High School Students Visit CSAIL at MIT for Hour of Code Event

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) held its second annual Hour of Code event on Friday, December 11, with 150 students from local high schools participating.

The Hour of Code is an initiative launched in 2013 by Code.org to introduce children and adults of all ages to computer programming during Computer Science Education Week.

Math and computer science students from schools in Cambridge, Charlestown, Roxbury, Somerville and other high schools in the greater Boston area took part in this year's CSAIL event, according to information from MIT.

Researchers from the lab demonstrated some of the projects they're working on, including a 3-D printer called "MultiFab" that can print objects with up to 10 different materials at once; a 6-foot-tall, 400 pound humanoid robot called Atlas that can open doors, climb stairs and drive a car; and a wireless device that can see through walls to detect, track and identify individuals.

In addition to the demonstrations, MIT graduate students were on hand to talk to participants about how they got started in programming and why programming is important.

The Hour of Code encourages everybody to try computer programming for one hour during Computer Science Education Week, which was December 7-13 this year. The goal of the initiative is to demystify computer programming and demonstrate that anybody can learn coding basics. Since the initiative launched two years ago, more than 166 million people around the world have participated in the event, and tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft have hosted Hour of Code events.

Further information about the Hour of Code can be found on Code.org's site.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • teacher and children working with a LEGO Education Science kit

    LEGO Education Debuts Science Kits for Hands-on Learning

    LEGO Education has announced a new learning solution to engage students in hands-on science learning. Available in three kits by grade band, LEGO Education Science provides 120-plus standards-aligned science lessons, teacher materials, and select LEGO bricks and hardware.

  • school building split in half, with one side collapsing into a dark hole

    Office of Educational Technology, National Center for Education Statistics Fall Victim to ED Cuts

    The U.S. Department of Education has announced cuts of nearly half of its staff, numbering more than 1,300 workers, according to AP reporting. While official details on the cuts are not available, early commentary on LinkedIn has revealed drastic cuts in the areas of educational technology and data.

  • Two digital hands made of interconnected lines and nodes shaking hands firmly against a minimal technological background

    IBM to Acquire AI and Data Solutions Provider DataStax

    IBM has announced the planned acquisition AI and data solutions provider DataStax, in a move aimed at enhancing its watsonx portfolio and advancing generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for enterprises.

  • zSpace Imagine Learning Solution

    zSpace Debuts Headset-Free AR/VR System

    Immersive learning company zSpace has announced the zSpace Imagine Learning Solution, a headset-free AR/VR laptop system designed for elementary education. The all-in-one platform integrates hardware, software, and hands-on lessons to create dynamic learning experiences for young students.