Hour of Code is on! Millions of young people worldwide are learning fundamentals of computer science

As part of the third annual Hour of Code, Microsoft is leading thousands of events in more than 50 countries around the world in support of Code.org. Microsoft is encouraging millions of young people across the globe to take their first steps into the world of coding and computer science during Computer Science Education Week, December 7 – 13. Aimed at introducing and exposing young minds to computer science and to the world of technology, events are taking place at Microsoft stores, offices and innovation centers as well as facilities of Microsoft’s Youth Spark nonprofit partners and schools. These events are being led by over 7,000 Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs) with 50 of them being from India, Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and employee volunteers. In addition, Microsoft is gifting Windows Store credit to every educator who organizes an Hour of Code event worldwide.

This year Microsoft Corp. has also teamed up with Code.org to bring a Minecraft coding tutorial for students and educators, created especially for this edition of Hour of Code. The new tutorial – now available at code.org/mc – introduces players to basic coding within the fun and popular Minecraft environment. Created by Minecraft game designers together with Code.org, the tutorial features Steve and Alex from Minecraft, and Mine craft-inspired challenges that will be familiar to more than 100 million players around the world.

In India, over 7000 students from close to 100 schools and centres are taking part in Hour of Code this year. As part of the campaign, Microsoft Student Partners and Educators in 10 selected schools across the country are engaging with students across the ages of 12-18 years. Microsoft’s NGO Partners in India including Magic Bus, Smile Foundation, Aide-et-Action, Dream-a-Dream, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme are hosting sessions across their centres in this week-long event. Hour of Code sessions are also being organised to educate students on coding, creating awareness about coding as a career option and facilitating training sessions on Powerpoint and Windows Movie Maker.

“At Microsoft it is our mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more and in line with that our education initiatives are aimed at helping the students develop essential skills, including computational thinking – so students and all young people can succeed today, and tomorrow. Encouraging and promoting Hour of Code is our effort to expose the young generation to the world of computer science as it helps in building critical skills like computational thinking and problem solving that strengthen abilities in any industry and any sector. We believe that today when technology has become an integral part of people’s daily lives, this knowledge is extremely imperative,” said Harish Vaidyanathan, Director, ISV Business, Microsoft India.

To date, more than 100 million students across 180 countries and 40 languages have participated in the Hour of Code, including one in three students in U.S. schools. This year, the campaign expects to exceed 100,000 events during December 7−14 and to continucampaign,participated,expects,knowledge,exceed,introducing,founde introducing more students to this foundational 21st century field.