Code this: Griswold school receives computer science grant
The Iowa Governor’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council partnered with Code.org in its third, international challenge called the, “Hour of Code,” to award a combined $30,000 to six schools across the state, including the Griswold Community School District.
This partnership, referred to as “Code Iowa,” localizes Code.org’s effort to introduce 100 million students around the world to at least one hour of computer coding.
In Iowa, more than 800 schools and organizations amounting to thousands of students took part in the “Hour of Code” during Computer Science Education Week, which ended Dec. 13.
Each year, Code.org awards one school in each state with a $10,000 technology award based on its proposal that outlines how the school plans to implement an hour of computer coding into its curriculum this week for every grade level.
With the support of Google, the STEM Council partnered with Code.org to award $4,000 each to five more schools – one in each STEM region that did not win the Code.org award.
This year’s Code Iowa award recipient in the Southwest Iowa STEM Region is Griswold Community School District in Griswold. The award will be used to purchase new instructional technology.
Griswold Community School District had more than 360 students participate in the “Hour of Code” throughout the week at Elliott Elementary School, Griswold Middle School and Lewis Elementary School.
Established in July 2011 via Governor’s Executive Order, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa’s educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our state’s historic leadership position in education and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities.
The 47-member STEM Council is co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Kemin Industries President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.
Managed by Deb Frazee, the Southwest Iowa STEM Region operates from Southwestern Community College in Red Oak and is one of six Iowa STEM Regions guided by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and dedicated to building a strong STEM education foundation for all Iowans.