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2014 Hour of Code: Do Ends Justify Disney Product Placement Means?
theodp writes "The purpose of product placement/product integration/branded entertainment," explains Disney in a job posting, "is to give a brand exposure outside of their traditional media buy." So, one imagines the folks in Disney Marketing must be thrilled that Disney Frozen princesses Anna and Elsa will be featured in the 'signature tutorial' for CSEdWeek's 2014 Hour of Code, which aims to introduce CS to 100 million schoolkids — including a sizable captive audience — in the weeks before Christmas. "Thanks to Disney Interactive," announced Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi, "Code.org's signature tutorial for the 2014 Hour of Code features Disney Infinity versions of Disney's 'Frozen' heroines Anna and Elsa!." Partovi adds, "The girl-power theme of the tutorial is a continuation of our efforts to expand diversity in computer science and broaden female participation in the field, starting with younger students." In the tutorial, reports the LA Times, "students will learn to write code to help Anna and Elsa draw snowflakes and snowmen, and perform magical 'ice craft.' Disney is also donating $100,000 to support Code.org's efforts to bring computer science education to after-school programs nationwide."
Oh yeah, gripe about product placement all over SlashDice.com...
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
I'm doing accounting and I've got a similar question but it's about how much their markup is.
But my calculator just keeps saying "E".
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
students will learn to write code to help Anna and Elsa draw snowflakes and snowmen, and perform magical 'ice craft.'
Do you want to draw a snowman? ...
No-not with paper and pen,
Take this keyboard and type in these words,
like all these nerds,
and you will see that then
SYNTAX ERROR
Or how about some 'ice craft'.
We can make things appear on this screen...
Hmm, I guess that's cool.
Elsa: I have colored pencils, paper, and some stencils.
Anna: That sounds like a much better way to draw a snowman, let's do that instead. And, I have some cloth, sticks, and lights to make us actual, physical wands to play with!
Elsa: That's awesome!
Anna: I'm so glad I have you as a sister.
Elsa: You're the best.
The End.
It's reprehensible that they leverage this incredibly popular brand to teach girls to code when they could be using it to sell Happy Meals and next year's landfill fodder. Shame, shame!
You're missing the point: Disney is exploiting the incredible popularity of Hour of Code among young girls in order to boost their poorly-performing movie.
That might be shameful if it weren't so completely ludicrous.
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Not if the Disney princesses have all graduated from the Barbie school of management.
I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.