Hundreds of MVUSD Middle Schoolers Continue Global Computer-Programming Event

Thirty years ago, kids who were into computers were really “into” them, learning how to program, and mastering computer code. Today, almost every student uses some form of computer daily, both at school and simply as part of modern life, but very few know anything about how they work or how to create new programs. Hundreds of Moreno Valley Unified middle schoolers, however, learned the basics of programming this week as they continued to take part in the global event, “Hour of Code” – except at MVUSD, they got a whole “Day of Code.” “Learning basic computer science, including the fundamentals of coding, turns students who are currently just technology consumers into potential technology creators and innovators,” said mathematics teacher Deepika Srivastava, one of the organizers of the events. “Exposure to computer coding early on can be incredibly empowering for students,” added Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Dr. Martinrex Kedziora. “It’s like being given the keys to a whole new world of exciting and creative possibilities.” Research demonstrates that learning computer coding brings students additional benefits. It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the field of computer science is expected to create 1.5 million jobs by the year 2020, and that predicted increase correlates directly with the demand for college graduates with a degree in the field. The approximately 450 MVUSD middle-school students who took part in MVUSD’s Day of Code events previously qualified to take part in the district’s newly expanded Math League competitions, in which multi-age teams of middle-schoolers work together to quickly solve math problems. Day of Code trainers include David Coopersmith and Gayle DiCarlantonio from Palm Middle School; Paul Ellsworth from Moreno Valley High School; Theodore Brown from Vista del Lago High School; and Michael Dolan and Deepika Srivastava from Valley View High School.