Notre Dame finishes up its participation in the worldwide Hour of Code in lower division.
Harvard University’s Karen Brennan said recently that learning how to code — learning how to program a computer — essentially how to create, should be for all kids and not just for some kids. Brennan, who is the assistant professor of education at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, spoke earlier this month to a gathering of nearly 50 at the Harvard Allston Education Portal as part of its Faculty Speaker Series.
Coding “is learning in a very different way,” Brennan said. “Kids are used to being told how to think, how to memorize. This allows them to be in control. It takes some time, but once kids have a little taste of being creative, many of them don’t want to look back.”
Administrators at Notre Dame must have agreed with Dr. Brennan because once again the entire school — from Jr.K through 12th grade — was part of the worldwide "Hour of Code," which this year was held December 8-14. Last year's Hour of Code event at Notre Dame was December 9, 2013.
The theme this year for Notre Dame’s Hour of Code event was “What would Mary code,” or “WWMC,” a reference to Mary’s important role in just about everything at NDPMA, including technology.
The Marist Fathers and Brothers, who sponsor the school’s Catholicity and educational-program management, "bear Mary’s name, strive to live her spirit, and minister in the Church and the world under the name of Mary," according to the Marists, or Society of Mary. The word “Marist” is derived from the name “Mary,” the mother of Jesus.
Hour of Code is a campaign calling on every K-12 student in America and around the world to join in learning about computer coding. The initiative, sponsored by Code.org, a non-profit dedicated to promoting computer science education, asks schools, teachers and parents across the country to help introduce more than 15 million students of all ages to computer programming during Computer Science Education Week. See the Code.org video below.
Silicone wristbands with “HOUR OF CODE – WWMC” were given to all the students participating in the coding.
The Hour of Code initiative is yet another example of how NDPMA is working on integrating technology into nearly every facet of the school's operations. Notre Dame also hosted an “NDPMA Parent Tech Information Night” on December 1, 2014.
Check out the 'Hour of Code' video below:
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.