Hello! I’m Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, and I’m excited to start the 2013 Computer Science Education Week. We celebrate this week every year to honor the birthday of a computing pioneer, Admiral Grace Murray Hopper. This year, I want to encourage all parents, teachers, and students to join the Hour of Code.
The Hour of Code is a fun and engaging way to introduce kids to coding. It’s designed to show that coding can be enjoyable, creative, and empowering. Many parents didn’t have the chance to learn computer skills in school, but today, these skills are essential. Kids will need them, along with knowledge in science, technology, and math, to succeed in a global workforce.
We hope the Hour of Code will spark your interest in coding. But it’s just the beginning. We need to provide more opportunities for students to take computer science courses in schools. Learning computer science helps students develop problem-solving skills. They’ll learn about coding, algorithms, software engineering, big data, cybersecurity, and the capabilities of computers.
Computer science isn’t just for future IT professionals; it’s for everyone. It enhances critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and allows for creative expression. It prepares students for success in various fields, including science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, education, and media arts. It empowers them to actively participate in the technological changes shaping their world.
As you participate in the Hour of Code, look for other chances to learn about computer science, robotics, engineering, and more. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey!
Join an Hour of Code event or complete an online coding tutorial. This will give you a hands-on experience with coding and show you how fun and creative it can be. Try to complete at least one coding challenge and share your experience with your classmates.
Start a journal to document your coding journey. Write about what you learn each time you code, the challenges you face, and how you overcome them. Include sketches or screenshots of your projects. This will help you track your progress and reflect on your learning.
Choose a computing pioneer, like Grace Murray Hopper, and research their contributions to computer science. Create a short presentation or poster to share with your class. Highlight how their work has impacted technology and inspired future generations.
Investigate different career paths that involve computer science. Choose one that interests you and research the skills and education required for that career. Present your findings to the class, explaining why computer science is important in that field.
Use a beginner-friendly platform like Scratch or App Inventor to design a simple app or game. Focus on creativity and problem-solving. Share your project with your classmates and explain the coding concepts you used to create it.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Hi, I’m Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, and I’m happy to officially kick off the 2013 Computer Science Education Week. We observe CS Ed Week each year in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper. This year, I would especially like to encourage all parents, teachers, and students to participate in the Hour of Code.
The Hour of Code is meant to encourage kids to try coding and to let them see that it can be fun, creative, and empowering. Most parents, unlike me, unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to learn computer skills growing up in school. However, today, most kids will need those skills, along with others in science, technology, and math, when they enter a workforce where they will compete with the best-educated young people from around the world.
Our hope is that the Hour of Code activities will pique your interest, but we will need to follow up on that interest with opportunities to take computer science courses in our nation’s schools. Our children will need computer science so that they can learn how to use that knowledge in problem-solving. They will need to be able to code and have some understanding of algorithms, software engineering, big data, cybersecurity, and the limits of what computers can do.
The study of computer science is not just for those wishing to become IT professionals; it’s actually for everyone. It builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills and opens the door to many forms of creative expression. It sets kids up for success across a wide range of fields, including science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, education, and the media arts. It empowers them to take an active part in the technological transformations that are changing their world.
So, as all of you join in the Hour of Code, look for other opportunities to learn more about computer science, robotics, engineering, and so much more. Thank you.
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This version removes any informal language and ensures clarity while maintaining the original message.
Coding – The process of writing instructions for a computer to perform specific tasks. – Example sentence: “In our computer class, we learned the basics of coding by creating a simple game using Python.”
Computer – An electronic device that processes data and performs tasks according to a set of instructions. – Example sentence: “My computer can run multiple applications at once, making it easier to complete my homework.”
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Example sentence: “Computer science is a field that combines mathematics and logic to solve complex problems.”
Skills – The ability to do something well, often gained through training or experience. – Example sentence: “Developing coding skills can open up many career opportunities in the tech industry.”
Algorithms – A set of rules or steps used to solve a problem or perform a task in computing. – Example sentence: “We used algorithms to sort a list of numbers in ascending order during our programming class.”
Software – Programs and applications that run on a computer, enabling it to perform specific tasks. – Example sentence: “I installed new software on my laptop to help me edit videos more efficiently.”
Engineering – The application of scientific and mathematical principles to design and build systems and structures. – Example sentence: “Software engineering involves designing and developing applications that meet user needs.”
Data – Information that is processed or stored by a computer. – Example sentence: “Analyzing data helps companies make informed decisions about their products.”
Cybersecurity – Measures taken to protect a computer or computer system against unauthorized access or attack. – Example sentence: “Learning about cybersecurity is important to keep our personal information safe online.”
Technology – The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – Example sentence: “Advancements in technology have made it possible to communicate with people around the world instantly.”
