Really exciting news from Lucasfilm this morning! Today, Code.org unveiled a Star Wars-themed computer science tutorial featuring Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2—as well as Rey and BB-8 from the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Learning to code with our favorite Star Wars characters as guides? Yes, please. The online lesson kicks off the third-annual global Hour of Code campaign, in honor of Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13, 2015.

Students will learn to write code that allows them to create games using Star Wars characters. They can join forces with Rey to guide BB-8 through a space mission, then team up with Princess Leia to build their own game featuring R2-D2 or C-3PO. Students will also be able to play their completed games on smartphones and share them with friends and family through a unique link. How cool is that? Answer: Really, really cool.

Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, says of Hour of Code, “For generations, Star Wars has sparked kids’ curiosity and imagination, and we hope the appeal of characters like Princess Leia and Rey will help fuel greater participation in science and math, especially among girls, around the world. Computer science has helped shape our legacy and changed the way movies are made, which is why programs like the Hour of Code are so important to us.”

In addition to the lesson, role models and technologists including Kennedy, Rachel Rose, a Senior R&D engineer working on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Charita Carter, Senior Creative Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, have provided short video lectures to help students through the one-hour activity.

What an awesome way for kids (and maybe us kids at heart) to learn a worthwhile skill, while flexing their imaginations. May the Force be with them all, and we can’t wait to see what they make!

Posted 5 years Ago