Hour of Code, the initiative to encourage more people to get their programming learner hat on, has just kicked off in Ireland. But, did you know that Star Wars: The Force Awakens can lend a helping hand?
Hour of Code will see more than 500 events launched around the country, with the programme stretching from Letterkenny CoderDojo club in Donegal, right down to St Patrick’s BNS in Skibbereen, Cork.
It runs for a few days, actually, with a specially designed 60-minute tutorial there to help you teach basic, very easy to understand, coding skills to kids.
But what of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you ask? Well, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, okay, just Star Wars, is on hand to help out, if you want to deviate slightly from the Hour of Code script.
Code.org, a non-profit that seeks to make coding more accessible, has launched a Star Wars-branded kid JavaScript program that stars Rey and BB-8.
So, you can at least learn to code while maintaining an unhealthy dedication to a movie franchise.
Hell, even Enda Kenny is getting in on the act, with the Taoiseach launching Ireland’s Hour of Code push by messing around with a Sphero robotic ball. He was basically programming a naked BB-8. Let that sink in.
“It is imperative that we prepare our young people with the skills they will require to continue this digital revolution and coding skills are an essential part of that preparation,” said Kenny.
“I would encourage all interested young people to seek out the nearest coding event and to jump in during Hour of Code week.”
Helping the Taoiseach launch the initiative were members of the Digital Youth Council of Ireland – including Niamh Scanlon, EU Digital Girl of the Year nominee.
To learn more or get involved visit www.hourofcode.com/ie
