Women are underrepresented in computer science, a key field in our increasingly digital world.
In the U.S., Girls Who Code is on the case. The organization hosts free, eight-week immersion programs in computer science, robotics, algorithms, Web design and mobile development for girls in secondary school. During one summer program, the girls built Facebook apps and presented them to Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook. Growing tech companies need new talent, so participants develop their career skills while they make new friends.
President Obama recently highlighted for Americans the necessity of learning computer science, as fields requiring that background are among the fastest-growing, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To emphasize the importance of computer science worldwide and to encourage schools to prepare students for the future, Code.com will host this year’s national Computer Science Education Week (December 8–14). Schools from all over the world are invited to participate in the Hour of Code Challenge. Students are supplied tutorials and activities and challenged to try an “hour of coding.” Last year, 5 million students worldwide learned an Hour of Code. Is your country participating?
