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The New Review: Discover: CODING: CODE BREAKERS: Other coding schemes(Observer (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Code.org The work of brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi, Code.org is a non-profit US organisation dedicated to expanding participation in computer science education. Backed by technology heavyweights including Amazon and Google, the organisation frames its mission in patriotic terms: that "it seems un-American to accept that computer science classes are only available to the privileged few". To date more than 27 million people have tried the Hour of Code initiative, with a million parents signing a petition to get coding into classrooms. Europe Code Week Launched last November with 300 events across the continent, Europe Code Week aims to "improve the visibility of coding on a European scale", motivating beginners of all ages to "experience the joy of computer programming". With high-profile support from the European Commission, this year's events take place in October. Year of Code Like Code.org, Year of Code is an independent campaign that encourages people across the UK to "discover the power of computer science" - albeit with worse PR. While the former boasts media support from Will.i.am and Mark Zuckerberg, Year of Code's public image has primarily been shaped by executive director Lottie Dexter's Newsnight appearance last month, where she admitted she cannot code. It has some powerful supporters, however, including the education secretary and the chancellor, and plans to run events throughout 2014. Young Rewired State Set up by Emma Mulqueeny as the philanthropic arm of her developer network company Rewired State, Young Rewired State aims "to find and foster every child driven to teach themselves how to code". Its primary tool is the Festival of Code, an annual event taking place across the UK. Code Club Founded in 2012, Code Club is a network of volunteer-led after-school clubs teaching nine- to 11-year-olds how to program games, websites and animations. Backed by Samsung and Google, the organisation seeks to put a Code Club into every UK primary school: there are 2,007 so far. (c) 2014 Guardian Newspapers Limited. |