Troy Middle School Students Expand Coding Skills With Celebrities

Photos: Troy Middle School students expand on computer coding skills online with celebrities during their school’s virtual learning months.

_____________________

At-home learning during the coronavirus school building closures has presented a great opportunity for virtual learning in Debra Benson’s 7th grade Consumer Technology students.

Although they have other assignments in her class and in their other classes, Benson also gave them the voluntary opportunity to participate in an online program called, “Code Break,” sponsored by code.org, a not-for-profit organization that developed the program they hope to be the largest live interactive classroom, with weekly challenges to engage students.

“I thought it was good for them to be able to take a break from their other studies and have some fun with it,” she said.

Benson said Code Break presented her students with the opportunity to expand their coding proficiencies with help from celebrities in the coding world, as well as well-known actors.

Mark Cuban, one of the investors on the ABC show, “Shark Tank,” and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was one of the first presenters. Benson said Cuban is also a computer programmer.

“He really understands code,” she said, “and talked to the students about how he uses computer science in basketball.”

Actor and author Hill Harper showed students how to code their own algorithms; model and software developer Lindsey Scott spoke about prototypes; former National Security Agency cybersecurity expert Mia Gil Epner spoke about encryption and explained the importance of a strong password; and co-founder of Instagram, Mike Krieger, spoke about images and pixels, resolution and density, and binary and hexadecimal systems.

And every session gave Benson’s students the opportunity to code for practical uses. The presenters walk them through it online, then the students can continue the coding on their own. Benson makes herself available in several different ways to check on their progress and help them when need be.

She said about 30 of her students have been participating each week and are enjoying the challenge. And so is she.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s really been informative for me, too. I’m learning a lot, right along with the kids.”

Troy Middle School is a Troy Community School District 30-C school.