Dec 09, 2013 02:10 PM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Mark Zukerberg, not the most well rounded of individuals during his portrayal in "The Social Network," and one of his favorite hobbies, writing code, are the subject of a national campaign to build awareness of computer science and encourage people to take a more active role in technology.

"Don't just play on your phone, program it," President Obama said in the event's promotional video.

The "Hour of Code" (Dec. 9 - Dec. 15) as it is called by campaign founder, Code.org, is backed by Obama, House Majority Republican Leader Eric Cantor, and a host of celebrities (at least according to the video at the end of this article) including Zuckerberg, Warren Sapp, Bill Gates, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Steve Jobbs-wannabe Ashton Kutcher, and more.

Participants ranging from NBA basketball players like Chris Bosh ("understand that language that's going to be the future") to high school kids to elementary school children are encouraged to spend one hour learning code, which could potentially lead to further hours and at the least, should help build awareness of a subject schools have been de-emphasizing since 2003-2004.

"Only 5 percent of U.S. schools teach computer science today, and that number is down from where it was 10 years ago," Code.org co-founder Ali Partovi said. "In the vast majority of U.S. states computer science does not count toward graduation. It counts as an elective."

Interested parties won't have to sign up for a computer science class or hire an outside tutor; they'll only have to log on to code.org, where over two million people have completed hour long, interactive programs (and quite easy to follow) covering the basics of code such as "writing your first computer program," "an introduction to java script," "my robotic friends," "build your own game," and more, according to code.org.

Participants can also get their hour attending one of Apple's or Microsoft's events held every day this week, Cnet reported.

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