South Charleston, W.Va. – Educators are participating in the Week of Code in West Virginia, July 10 – 14, 2023. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), in collaboration with CodeWV, is hosting teachers at the South Charleston Holiday Inn (400 2nd Avenue, South Charleston, West Virginia, 25303) to learn strategies that incorporate coding and other technology-based instruction into their schools’ computer science education programs. The sessions feature professional development for all programmatic levels by WVDE, Code.org, Apple and Minecraft Education facilitators.
Each year, teachers participate in a variety of sessions that focus on coding and computer science. To build capacity and community, the Week of Code brings educators together and allows them to collaborate while learning instructional approaches.
New this year is Minecraft Education, a game-based platform that sparks learning through creative play. Children have played Minecraft for years. It allows them to explore their imaginations to build communities, simple structures or works of art using a series of simple or complex blocks. Students can play individually or collectively as they engage in projects and challenges in a safe, learning environment.
The Week of Code assists educators in understanding how computer science instruction and especially coding can be fully integrated across content areas including reading, math, history and more. By the end of the week, teachers will have greater confidence, expertise and resources to implement and strengthen their computer science programs.
“West Virginia’s focus on computer science instruction for all public school students supports the belief that students from kindergarten through high school are capable of understanding grade-level and advanced concepts,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “This week’s sessions are an important part of our efforts to increase capacity within our instructional programs statewide.”
In 2019, the West Virginia Legislature passed Senate Bill 267 requiring the WVDE to create a plan to reach all students with age-appropriate computer science instruction. This law makes the Mountain State one of the first states to require all students to start their computer science education early in elementary school and continue it throughout their public school experience.
Week of Code sessions are scheduled for 8 am – 4 pm with a lunch break from noon to 1 pm.
For media inquiries, contact Christy Day, West Virginia Department of Education Office of Communications, at 304-558-2699 or Christy.Day@k12.wv.us.
