Fifth, sixth and seventh grade students from Muskegon County and northern Ottawa County will converge on the MCC campus Saturday, Dec. 12, for the Hour of Code event being sponsored by the College.
The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in more than 180 countries. Students learn about how they can be part of using technology to follow a passion, start a business or change the world.
Registration for the program was filled after 48 hours, explained Christopher VanOosterhout, an MCC computer information systems instructor and one of the event organizers.
“We want to create a passion for computing, technology and innovation within the kids of our community,” he explained, while also hoping to foster an interest in the subject matter among the girls participating, as females are an under-represented group in this field. “We also want to share the students’ passion and excitement about what they learn with their family and friends.”
The Hour of Code will take place between 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on campus. In addition to VanOosterhout, the Hour of Code coaches include MCC Computer Information Systems (CIS) Instructors Char Parker and Barb Landes, current CIS student Brianna Paver, MCC CIS alumnus David Langlois, and Ellucian employees Patricia Werly and Jason Miller.
During lunch, the students and coaches will discuss the ways technology is touching everyone’s lives and how people of all ages and interest can have an impact and make a difference in the world.
“Participants will build working computer programs that may feature characters such as Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen, Angry Birds and others,” said VanOosterhout. “Once students see what they can create right before their eyes, they are encouraged and empowered to keep going.”
“By exposing both boys and girls to fundamental computing concepts on a level playing field, we hope to inspire today’s generation of students to build technology and be aware of how it impacts most every vocational pursuit and area of interest.”
Every student will leave with a certificate of completion and finished computer program they can share with their family and friends.
For more information or to be placed on a waiting list for a future Hour of Code-related event, contact Christopher VanOosterhout at (231) 755-0557 or by email at Christopher.vanoosterhout@muskegoncc.edu