Last week Springfi eld public school students took part in “The Hour of Code,” a 60-minute program designed as an introduction to developing computer skills. Described as an attempt to “demystify code and show that anyone can learn the basics,” it is a self-paced program that does not require any prior coding knowledge on the part of student participants. According to a press release, the program gives students a chance to “engage in higher-level thinking and problem-solving while learning the basics of computer science and coding.” The event, which reached students in over 30 classrooms in 17 schools across District 186, was administered by the district’s instructional technology department. “The Hour of Code” is part of a worldwide effort, reaching millions of students in over 180 countries, with 41,375 events scheduled across the United States this year.