The Nashville Technology Council Foundation (NTCF) is partnering with Nashville-area public schools during the national Hour of Code on December 6, deploying local technology professionals into classrooms along with 80 Chromebooks recently donated to the NTCF lending library by emids, one of Nashville’s top three Healthcare IT firms. By coordinating the timing of the teaching, the NTCF will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of students learning to code at the same time.
The Hour of Code, which takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week, started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify computer programming, to show that anybody can learn the basics of coding, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. This year, the NTCF has organized and matched almost 80 local teachers and tech professionals to help guide students to code in the classroom.
“This is the dream—getting kids interested in and excited about computer science and coding at a younger age so that we can develop the talent for the world-class jobs and opportunities that exist right here in our community,” said Saurabh Sinha, CEO and co-founder of emids. “There is a great need for technology talent, and we are proud to partner with our local schools and NTCF to hopefully inspire the next generation of healthcare technologists.”
Coincidentally, emids announced the laptop donation (now part of the NTCF’s emids Technology Lending Library) on the same day that the current record for most number of students learning to code was set in Knoxville by 1,058 students from public and private schools in that area.
“Our goal is to engage students and teachers in ways that spark an interest in technology and instill problem solving and critical thinking,” explained Sandi Hoff, NTC’s Vice President of Technology Learning & Development. “Thanks to the support of emids, we’re helping to provide students access to these fun and educational tools with guided learning from teachers and community volunteers – and how great would it be to break a world record along the way!”
About emids
emids is a global provider of healthcare technology expertise, consulting and solutions that serve both payers and providers. Headquartered in Nashville with offices in Houston, London and Bangalore, India, emids helps bridge the critical gaps in accessible, affordable, high-quality healthcare with custom application and data solutions, including analytics, data integration and governance, software development and testing, and business intelligence. Visit emids.com.
About NTC
The Nashville Technology Council exists to be a catalyst for the growth and influence of Middle Tennessee’s technology industry. NTC’s vision is to establish Nashville as the nation’s creative tech destination by connecting, uniting, developing, and promoting our community. Founded in 1999, the NTC is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. More information can be found at TechnologyCouncil.com.