The Creative Coast is proud to announce “Kodestars Arcade at Geekend,” a showcase of video games created by middle and high school students, online and at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street, Savannah, GA, Saturday, November 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The games will be available for the public to view and play free of charge.

Computer game programming has been touted as a way to engage kids in the kinds of thinking that will prepare them to be producers, not just users of technology.  The benefits of having students design their own games instead of being immersed in games as consumers has been noted by, among others, media literacy expert Renee Hobbs. “By becoming authors, game programmers, and designers, students deepen their awareness of the choices involved in the structure and function of technology tools themselves.” 

As a testament to the value of early tech education, it’s been noted that Twitter founder Jack Dorsey began programming in high school while Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg began programming while still in middle school.

The Kodestars Arcade at Geekend will highlight the best games submitted to the jury, with a variety of prizes awarded to the young game makers.  

Middle and high school students are encouraged to submit their video games for possible inclusion at Geekend.  Visit KODESTARS.com for more information, including links to some easy-to-use programs which will help them build their games.  The submission deadline is November 10.

“In Estonia, where I am from, the government has instituted a program where we start teaching kids to program in first grade,” says Katheriin Liibert, co-director of Geekend, “so I appreciate the importance of introducing kids to coding.”

"Creating games for KodeStars gives my students a goal to work towards,” says Juwan Platt from 21^stCentury Community Learning Centers, one of the institutions Geekend is working with for Kodestars. “The drive my students possess coupled with the programming skills they've developed makes for an effective combination of tools that they need to succeed throughout their academic and professional careers."

“Kodestars encourages kids to use their creativity through original content creation and experimentation with introductory programming tools,” said Yvonne Jouffrault, Creative Coast board member and one of the organizers of KODESTARS.

Geekend 2014 is the interactive conference bringing together the brightest geeks, designers, coders, artists, technologists, and forward-thinking entrepreneurs for a series of stimulating speakers, panels, workshops, networking, and amazing after parties November 13 – 15 throughout Savannah, Georgia.

Registration to Geekend is $225, including access to speakers and workshops, lunches and admission to all receptions.  For more information and registration, log onto www.geek-end.com.

The Creative Coast is thankful to City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs and AT&T for sponsoring Kodestars Arcade.