Bobby Ellis
bobby.ellis@education.ky.gov
It’s always amazing to me how far technology has come inside of schools.
When I graduated high school in 2009, the iPad had yet to be released, cell phones were confiscated by teachers and laptops weren’t allowed in class.
Fast forward to today, where students throughout the Madison County district took part in the Hour of Code, a nationwide event that is meant to help introduce computer coding to students.
Madison County was recognized recently for being the first recipient of the Computer Science Education Incentive Award from AdvanceKentucky and Time Warner Cable. The award promotes the growth and awareness of computer science education in school districts throughout Kentucky.
Ashlie Griggs, a math teacher at B. Michael Caudill Middle School, helped her students during the district’s Hour of Code as they used coding to build games like Pong, Flappy Bird, Minecraft and Plants vs. Zombies.
“It really brings some of the computer stuff to life and lets the students see the application of it in real life,” Griggs said.
“I think one of the biggest ways the students use this in class is that it allows them to explore those careers,” said Griggs. “It lets them see ‘Ok, my math class now is a stepping stone if I want to be a programmer.'”
All five Madison County middle schools participated in the Hour of Code event, each receiving $1,000 from Time Warner Cable for doing so, with a total of 2,638 students taking part.
Emily Vickers, from left, a 7th-grader at Foley Middle School (Madison County) helps Brittany Freel, a 7th-grade math and social studies teacher, with coding a game during the Hour of Code.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7, 2016
Chris Begley, left, a 7th-grader at B. Michael Caudill Middle School (Madison County), teacher Ashlie Griggs, and Edgren Sweat make games during the Hour of Code.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7, 2016
A wall decoration in the Foley Middle School computer lab.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7, 2016
Aubrey Crabtree, left, a 7th-grader from Foley Middle School, and Maddey Stringfield react as Crabtree attempts to code a game.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7, 2016
Seventh-grader Hayden Henry makes a game during the Hour of Code.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7, 2016
Hayden Henry, a 7th-grader at Foley Middle School, gets a certificate of completion for taking part in the Hour of Code.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7 2016
Destiny Barrancotta, a 7th-grader at Foley Middle School, works on a coding game during the Hour of Code.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, Dec. 7, 2016
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