March 29, 2024

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Built General Tough

Birmingham’s Ed Farm launches Color Code to raise awareness for computer science

Ed Farm is raising awareness in the community around the importance of computer science (CS) education by participating in Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek). This annual call to action focuses on inspiring K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers and partners to the field.

This year, CSEdWeek is taking place around the world Dec. 7-12, and Ed Farm is inviting everyone to celebrate the week and learn together. The week has been jammed with virtual coding pop-ups, Code Alongs, computer science resources and a celebration. The coding pop-up celebration is Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom to learn foundational coding skills and get involved with computer science using Swift. To register, go to https://bit.ly/33SzzUU.

Ed Farm, short for Education Farm, is a partnership of Apple and the Alabama Power Foundation. Ed Farm equips educators in schools and communities with innovative tools and strategies that support active learning for all students. Headquartered in downtown Birmingham, its vision is to lead in an inventive world where all people have everything they need to fill or create the jobs of the future. That’s why the organization is proud to elevate #ColorCode with Ed Farm as part of its goal to unify and diversify computer science.

“Rather than focusing purely on the career and vocational benefits of CS, we’re proud to present Color Code, a CSEdWeek initiative highlighting how code can be used to guide youths on a journey of self-discovery,” said Élan Jones, Ed Farm’s director of Digital Skills and Transformation. “Ed Farm’s approach to teaching code is rooted in the belief that what a person is (a doctor, a teacher, a coder, a CEO), is nowhere near as important as who a person is.

“Color Code will showcase how, when used as a medium for personal expression, learning to code can help youth connect to their deepest truth. The truth encompasses who they currently are, who they want to be and what contributions they want to make to the world around them. We are grateful to everyone who celebrates and shares in this experience with us,” Jones said.

Color Code is a call to action, centered on unifying and diversifying computer science. It brings people together through code. Code is in everything that Ed Farm does. Ed Farm’s mantra is to Cultivate Change, and one specific way is through coding.

Color Code kicked off this week and was held virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live due to COVID-19. This event was designed to bring forth confidence and community, and spark an interest in computer science no matter the career desire. Color Code serves to fully immerse the community into computer science and to show students that it is a cutting-edge skill that opens many doors.

“Computer science exposure is imperative for students to be marketable in the 21st century workforce,” said Ed Farm Learning Programs Manager Candyce Monroe. “Coding is a great way to equip students with future-ready skills.”

Technology is the way of the world, transforming every industry globally, yet, 10 years ago fewer than half of all schools emphasized teaching computer science. Many teachers do not even know where to begin, as computer science is not a leading subject in their daily curriculums.

Research shows that children are more susceptible to learning computer language before reading and writing. Without access to rigorous computer science and STEM courses, underrepresented young women and students in marginalized communities have finite opportunities to develop analytical skills to be prepared for future jobs. In today’s society, tech and design skills are prominent attributes that attract employers in the workforce. Even art and design occupations value coding skills.

For more information on Ed Farm, visit www.edfarm.org. Social media: FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedIn.