Menu
Accenture creates AI-inspired tutorial for annual ‘Hour of Code’

Accenture creates AI-inspired tutorial for annual ‘Hour of Code’

Pledges 10,000-plus hours to bring coding to students and spark interest in computer science

Accenture builds a coding tutorial that features a robot using artificial intelligence to explore a new planet.

Accenture builds a coding tutorial that features a robot using artificial intelligence to explore a new planet.

Accenture staff in New Zealand and across 54 countries have pledged to complete more than 10,000 Hours of Code and lead coding tutorial sessions during Computer Science Education Week, December 4 to 10, as part of its commitment to help students around the world build computer and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills.

 This year, Accenture is pledging more than 2,000 hours to lead or volunteer at local events in their communities, working with teachers and Code.org to help students learn coding and computer science skills.

This follows Accenture’s recently announced pledge of US$10 million to support initiatives to expand STEM and computer science education through Internet Association, a group that represents global internet companies on matters of public policy.

“Technology is creating jobs that didn’t even exist five years ago and learning to code can transform the trajectory of a student’s life and career,” says Paul Daugherty, Accenture’s chief technology & innovation officer and ‘chief coder.’

“As part of our commitment to working with Code.org to prepare young people for the digital economy, Accenture employees last year dedicated more than 10,000 hours to Hour of Code, inspiring more than 100,000 students around the world to learn basic coding skills,” says Daugherty, in a statement.

We are asking people to not only do an hour of code, but go beyond one hour and think about what they can do to ensure that computer science education continues for years to come.

Hadi Partovi, Code.org

“We’ve seen the impact that Code.org is having on students and this year we’re doing more to support that — more hours and more classroom sessions to spark an interest in working with the technologies of tomorrow.”

Hour of Code was launched in 2013 by Code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities

Accenture Technology says this year, it has created a coding tutorial that gives students a better understanding of artificial intelligence (AI).

Students will discover how various AI techniques can teach a robot to explore a new planet — including recognising animals and plants, understanding a new language, and conversing with inhabitants.   

In New Zealand, the Hour of Code activities will be held at the Te Papa in Wellington. 

A class from Paraparaumu School will explore the Hour of Code game as well as some of the technology in the space. There will be a hands-on training of coding applications, including the Hour of Code app, for teachers. The session will also include a short overview on the new digital technologies curriculum and computer science. On Saturday, families can go to any three stations at the Te Papa - one with the Hour of Code game, another with an easy-to-programme robot and the third one for coding their own memes.

“The Hour of Code campaign has already led to more than 450 million hours of code being completed– it’s mind-boggling. To date at least one out of every 10 students worldwide has participated in the Hour of Code program,” says Hadi Partovi, co-founder and CEO of Code.org. “This year, we are asking for people to not only do an hour of code, but go beyond one hour and think about what they can do to ensure that computer science education continues for years to come.”  

 Send news tips and comments to divina_paredes@idg.co.nz

Sign up for CIO newsletters for regular updates on CIO news, views and events.

Follow CIO New Zealand on Twitter:@cio_nz

Join us on Facebook.

Join the CIO New Zealand group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

Tags codingaccenturemillennialsAISTEMTe PapaHour of Codedigital skills

More about FacebookTechnologyTwitter

Show Comments