Using a program created by Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Google, Wenatchee High School students had an opportunity to learn about how popular devices, such as iPhones and Androids, are coded and did some coding themselves during the Hour of Code from Dec. 9-13.

Students in various business classes, such as BCA 1, BCA 2, Intro to Computer Science, AP Computer Science, and Applied Math, got a chance to code in class. There was also an after-school opportunity from 3-4 p.m. hosted in room 401 with business teacher Scott Feil. Coding is creating characters to do small tasks by putting commands into the device. This is the first year of the program, and Feil expects it to continue.

Freshman Reno Franklin came in after school one day to try it out. He practices coding at home, coding characters to get to a goal, or achieve small, simple tasks. One example was setting up a game where you move a bird to a pig by writing in commands for it.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cryptographer, it fascinates me,” Franklin said. “[I] really enjoyed [coding].”

Zuckerberg, Gates, and Google were some of the minds involved in the creation of the program, which was put together five months ago, according to Feil. Students took tutorials on writing codes for iPhones, Android devices, Windows programs, and games and practiced on Windows phones donated by Microsoft. Feil estimated that 90-100 kids were getting this education in various business classes and about five students were coming in after school.

“[Coding] is a great opportunity,” Feil said. “[There are jobs] in every industry needing coding.”

Feil said he was offered the opportunity to teach the course through his membership for code.org, which is trying to get as many schools as possible to teach the program. However, few schools have it available as an option.