Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Thom Mason volunteers during the Hour of Code this morning at Aspen Eementary School as part of International Computer Science Education Week. Director Mason supervises third graders as they navigate a spherical robot through a maze, using programming they developed this week during Hour of Code. Each year, Hour of Code teaches K-12 students coding basics and broadens participation in the field of computer science. Director Mason is one of 60 Laboratory volunteers in 94 classrooms in 24 area schools. For Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 9-15, more than 128,511 Hour of Code events are taking place worldwide, with 195 in New Mexico alone. Learn more at hourofcode.com. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Aspen Elementary third grade teacher Rachel Bartram working with students this morning in the maker space at Aspen Elementary School. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

LAPS Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus watches students work on their coded travel plans. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

LANL Director Thom Mason observes students developing their codes. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Students are busy working out the code on their pad to navigate the maze. They use a circular protractor to get the angle of travel through the maze. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Aspen third graders watch as their spherical robots navigate the maze. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com