Hour of Code event reflects statewide effort to promote technology and cyber education | Bismarck State College

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Hour of Code event reflects statewide effort to promote technology and cyber education

Published: Dec 13 2018
Hour of Code event reflects statewide effort to promote technology and cyber education - Photo
On Friday, Dec. 7, North Dakota became the first state to host a simultaneous, statewide Hour of Code between an estimated 5,000 K-12 students in nearly 100 schools across the state. This is the first time a concerted, statewide approach to computer science education has been pursued.
 
Hour of Code, which was started by Code.org, introduces students to computer science with fun and engaging coding activities designed to teach anyone to code and is hosted in more than 180 countries during computer science education week – but until this year, it has never been held as a simultaneous event.
 
“This event was a great way to raise awareness about computer science and cybersecurity,” says BSC Associate Professor of Computers & Office Technology Matthew Frohlich. “Exposing students to coding in class opens the door for them to explore careers in the STEM fields and allows them to experience computer science in a fun way; and if only for an hour, to be part of a larger community that has the same goals.
 
North Dakota’s 2018 Hour of Code event reflects North Dakota’s broader statewide effort to promote technology education. Governor Doug Burgum has put into place initiatives to educate the entire state’s student population —kindergarten through Ph.D. — on cybersecurity. Codenamed the K-20W initiative (for kindergartners to doctoral candidates plus workforce), the state’s vision for cybersecurity education brings together more than 40 organizations from the public and private sector with the goal of building a 21st-century workforce. Bismarck State College is proud to be a part of this team engaged in the mission of "Every Student, Cyber Educated, K-PhD.”
 
In July 2018, BSC President Dr. Larry Skogen announced an educational collaboration with global cybersecurity leader Palo Alto Networks that will grow the college’s Cybersecurity and Computer Networks Program. The collaboration enables BSC to scale online and classroom cybersecurity offerings, including a new bachelor of applied science degree by fall 2019.