Nearly 30 Colorado Academy students in grades 1-5 took part in the winter 2014 Scratch Workshops, facilitated by Chris Myers of Myers Learning. Scratch is a free programming language developed at MIT that is fun, educational, and easy to learn. The idea is to introduce computer programming to students at a very young age. Each workshop had a simple structure, including demonstrations of animation, drag- and-drop, followed by students using their own creativity to roam in their programming projects. Each student can create innumerable animations, games, or art. There is no limit to what they can do, and if they have questions, they can ask an instructor or an Upper School student volunteer.
“Our hope is that the elementary school children carry on their love of computer science into high school and beyond. Generating early interest in computer science should increase the number of our students who enter the STEM fields with confidence and ease.”
Upper School students taking AP Computer Science with CA’s Kimberly Jans mentored the Lower School students. With the knowledge of computer programming and their love for teaching young children, the volunteers helped to pass along their passion for computers.
“The young students were very eager to learn, and they were excited about what they can create with computer knowledge,” says volunteer Christina Bear. “Our hope is that the elementary school children carry on their love of computer science into high school and beyond. Generating early interest in computer science should increase the number of our students who enter the STEM fields with confidence and ease,” she says.