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| Nipmuc students preparing for their trip to Cambridge. |
For the past few days students in schools across
the country have been celebrating Computer Science Education Week, recognizing
the growing importance of computer science in our schools. While over 90% of
American schools do not teach computer science, Nipmuc has placed a growing
emphasis on coding. Last year we introduced AP Computer Science, and this year
all sophomores are getting a taste of CS as part of the Fundamentals of
Mathematics course. We're excited that our computer science programming will
continue to grow next year.
In addition to celebrating "Hour of
Code" (an opportunity for people to be introduced to coding through an
hour-long intro activity - see video below), on Monday Nipmuc sent 45 female
students to Harvard University to learn about coding. A follow-up to last
year's TechGirlz workshop which brought five Harvard undergraduates to Nipmuc
to work with our students, this visit to Harvard's campus was aimed at
introducing and exciting our girls about the potential of studying computer
science.
As part of the day our students were able to
participate in workshops run by Harvard students, visit a computer science
fair, have lunch on campus, and hear a lecture from a Harvard professor. Nipmuc
Regional was the only high school that was offered this opportunity. It was a
great experience from a partnership that we would be thrilled to continue in
the future.
Included below are some questions and answers from
four Nipmuc students - Ciara Larence, Jillian Penfield, Elizabeth Leblanc, and
Emily O'Connell - who were part of the larger group of 45. Enjoy!
Q: Where did your interest in computer science come
from?
Ciara Larence:
A: My interest in computer science began back
in middle school. I took a computer lab class, and when we worked on websites I
realized that I was pretty good at it and really enjoyed doing it. However,
this was not the only reason that I started taking computer science. I have
always been interested in the 'behind the scenes' of computers and technology,
and really wanted to learn how things work. By taking the APCS class, I have
realized that my interest in computer science has increased because it has made
me realize how computers work and how little things written in code can change
everything.
Elizabeth Leblanc:
A: Honestly, my interest in computer science came
from this trip to Harvard. I had done minimal computer science work in
fundamentals but this trip really sparked my interest in computer science and
showed me that I could eventually see myself in a computer science career.
Emily O’Connell:
A: When I saw Web Design as a class option for my
senior year I thought that it could be an interesting opportunity. Being able
to create something that didn't exist before you coded it: I found that concept
fascinating and really exciting.
Q: What was the most important part of the day for
you?
Jillian Penfield:
A: The most important part of the day for me was
definitely the CS50 Fair. There were students everywhere with their final
projects willing to speak to us about them. There was everything from Apps to
Google Chrome extensions, and robots to Software. Most of these students
weren't even majoring in Computer Science and found out that they really loved
it. It was so inspiring to hear all of these students' stories. It reminded me
that maybe someday I could be standing in their position, just finishing my
app/software/etc. It helped to remind me how much I love computer science
and how many routes you can go with it.
Q: What was your greatest take-away from the day?
Ciara Larence:
A: My greatest take-away from the day was the fact
that most of the students taking the CS50 class had never done any computer
science before. I was blown away by the fact that they were able to create a
range of things, all in a short period of time. I think that it made me realize
that once you really devote yourself to something, you can achieve anything.
Some of the students had learned many different languages, and it was all
just for the fun of it since they were majoring in something completely
unrelated to computer science. This made me realize that sometimes you should
do things that you enjoy, just to learn it for the fun of it.
Elizabeth Leblanc:
A: I took away an increased knowledge of computer
science. I realized that computer science isn't just a career for people who
like to be alone on the computer. Computer science involves collaboration and a
problem-solving thinking style that greatly appeals to me.
Jillian Penfield:
A: Seeing all the different things that can
be done with computer science in the CS50 fair. I can confidently say that I
plan to take at least one computer science course in college.
Q: What connection can you make between your
current coursework and the Harvard trip?
Emily O’Connell:
A: I can incorporate some of the
simple JavaScript coding I learned at the Harvard workshop into creating my
final website for my Web Design class.
Jillian Penfield:
A: At the Harvard trip I learned that code
can be translated easily between different languages. You see in English it
would be difficult to translate to Chinese or French. In Computer Science there
are different languages such as Java, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and more. Yes,
they all have different commands and are different coding-wise, however logic-wise
they are the same. Once you "code" your brain to think like a
computer scientist, you can easily translate code between languages. It really
shows that with computer science, you don't have to just choose one certain
aspect. If you decide you want to make websites with HTML, and then change your
mind to software with Java, it is okay. It shows that computer science as a
major has so many options and really allows students to experiment with what
they like and dislike.
Check out the video below to learn more
about Hour of Code.
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