Misti Clark, curriculum manager at iCode, teaches area students about computer science during first annual iCode Hour of Code event.

Students from across Collin County were able to “use the force” at iCode’s first annual Hour of Code event on Friday, December 11 during Computer Science Education Week. iCode hosted Star War’s themed coding activities at its state-of-the-art facility in Frisco that included introductions to Python, JavaScript and gaming. Activities incorporated the beloved characters Obi-wan Kenobi, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker to get students engaged and excited about the upcoming movie premier.

Hour of Code, a global grassroots campaign, aims to get students to try a coding activity for one hour during the week of December 7-13.  Groups like iCode hope participation will help demystify code and show that anyone can learn the basics of computer science, a growing industry with fewer than 2.4 percent of college graduate degrees.

About iCode

iCode is an after school and weekend program that offers holistic STEAM education to students in 1st through 12th grade, equipping them with skills to think critically, solve problems logically and imagine endless possibilities. With its state-of-the-art facility, iCode students have the ability to use the latest technology to design and develop their best ideas into viable solutions under the mentorship and guidance of quality teachers and professors. Once a month, iCode offers a monthly speaker series hosted by leading executives and entrepreneurs from technology companies around the world paired with an evening of fun games and activities. Similar to tae-kwon-doe, students advance through a five-color belt system, ranging from beginner (white belt) to advanced III (black belt).  For more information about iCode, visit icodeinc.com.

Recommended Blogs
Wondering how teaching children about entrepreneurship can change their lives? Empowering kids at a young age to learn about running a business can lead to increased independence and the potential for higher earnings over the long-term. This happens with the help of supportive parents that foster development. Nurture and Motivate a Passion for Business  Children don’t have to run a business, or even have a job, in order to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities. Helping your kids to recognize businesses in their daily routine can help them with self-discovery, creative insight, and an appreciation for monetary value.  Thinking of ways to incorporate business lessons into your child’s lives include identifying the cost of their favorite toys, saving money to purchase something of higher value, or involving them in selling things online. Finding chores around the house and negotiating how much doing that chore should cost is another great way to nurture business sense. Encourage Your Kids to Ask Questions When children explore their environment or learn new concepts, they often ask questions to help them with general understanding. Instead of providing them with direct and firm answers, allow their curiosity to help them discover the world around them on their own terms.…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are continuing to extend to virtually every new technology embedded service, product, or application. In today’s business world, being able to anticipate the future of AI and ML trends can help leaders transform their current operations, adapt their processes and reach long-term goals. Defining AI and ML AI has been developed to include any technique that enables computers to mimic human behavior. ML is a subset of AI that incorporates statistical methods to enable machines to improve themselves through experience. ML powers intelligence systems through deep learning tools that compute multiple layers of rules, data and networks. For decades, AI was a prediction that was initially associated with robots. Today, AI and ML are incorporated in almost everything we use, commonly denoted as “smart technology.” Intelligent systems are becoming significant aids in comfort, communication, and time-saving applications. In recent years, AI and ML have transformed most industry sectors, including retail, manufacturing, finance, and healthcare. Companies that adopt these technologies can expect a faster evaluation of context and data, improved efficiency and expansive growth in their markets. Future Benefits of AI and ML in Business Processes AI and ML-powered systems have improved the way…
If you’re a business owner, you may be overwhelmed with new problems on a regular basis. In order to improve the performance of your business, obtain sustainable growth, and become more profitable, it’s in your best interest to follow the best practices of successful companies. Clearly Define Your Business Strategy In order to get the most value from your business, carefully defining your strategies helps to keep everyone in your organization focused on short-term and long-term goals. Strategies don’t have to be overly complicated, and some simple examples include: Reducing costs and waste Developing new markets and becoming more competitive Adapting to new technologies Increasing efficiency, productivity or quality Improving employee skills through training Creating a business strategy helps to assess your current environment, identify strengths or new opportunities, and eliminate weaknesses or threats. Hiring a third-party to review your business strategy can provide an objective point of view and add value elements to your strategies that you might have overlooked. Improve Your Operational Efficiency Best practices in operations help to convert materials and labor into goods and services as efficiently as possible, in order to maximize profit. Examples of best practices used by operational managers include: Purchasing equipment or…
graphic of a blue and yellow blob
graphic of a yellow blob