Joining the global movement to introduce students of all ages to computer science, the Academy for Science and Design hosted its third Hour of Code event in conjunction with an all-day STEM fair Wednesday.

The fair, known as the SPARK conference, introduces students to topics and careers in science, technology, engineering and math, ASD Director Jennifer Cava said. The STEM-based public charter school has students in grades 6-12, and periodically hosts SPARK days with rotating faculty and student-led activities in the arts and sciences.

"Thanks to some hard work on the part of ASD computer science teacher Madge Smith and some of her students, we were able to participate today in the Hour of Code, a nationwide initiative to expose students to the world of computer programming," Cava said.

"We got right on the bandwagon," Smith said. ASD has participated in the Hour of Code since the global initiative, hosted by Code.org, kicked off three years ago. "They’re trying to demystify computer science for students," she said.

While the STEM-focused learning at the school has introduced many students to computer science already, Smith said it’s still new to some.

"Some students have never been exposed to it, and with these tutorials, they pick it up really quickly," she said.

Smith said the Hour of Code also specifically encourages women to learn code.

Senior Jack Michaud signed up to teach a session of coding to middle school students, and said he found the tutorials helpful. "It’s a great way to start coding," he said, adding that the beginning tutorials use "drag and drop" blocks of code to build a program, instead of writing code out freehand. "A big problem with learning to code is syntax, and the drag and drop gets around that," he said.

Rebecca LaCourse, ASD engineering and technology teacher, had a room full of sixth-and seventh-graders taking part in the program Wednesday.

"First they have to get the hang of it, but then they’re excited because the programs are ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Frozen,’?" LaCourse said. Students typically chose the coding games based on theme, she said.

Sixth grader Ian Stewart used the "Star Wars" tutorial to populate the screen with a sea of stormtroopers against a lone R2D2 unit. Ian played the game easily and said he has coded before.

"I’ve been in the FIRST LEGO League and I coded then," he said.

Brin Harper, a junior, led an Hour of Code workshop for her younger peers.

"I think it’s really positive for kids to be introduced at a young age and, in a way, that let’s them be creative," Harper said.

She said she first started writing code with FIRST Robotics last year and has continued learning code through her Javascript class.

"There are not a lot of females involved in computer science. I was the only female on the robotics section of the (FIRST) team. That was difficult because I felt it was harder to get my ideas heard at first. But it was valuable because it taught me to speak up for myself," Harper said.

Hour of Code tutorials can be accessed throughout the year. See the website for more information,
hourofcode.com.

Aside from the Hour of Code, Wednesday’s SPARK day had events such as arm knitting, fencing and jewelry making along with introduction to the ham radio and a DJ workshop, hosted by Michaud.

One workshop, "Tech Meets Art – Interactive Sculpture," kicked off a long-running collaborative art installation project that will eventually lead to a piece of art going into the school itself.

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-6402, tforbes@nashuatelegraph. com or @Telegraph_TinaF.

Newsletter