‘Star Wars’ Promotes K-12 Computer Science With Code Campaign

For the second year running, nonprofit organization Code.org is teaming with Disney to promote Hour of Code, an online initiative to increase participation in computer science from K-12 students around the world. This year, the event features some familiar faces from a galaxy far, far away.

Taking full advantage of promotion for next month’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code program allows participants to work with Rey and Princess Leia to guide BB-8 through a simple mission, and then build a game featuring C-3PO and R2-D2. The video launching the campaign features an introduction from Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

“Millions of us have been transported to a galaxy far, far away thanks to the creativity of the team behind Star Wars,” Code.org founder Hadi Partovi said in a statement promoting the launch of this year’s campaign. “Every one of us, especially young boys and girls, should also have the chance to learn how to power our own creativity with computer science.”

Last year’s Hour of Code campaign, which featured Frozen characters Anna and Elsa, was completed more than 13 million times, include President Obama joining in last December. More than 100 million students have participated in Hour of Code tutorials across 180 countries since the program’s creation.

More information about the Building A Galaxy With Code campaign can be found here.

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