Calgary students learn coding through Indigenous music

Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this issue, discover a program using music to teach coding, plus 9 other stories you may have missed. Have a great day. We'll see you again on Wednesday.

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Grade 9 students learn coding through Indigenous music

On Feb. 27, hundreds of Calgary students will visit the University of Calgary for Your Voice is Power, a workshop that teaches computer science and coding skills through Indigenous music.

The initiative, hosted by TakingITGlobal, in partnership with Amazon Future Engineer and Amazon Music, teaches computer science and coding skills to young people from diverse backgrounds.

Students will remix music using a free online code editor while engaging in discussions on the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis experience, led by Marika Schalla, an Indigenous educator, and Dakota Bear, whose music is featured in the Your Voice is Power curriculum and on the accompanying Amazon Music playlist.

“The Your Voice is Power curriculum development team was excited to collaborate on a learning experience that will inspire students to reflect on, and respond to, Indigenous and Canadian histories,” said Anishinaabe educator Christine M’lot, who led curriculum development on behalf of TakingITGlobal. “We’ve brought together the powerful music of First Nations artists while giving an opportunity to thousands of students to build their coding skills as they challenge themselves to submit their own original beats. We can’t wait to hear what they create!”

Participation isn’t limited to the Feb. 27 event. Your Voice is Power is an online program featuring eight modules that teach the basics of coding while engaging students in discussions on topics including residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. The program is available at no cost to teachers and students in Grades 7 through 12.

Students also have the opportunity to submit remixed songs and compete for a $5,000 scholarship. The deadline to participate is May 31, 2024.

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