Today the students of portable thirteen were introduced to the joys (and frustrations) of computer programming. Although we offer Information Technology and Computer Programming as courses at our high school, most of my students didn’t understand what “coding” was before today. We are lucky, according to CBC’s article at the beginning of this school year: many schools in Canada aren’t even able to run it as an elective.

The experience was a positive one, I think – even the students who were incredibly frustrated with writing a particular line of code or achieving a particular task felt excited and accomplished when they succeeded. Students worked together to help each other with the various tutorials, and the energy and focus in my room was nearly the best I’ve ever seen it.

Grade eight and nine students who were willing shared their experiences and thoughts on our day:

(Humanities 8 students Josh, Emma and Tristan)

(English 9 students Addison, Sam and Brandon)