in starting a company?
**Speaker:** That’s a great question! It’s wonderful to see the classroom from Maine. I decided to start a company at code.org, but it didn’t begin as a big effort. It started as a hobby. I believed that people should learn computer science and that it should be taught in every school. Initially, I just wanted to create a video to highlight its importance. That video ended up being very popular, reaching 13 million views, and 10,000 teachers expressed interest in bringing it to their classrooms. At that point, I realized that if so many teachers wanted this, someone should take the time to create the right courses and support them. That was the inspiration behind starting code.org.
**Interviewer:** Great! Can you ask a question from your classroom?
**Student:** Hi, my name is Normal, and I’m in fourth grade from New Jersey. Which of the puzzles are you most proud of?
**Speaker:** We’ve created many tutorials and activities at code.org, so it’s hard to choose a favorite. One that I really like is the Star Wars tutorial we released last year. Star Wars was one of my favorite things growing up, and even though I didn’t have access to the movies where I lived in the Middle East, I read books about them. It was exciting to finally watch the movies when I came to America. Now, 30 years later, getting to build a tutorial with the team that made Star Wars and allowing users to drive R2-D2 with their own code was a highlight for me. Another favorite is a tool called App Lab, designed for slightly older kids who have started learning coding. It allows users to create various projects, showcasing the creativity coding can offer.
**Interviewer:** Next classroom, can you unmute yourself?
**Student:** Hi, I’m Audrey from an elementary school classroom. Are you familiar with Ada Lovelace?
**Speaker:** Yes, I am! Ada Lovelace is one of the first computer programmers. Interestingly, her birthday is coming up soon. Today, we also celebrate Grace Hopper, a famous computer scientist from the 1940s. Ada lived in the 1800s and wrote a computer program before computers even existed. Her work is relevant because programming is about problem-solving. She created algorithms and wrote code based on the concept of what a computer could do. It’s also significant that the first known computer programmer was a woman, which is important as we work towards gender balance in computer science today.
**Interviewer:** Thank you! Next question?
**Student:** My name is Valerie from Falmouth Elementary School in fifth grade. How many hours a day do you code?
**Speaker:** I don’t code every day in terms of hours because I run a company now. My coding is more about testing our tutorials to ensure they work well. We have a team of about 25 people at code.org who design curriculum and build the website. I started coding when I was 10 and have continued since. I love experimenting with our App Lab tool and the Hour of Code tutorials. Recently, we released a new Minecraft designer, which allows users to change character behaviors, making it a fun way to learn coding.
**Interviewer:** Next classroom, do you have a question?
**Student:** Yes, we’re from South Florida. Were there any challenges in making code.org and the Hour of Code so successful?
**Speaker:** The spread of the Hour of Code has exceeded my expectations. We initially aimed to get 10 million students to try it, which seemed ambitious. The idea resonated with teachers, parents, celebrities, and tech companies, leading to over 100 million students participating. The biggest challenges have been technical, especially ensuring our website can handle the traffic. This year, we finally had no technical issues during the Hour of Code, which is a significant achievement.
**Interviewer:** Last question?
**Student:** Hi, I’m Michael from California. Do you think mainstreaming coding will affect people’s views on computer science?
**Speaker:** Absolutely! Coding is much more mainstream now than it used to be. When I was in school, coding was seen as uncool, but now it’s celebrated. Many public figures, including athletes and politicians, are promoting coding. The challenge now is to integrate coding into the education system more thoroughly. We need schools to teach coding just like they teach math and science.
**Interviewer:** Thank you! One last question from YouTube.
**Speaker:** A question from Heather Womack’s first and second graders: Does everything electric have to have code?
**Speaker:** No, not everything electric requires code. For example, light bulbs and fans don’t need it. However, many electric devices can become “smart” with code, allowing them to respond to information and perform tasks automatically.
Thank you all for your questions! I appreciate the support from teachers worldwide in bringing the Hour of Code to classrooms. It’s been an incredible week, and we need every school to teach computer science beyond just one hour. Please encourage your parents to learn about coding too!
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This version maintains the essence of the conversation while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
