Breaking Code at Wilton Library

For a fourth year, Wilton Library will join Code.org’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiative, Computer Science Education Week, when it hosts Breaking Code on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Computer Science Week is an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take an interest in computer science. Breaking Code participants will join millions of students and teachers in more than 180 countries participating in an Hour of Code as part of this year’s Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 5-11. The goal is to “introduce people to coding” and “show them what’s behind video games and websites,” said Mary Anne Franco, Wilton Library’s assistant director of technology and training. “I think that we have to face the fact that computer science is not going away and that it is a lot easier to learn and to do in this day and age than it was 20 to 30 years ago,” she said. “Just being exposed to how these things work when we download apps and play video games — and seeing that it’s really not that hard to learn — can open up new careers to younger and older people.” Plus, Franco said, learning something new is “always a good thing.” Despite a snowstorm, Franco said, Wilton Library’s first-ever Breaking Code session drew 99 people, and has since drawn up to 125 annually. On Dec. 6, the library will offer four one-hour sessions for 6-year-olds to adults in the Brubeck Room: 1 to 2 p.m. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. 4 to 5 p.m. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants will work on a package that has to do with dragons, which, Franco said, “makes it fun for young people and not intimidating for older people.” A short introduction to the online class will be given at the start of each one-hour coding session, after which attendees will use either their own devices or one of the computers set up by the library to move the dragon through a series of steps. Participants work at their own pace, said Franco, but there’s also a lot of collaboration. Franco said she looks forward to what she calls “‘ah-ha’ moments” — “when someone tries to do something and it works.” “They smile and get excited, and they share with other people,” she said. “That’s when it becomes a true community experience.” Registration is required and 20 computers will be available at each session on a first-come, first-served basis. Information and registration: www.wiltonlibrary.org, 203-762-3950.

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