At least 15,000 Maine students at over 40 schools are expected to participate in the Hour of Code campaign December 9-16, according to the organizers at Code.org.

The national initiative to demystify computer science is being sponsored by Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, LinkedIn, Mark Zuckerberg, the College Board, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and over 100 other partners.

The following Maine schools have already pledged (as of November 25) to offer fun, self-directed programming tutorials to all of their students during that week:

• Biddeford Regional Center of Technology
• Bowdoin Central School
• Bowdoinham Community School
• Brooklin School
• Chebeague Island School
• Durham Community School
• Edna Libby School 
• Elm Street School
• Falmouth Elementary School
• Foxcroft Academy 
• Freeport High School
• Freeport Middle School
• Frank H. Harrison Middle School 
• George E Jack School 
• Harpswell Community School
• HB Emery Jr. School 
• Hermon School District
• Horace Mitchell Primary school
• Kennebunk High School
• Lake Region Middle School
• Lincoln Academy 
• Lincoln Middle School
• MIddle School of the Kennebunks
• Madawaskasa Middle/High School
• Marshwood Middle School-6-White Team
• Mast Landing School
• Milo Elementary School
• Morse Street Elementary School (300 students participating)
• Pownal Elementary School
• Rangeley Lakes Regional School
• Reeds Brook Middle School
• RSU 21
• St. John Regional Catholic School
• SeDoMoCha
• Sea Road School
• Shapleigh School
• South Portland School District
• Steep Falls Elementary
• The Eddy, Edgecomb
• Wells High School
• Williams-Cone School
• Woodside Elementary School
• Yarmouth High School

What you can do

Anyone can participate in the Hour of Code, either in school or at home. Get started by watching the introductory videos for students or for teachers and learn why computational thinking is an important problem-solving technique for everyone.

Then, go to the Hour of Code website and choose either "Participate yourself" or "Host an Hour of Code." On Monday, Dec. 9, you'll receive notification when the site officially launches with self-directed online tutorials for all level learners. 

If you are a computing or IT professional living near one of the schools listed above, please contact the school and offer to visit and talk with students about your work. You can raise awareness of the profession while helping students imagine pathways toward their future careers.

In the meantime, several preview tutorials are already available. For elementary and middle school students, the Angry Birds how-to is a great place to start and MIT's Scratch has thousands of tutorials and samples. Then, for those who want to move beyond drag-and-drop programs, Khan Academy's programming tutorial is a good introduction to code. And to learn how computational thinking doesn't even require a computer, try the group activity that only needs paper, pencils, and some paper cups! 

What's happening around the state

• Project>Login is partnering with Maine Robotics to provide an Hour of Code "Dojo" room for 2,500 participants and spectators at the Maine's FIRST® LEGO® League Championship at the Augusta Civic Center on December 14, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. We still have space for volunteers  to cheer on Hour of Code participants of all ages, so please sign up and join us. No experience required.
   
• The Reach Center at the Maine Math and Science Alliance is offering a USB wristband loaded with computer science learning resources to youth in grades 5-12 who register, with their parent’s permission, during the week of December 9. The Reach Center is also planning other activities, including a statewide Scratch convention in 2014, so stay tuned.
   
• In Yarmouth, parents and community members will coach Middle School students as they explore the Hour of Code tutorials, and IT professionals will be on hand to speak about the importance of software and technology in our everyday lives. For those who complete the hour, sponsors will be providing commemorative t-shirts. 
   
• Husson University faculty will be visiting schools around Bangor; UNUM professionals will be coaching students at Wells High School; and we've also heard about exciting plans at Foxcroft Academy, MSAD 75 in the Topsham region, RSU 3 in the Unity area, and RSU 5 in and around Freeport. 

• Please let us know what you're planning. Share your activities in our Project>Login LinkedIn Group and see our earlier updates about the Hour of Code in Maine.

After the Hour of Code

About Project>Login

Project>Login — a program of Educate Maine — aims to expand the network of computing and IT professionals in Maine through education, information, and internships. The vision of Project>Login is that Maine will have a sufficient and sustainable network of well-prepared professionals to fill high-demand computing and information technology careers in our IT-enabled organizations.

Project>Login’s partners are working to raise public awareness of the profession; retain existing students in related degree programs at Maine’s public colleges and universities; recruit middle and high school students and adult learners to follow pathways toward computing technology careers; and collaborate with professionals to keep up to date on trends and advancements.