Past projects 4
Replacement Parts for Piper Kits
Funded May 2, 2017Thank you so much for funding our project! We are very excited to ensure that our scholars have enough materials to successfully build and code through their computers. We can't wait to have some future engineers and computer science majors thanks to you! Your work does not go unappreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Colonna
Computer Kits to Code the Future Part 2
Funded Sep 10, 2016Thank you so much for the extremely generous donation to our school's very first coding club! Across our small school, almost 100 students signed up to be placed in coding club, the largest of any club sign up by far. While our limited capacity meant we could only take 25 students, what really stands out is the spark ignited in each of those students. We've seen families go out into their communities and seek out more opportunities to get involved in computer science, and we've had parents ask for an expanded program next year. I am so grateful that this club has piqued an interest in STEM education, even if our club had limited capacity.
Moreover, the students within the program are bursting with excitement. When school was closed on Columbus Day (and thus coding club was canceled), children were begging to come to school for coding club. Students pass me in the hallway and ask, "When is our next coding club? Can we start building our computers yet?" When it's time to go home, students are hanging on to every last second of "build time" to see where their creations will take them.
So far, our club has only been in session for a few weeks. Students began by developing a Coding Dictionary, where they learned about each part of the computer and took notes on the parts' main functions. After studying each part, students opened their blueprints and began to build their computer. We gave them free reign (but had extra hands on deck!) to dissect and digest the blueprint on their own, matching pieces to pictures and connecting parts to build the foundation for their computers. They were even showing ME what to do when I was admittedly a little lost.
For many of these students, this is their first introduction to computer science. Modern education tends to encourage paper-and-pencil worksheets that prep for state tests, and the expenses of STEM education limit access for our low-income families. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has already changed their lives for the better and introduced them to a world unimaginable before. I can't wait to see where this takes them.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Colonna
Computer Kits to Code the Future Part 3
Funded Sep 11, 2016Thank you so much for the extremely generous donation to our school's very first coding club! Across our small school, almost 100 students signed up to be placed in coding club, the largest of any club sign up by far. While our limited capacity meant we could only take 25 students, what really stands out is the spark ignited in each of those students. We've seen families go out into their communities and seek out more opportunities to get involved in computer science, and we've had parents ask for an expanded program next year. I am so grateful that this club has piqued an interest in STEM education, even if our club had limited capacity.
Moreover, the students within the program are bursting with excitement. When school was closed on Columbus Day (and thus coding club was canceled), children were begging to come to school for coding club. Students pass me in the hallway and ask, "When is our next coding club? Can we start building our computers yet?" When it's time to go home, students are hanging on to every last second of "build time" to see where their creations will take them.
So far, our club has only been in session for a few weeks. Students began by developing a Coding Dictionary, where they learned about each part of the computer and took notes on the parts' main functions. After studying each part, students opened their blueprints and began to build their computer. We gave them free reign (but had extra hands on deck!) to dissect and digest the blueprint on their own, matching pieces to pictures and connecting parts to build the foundation for their computers. They were even showing ME what to do when I was admittedly a little lost.
For many of these students, this is their first introduction to computer science. Modern education tends to encourage paper-and-pencil worksheets that prep for state tests, and the expenses of STEM education limit access for our low-income families. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has already changed their lives for the better and introduced them to a world unimaginable before. I can't wait to see where this takes them.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Colonna
Computer Kits to Code the Future
Funded Jul 12, 2016Thank you so much for the extremely generous donation to our school's very first coding club! Across our small school, almost 100 students signed up to be placed in coding club, the largest of any club sign up by far. While our limited capacity meant we could only take 25 students, what really stands out is the spark ignited in each of those students. We've seen families go out into their communities and seek out more opportunities to get involved in computer science, and we've had parents ask for an expanded program next year. I am so grateful that this club has piqued an interest in STEM education, even if our club had limited capacity.
Moreover, the students within the program are bursting with excitement. When school was closed on Columbus Day (and thus coding club was canceled), children were begging to come to school for coding club. Students pass me in the hallway and ask, "When is our next coding club? Can we start building our computers yet?" When it's time to go home, students are hanging on to every last second of "build time" to see where their creations will take them.
So far, our club has only been in session for a few weeks. Students began by developing a Coding Dictionary, where they learned about each part of the computer and took notes on the parts' main functions. After studying each part, students opened their blueprints and began to build their computer. We gave them free reign (but had extra hands on deck!) to dissect and digest the blueprint on their own, matching pieces to pictures and connecting parts to build the foundation for their computers. They were even showing ME what to do when I was admittedly a little lost.
For many of these students, this is their first introduction to computer science. Modern education tends to encourage paper-and-pencil worksheets that prep for state tests, and the expenses of STEM education limit access for our low-income families. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has already changed their lives for the better and introduced them to a world unimaginable before. I can't wait to see where this takes them.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Colonna