Coding is one of those mystical computer words that conjures fear in the hearts of the technically challenged. But there are about three-and-a-half million reasons to learn coding, and Superintendent Doug White wants to make sure tri-town students get a piece of the pie.

“There are four million jobs in this particular area, and there’s under half a million people to fill them,” said White. “I’ve asked that administration in each of the buildings think about ways that kids can be exposed to coding.”

The first step was the Hour of Code, a week-long international initiative started by a nonprofit of the same name to get students and teachers engaged in coding. Championed by the likes of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, the Hour of Code gets students engaging with code through basic exercises.

“This is easy and user friendly,” says Old Rochester Regional High School Principal Michael Devoll. “There are so many possibilities behind the Hour of Code.”

Between Dec. 8 and 12, each student in the tri-town was expected to spend an hour coding. Students at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School also participated in coding exercises.

At the elementary level, games on code.org gave even kindergarteners the ability to write code using familiar games. One entry-level coding activity featured the popular Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies. After completing the initial 20 levels, students could go on to more complicated activities with Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen.”

“The intention is for this to be the hook to get them interested in how the things they’re using work,” said Mattapoisett Assistant Principal Kevin Tavares.

A former science instructor and fifth grade teacher in Mattapoisett elementary schools, Tavares returned to the classroom last week to introduce Center School students to coding. He wanted kids to understand the scope of coding.

“Coordinating traffic lights, microwaves, all of those things are programmed, so it goes beyond computer apps,” said Tavares.

Since each Mattapoisett student has an hour of computer instruction a week, Tavares said they will have many opportunities to code, and it is part of the curriculum for older elementary school students.

At Rochester Memorial School, library media specialist Sandi Sollauer introduced students to the concept of coding before the week began. Sollauer said that was a big help to getting students excited about the new territory.

Going forward, Sollauer will lead an after school group of students in more coding exercises and incorporate it into her library time.

"I don’t want to do this for just two weeks out of the school year and say that’s it," she said.

Librarian Jessica Barrett at Sippican School in Marion also reported a great week.

"The kids had so much fun with it. It was incredible to see the teamwork that went on," she said. "They were able to very succinctly explain to each other various challenges and how they had accomplished their goal."

A highlight for Barrett was seeing students excel who often have a difficult time with other schoolwork.

"This was a way for them to show their technology skills. It was great to see them step up and be confident," Barrett said.

At ORR, Coding is something several students began learning on their own.

Last year, senior John Hewitt started the Computer Engineering Club, bringing together a handful of technologically inclined and uninclined students to learn more about computers.

“We learned different coding software such as Python and Ruby (both coding languages.) It was a small club but it was fun,” said junior Sara Lafrance.

Although in Hewett’s absence the club disbanded, Lafrance said she still has a good foundation in coding.

“I miss the club, but it’s okay because I can do coding on my own now that I know how,” she said.

At the junior high, science teachers took their classes to the computer lab to practice code.

“We are hoping that this introductory activity begins to demystify the concept of writing code for computers,” said Principal Kevin Brogioli. “Those who have their interest sparked can continue on with more sophisticated coding games on the Hour of Code website. Eventually, I would expect to have coding offered as a class at the junior high school.”

At Old Colony, computer science students did some extra coding, creating light patterns that will be displayed on trees outside the capitol building in Washington D.C on the Made with Code site.

“Anybody can go on and there are some instructions and coding to decorate the light pattern of the tree,” said instructor Ryan Robidoux.

Coders get a day and time when they can go online and see one of the trees lit up with their design.

Robidoux’s students also taught their peers code, often without a computer at all.

“A lot of times people don’t understand how the computer actually works,” he said.

With unplugged activities, senior computer programming students showed their peers another way to view coding. One activity had students using three simple instructions (stand up, turn right, move forward) to get their teacher from point A to point B. Another activity was “programming” a teacher to line dance.

“They don’t get it right the first time,” said Robidoux.

The activity shows students that it’s OK to fail.

“We never make a program the first time working, ever,” said Robidoux. “We go back and fix it and try it again. It’s a mantra we should be championing in all our classes.”

Students have responded well to the activities.

“Nobody is sitting there moaning and groaning,” he said. “They’re all engaged. All very motivated.”

Anything that helps kids learn coding is a positive for Old Colony and students in the Old Rochester district.

“We’re really trying to upgrade how we’re using technology across the district,” said White.