Disney Cast Members Help with Hour of Code in Central Florida

Disney Cast Members Help Inspire Central Florida Children’s Interests in Computer Science with Hour of Code events

Disney VoluntEARS recently helped crack the code to inspiring and enabling the next generation of storytellers and creators of movies, video games, websites and apps by using an interactive online tutorial.

To mark Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 5-11), VoluntEARS from Walt Disney World Resort hosted Hour of Code events using the new “Moana: Wayfinding with Code” tutorial, which features characters from the Disney animated feature film, “Moana.” Taking a page from the title character’s adventurous spirit, nearly 200 members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida went on their own journeys to learn basic coding principles.

“The students of today are the computer scientists, engineers and web designers of tomorrow, and because of activities like the Disney Hour of Code tutorial, our club members are having a world of future possibilities opened to them,” said Gary Cain, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

In addition to introducing Central Florida children to coding, the “Moana: Wayfinding with Code” tutorial is available to invigorate young minds globally in 23 languages online at www.Disney.com/HourofCode. In addition to the tutorial, educators and organizers of Hour of Code events will find a downloadable digital toolkit in Spanish or English that includes how to organize an Hour of Code, a workshop guide, completion certificate, offline activities and shareable badge. Organizers can register a Disney Hour of Code event at www.HourofCode.com/Disney.

“We hope to spark the curiosity and imagination of kids,” said Ivan Diaz, director of training and processes at Walt Disney World Resort. “Through the Moana online tutorial, it is possible that the next generation of technology professionals will be inspired in our community, as well as in other communities around the world.”

Over the past two years, almost 40 million students have tried a Disney Hour of Code tutorial, featuring characters from Disney’s “Frozen” and from “Star Wars” created by Disney in partnership with Code.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to computer science education. Since it was founded in 2013, Code.org has brought computer science to children around the world, and the Disney tutorials have inspired kids to try coding.

Maria H. (ndm#130)

A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.

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