They're learning the codes that make the world run

Behind every web site, ever app, every video game, there is lines and lines of code running in the background, sight unseen. Codes are the computer languages that makes the digital world go round.

Last week, about 25 students from Columbia Falls participated the “Hour of Code” a global movement designed to introduce them to computer science.

The students ranged in all skill levels — from advanced to beginner. Junior Jeremy Stone and Mac Jarvis have already taken every class the school offers in computer coding.

Learning computer language is like learning a foreign language, Jarvis noted. There’s certainly a learning curve, but “when you can write code, it’s fun.”

So far the two say they’ve learned Python, Java and Scratch — all computer languages — but they haven’t learned more complex languages like C and C++.

Those aren’t taught at Columbia Falls currently, but they can take classes in advanced coding at the college level and online, noted computer science teacher Diane Marsh.

Marsh said the eventual goal of the school is to get students from the elementary grades through high school involved in, or at least exposed to, coding.

This event featured free pizza, which didn’t hurt attendance, Marsh noted.

Folks interested in code can check out free lessons for all age groups at code.org