Tech Center teens introduce elementary students to the growing field of computer science
MUSKEGON: Our world is surrounded by technology. Information, commerce, communication, and entertainment all rely on computers. Only a tiny fraction of us learn computer science, the basics of how computers work, or how to create software, apps, or web sites. To celebrate Computer Science Education Week (Dec 8-14), students from the Internet, Network & Security Technologies (INST) program at the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center (MACTC) joined a massive campaign to prepare our population for the 21st century.
The Hour of Code, a global campaign reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries, has an audacious goal: to introduce 10 million students to one hour of computer science. To help support that effort, INST students worked alongside students from Lakeside Elementary, Oakridge Lower Elementary, Orchard View Elementary, and Shoreline Elementary to assist them with a variety of hour-long self-guided activities to help students experience the basics of computer science.
“Our first visit to an area school to assist with the Hour of Code was a big success. The teacher at Oakridge Lower Elementary and the student, Hunter Crampton, had a great experience,” shared INST instructor Susan Rhem-Westhoff.
Other classmates involved from the INST program included Orchard View High School students Austin Anderson, Mercedes Bueche, and Dakota Sibley who assisted students at Orchard View Elementary; Trevor Hackney (Whitehall) and Tony Polidori (Whitehall) who worked with students at Shoreline Elementary in Whitehall; and Muskegon High School students, Christian Richards, Ka’Marius Matthews, and Antonio Mercedes-Perez from Mona Shores High School, who volunteered at Lakeside Elementary in Muskegon.
This is the third year INST students have participated in the international event. In addition to assisting with Hour of Code activities at local elementary schools, INST students took part in a variety of hour-long tutorials provided by Computer Science Education Week for the event.
Curious about the field of computer science? Try one of the one-hour tutorials designed for all ages in over 45 languages for the Hour of Code.
INST students Ka’Marius Matthews (Muskegon) and Christian Richards (Muskegon) guide Lakeside Elementary students through one of several online tutorials available as part of Hour of Code.
Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code, seen here at Lakeside Elementary, is one of several one-hour online tutorials available to students participating in Hour of Code events.