Hammond students learn importance of computer science
Source: Jacob Yothment
Armando Mendoza, left, coaches students in computer skills during Hammond High School's Hour of Code session.
As part of its Computer Science Education Week, Hammond High School hosted the second annual Hour of Code and Makerspace Student Conference for Hammond schools last week.
Participating schools included Kenwood, Columbia, Lew Wallace, Maywood, Lafayette and Washington Irving elementaries and Henry W. Eggers Middle School. Between 15 and 20 students from each school attended the event.
Johnny Goodlow, Hammond High School principal, said he hoped the event would get more students interested in computer science and computer science jobs.
“There is a shortage nationwide of minority students and female students being involved in computer science,” Goodlow said. “We all know that science and math is in high demand, so this is a great opportunity for students to get that kind of exposure.”
Last year, Hammond High School teachers contacted Kenwood Elementaryl to come to event for the Hour of Code, so called because students learn about computer coding.
After attending, a group of teachers from Hammond High School went to the Indiana Connected Educators Conference in Noblesville, Ind., they were inspired to extend the event to rest of the Hammond High School feeder schools, according to David Borsists, media specialist for Hammond High School and one of the organizers of the event.
“We’ve made a big push these last two years to work with the other Hammond schools,” Borsits said. “We want to utilize the community and those resources.”
Borsits said teachers plan to do the event again next year, and that other schools in the area are invited to come as well. Dameca Harrison, principal of Maywood Elementary School, said that she plans to bring her students again next year.
“We will definitely do this again,” Harrison said. “My students, even my pre-k’s, are interested in computer science.”
At the event, students went to different activities to learn about different areas in computer science. Linda Quintanilla, AP computer science teacher at Hammond High School, had students learn problem-solving skills in coding through games involving “Star Wars,” Minecraft and “Frozen.”
Quintanilla had several Hammond High School students from her class, including Kieerra Dyson, senior at Hammond High School, help teach the students.
“Pretty soon, technology will be such a big part of life that everyone will need to know how to code,” Dyson said.
Josh Craig, digital design teacher at Hammond High School, taught students basic engineering. Students at his activity made a “mustache machine.” The machine students’ respective principal with a large mustache on their face, and a crank that would make the mustache wobble.
Aaron Kollins, math teacher, made an interface with various switches. Students were able to play with the interface and make it do different commands. His event was to teach a simple form of coding called “drag and drop coding.”
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