Computer science students teach code to area schoolchildren

Levi Letsche, Emily Pick and Rachel Volk, seniors at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, recently taught computer programming to second and third graders at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Elementary in Marcus, Iowa.

The students utilized Hour of Code, a 60-minute tutorial that attempts to demystify coding and broaden participation in the field of computer science. The goal of the event is to teach participants of all ages that computer science can be fun and creative, and is accessible to all students, regardless of background.

The students are enrolled in Computer Science I led by Dr. Sarah Huibregtse, assistant professor of computer science and department chair at Northwestern. In honor of Computer Science Education Week, which occurred Dec. 5–11, students enrolled in the course had the opportunity to teach an Hour of Code session as an alternate final exam option. Students were tasked with making all the arrangements and designing the lessons.

A video about the event is available on YouTube and can be viewed here.