Illinois District Partners with Northwestern U on Hour of Code Activities

Evanston/Skokie School District 65 has teamed up with Northwestern University on an initiative to introduce students to programming in conjunction with the Hour of Code.

"Billed as the 'largest learning event in history,' Hour of Code kicks off Computer Science Education Week, held December 8 through December 12," according to a news release. "The activities are designed to introduce youngsters to computer science, demystify coding and demonstrate that anyone can learn the basics."

As part of the initiative, students at District 65 will take part in activities such as app development, game development or introductory lessons in Javascript or other programming languages in their science, library or media arts classes.
Graduate student volunteers from Northwestern's chemistry, engineering and computer science departments, among others, will assist teachers and work with students.

"Virtually every field these days involves computing, so introducing students to coding at a young age is a great way to get them excited about pursuing this skill both in and out of school," said Kemi Jona, director of the Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP) and professor of learning sciences and computer science at Northwestern, in a prepared statement.

Organized by code.org, last year's hour of code included 15 million student participants. The goal for this year, the program's second, is to reach 100 million. The Northwestern partnership with District 65 is expected to include approximately 2,000 middle school students.

"The coding activities will engage students through creativity and problem solving and will infuse the science and engineering practices that are a critical part of the Next Generation Science Standards, the new Illinois learning standards for science," said District 65 STEM Director Jesch Reyes, in a prepared statement.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • laptop displaying a glowing digital brain and data charts sits on a metal shelf in a well-lit server room with organized network cables and active servers

    Cisco Unveils AI-First Approach to IT Operations

    At its recent Cisco Live 2025 event, Cisco introduced AgenticOps, a transformative approach to IT operations that integrates advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and collaboration across network, security, and application domains.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.