Reprinted from the PEG page, a programming education project promoted by CANVAS.

*********************************************

Programming Workshop with Children from Fukushima!
On August 19, about 20 elementary school students from Iitate Village and Minamisoma City in Fukushima Prefecture visited the offices of Salesforce.com, with whom we are collaborating on a STEM education project!

This event was co-hosted by Salesforce.com and the “Tsubomi Project” (*),
and CANVAS participated as a support partner for Hour of Code.
The children took part in Hour of Code as part of a simulated Salesforce job application process.

First, we get a feel for giving commands through “human programming”—without using tablets or other devices.
We ask two people to come to the front; one plays the role of the robot, and the other gives the commands.
The person giving commands issues instructions such as “move forward,” “turn right,” and “turn left” to
help the robot reach a specific location.
Although it seemed simple, the group realized firsthand that if commands were given too broadly—such as not specifying
how far to move forward—the robot might keep moving indefinitely or run into a chair in the room and get stuck. Everyone came to understand that giving
specific instructions is essential for guiding the robot to its
destination.

And then, it was finally time for our first Hour of Code session.
One by one, the students tried to see how far they could get within the time limit. Even without
us having to explain every step in detail, the children made steady progress as if they were playing a game.
It was a moment that reaffirmed my belief that Hour of Code is an excellent tool for self-directed learning.

Next up was the entrance exam!
However, this time it wasn’t a competition between individuals.
Under the rule that the entire group would pass as long as everyone in the group cleared a certain stage, we saw the
children helping each other—for example, those who finished first helping those who were still working on it.

And everyone passed successfully within the time limit.

When the exam ended
, to my surprise…
President Koide himself actually appeared on stage—
accompanied by the words, “Congratulations on joining Salesforce!”—and gave a talk.
He spoke about his own childhood,
the path that led him to his current job,
and what it means to work.
In particular,
“Have big dreams.
When you’re riding the Shinkansen, the small things
right in front of you pass by so quickly that you can’t really see them, but
you can see Mount Fuji clearly, right?
Even as
you go about your daily life, you’ll never lose sight of a big dream.
So please have big dreams.”
This message left a strong impression
, and the children listened intently.

At the end of the entrance exam, everyone was given an
“Hour of Code” sticker as proof that they had passed.
That was the extent of CANVAS’s participation, but
afterward, the participants split into groups—"Mountain," "Fruit," "City," and "Rice Fields"—and took part in a workshop where they created
blueprints incorporating regional characteristics, such as
Fukushima’s local specialties and industries thriving in Tokyo.

Some photos from the event have been posted on the "Tsubomi Project" Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/ROJE_edu/status/766446089805307904?lang=ja
https://twitter.com/ROJE_edu/status/766483905029427200?lang=ja

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝*What is the “Tsubomi Project”?
*
In Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, there are concerns that children may find it difficult to envision their future careers, partly because the employment rate among residents has declined due to the nuclear accident.The “Tsubomi Project” aims to support children in Iitate Village by inviting them to Tokyo to interact with college students and tour companies, thereby providing them with opportunities to think about their future careers.
http://kyouikusaikou.jp/activity/tsubomiproject/

Salesforce.com supports the “Tsubomi Project” and will invite approximately 20 elementary school students from Iitate Village who are participating in the project to visit the Salesforce.com Tokyo headquarters.As part of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education—an interdisciplinary approach to science and math education—we will hold a programming workshop for the children to provide them with an opportunity to explore how technology can be used to solve social issues.In addition, through interactions with employees and office tours, we will help the children envision themselves working in the future.