Close-up of a microchip

© Bobkov Evgeniy/Shutterstoc

Let’s crack the ‘code’

If you’ve ever been the least bit curious about how computers work, this week is for you. School pupils and adults alike are invited to set aside 60 minutes to try out one of the many Hour of Code tutorials, offered in 45 languages, for a brief introduction to coding. The idea began in the US, where 9 December marks the start of Computer Science Education Week, but has spread to more than 180 countries including the UK where there are more than 1,000 events registered for 2019.

The idea is to inspire people to take an interest in computer science and to level the playing field in an industry that can seem intimidating to some. Organisers believe that every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science, as it nurtures creativity and encourages problem solving. We agree. And we highly recommend the Minecraft tutorials as a starting place. Happy coding!