"Now they have an idea of how it works, and they also get to be creative. That's one thing we're trying to get across, is that this involves more than just math and grunt work."
Middle school students who expressed interest in computer science spent the day gaining first-hand knowledge of the subject during Cyber Day at Francis Tuttle Technology Center.
Students from area middle schools visited the Francis Tuttle Rockwell Campus on Feb. 12-13 to participate in hands-on activities that taught them about coding and programming. They saw how computer science is used in automation and robotics, and the science behind the gadgets and programs they use regularly.
Francis Tuttle students in the Computer Science Academy showed middle schoolers how to complete the various tasks and projects. Brock Sanderson, a senior at Putnam City North High School, said the hands-on aspect gives them a unique experience.
“It makes a major difference,” he said. “They get to know what they’ll be working with, and if they like it, they’ll enroll in the academy.”
Sanderson’s station taught middle schoolers about robotics and how programming allows people to manually control them or automate their movements. They controlled robots to move and stack objects, while others had to navigate an obstacle course using a series of computer commands.
Another station taught students binary code by having them spell their names on a bracelet. Instructor Andy Harbert oversaw a station where students learned how programming is used to create social media photo filters.
“They’re just getting a sense of what you can do with it,” Harbert said. “Now they have an idea of how it works, and they also get to be creative. That’s one thing we’re trying to get across, is that this involves more than just math and grunt work.”
Harbert said he most enjoys watching his students share their knowledge with middle schoolers. And while it is a valuable tool for encouraging enrollment in the Computer Science Academy, it’s also a chance for Francis Tuttle students to develop their own presentation skills.
“Kids that sometimes barely say a word in class will blossom when they get the chance to help a younger kid,” he said.