Students at Patrick Elementary School will learn why coding a game they created is better than playing it on December 5 during their Hour of Code. As part of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ AI (Artificial Intelligence)-themed cluster, which started in 2022 with the opening of Seckinger High School, Patrick Elementary is teaming up with Accenture to give its students a real-world taste of coding with the support of 60 Accenture volunteers.  

Hour of Code is a worldwide effort founded by Code.org in 2012, designed to demystify “code” to show that anybody can learn computer science basics and broaden participation in the field. The program also encourages more students to consider careers in tech. Accenture has participated in the Hour of Code since its inception.  

AI is completely transforming the way the world works, and the pace of that change is accelerating, which means programs like GCPS’ are so crucial in growing the future workforce. According to Accenture’s most recent Pulse of Change survey of executives around the world: 

• 97% expect AI to be transformative for their organizations. 
• 65% are investing modestly in generative AI initiatives; almost all organizations (99%) plan to amplify their investments in AI more broadly in the next two years. 
• 32% of companies surveyed have seen challenges around finding the talent they need to work with AI, which means that the new approach from GCPS, designed to better prepare its students for future careers (many of which may not even exist yet!), will not only help better position these students for success but will help ensure companies have the talent they need to stay competitive. 

Event Details 

What: Hour of Code 

When: Tuesday, December 5, from 8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. 

Where: Patrick Elementary School, 2707 Kilgore Road, Buford, Ga., 30519 

Who: K-5th grade students and teachers, Accenture volunteers