| | Published September 25th, 2024
| Moraga Library makes coding accessible to everyone
| | | Submitted by Brian Harrison |  | | In the picture: Sara Harrison, Brian Harrison, and Jayin Joshi Photo provided |
Moraga Library partnered with eSTEAM Computer Science Club to offer two weeks of free Scratch and Python coding workshops.
In the Scratch workshop, the class was divided into the beginner and advanced groups. Jayin Joshi, a tenth grader at Campolindo High School who taught the advanced level, introduced his students to different elements of game design while they worked on their own unique project throughout the week. "It was fun watching the kids make their projects and grow with new concepts," he reflected.
Brian Harrison, who is also a tenth grader at Campolindo, taught the Beginner Scratch class. He really enjoyed teaching and getting to know each of his students. "I'm very impressed at how quickly my students developed a strong understanding of the fundamentals of Scratch. I'm incredibly proud of them."?
Students worked on daily projects and a long-term project. Parents were invited to attend Show-And-Tell on the last day of the weeklong workshop and each student presented their long-term projects. One Scratch student told the volunteers excitedly, "I am so happy that I now have a coding family."
The Python workshop took place the week of July 1. Sara Harrison, an eighth grader from Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School who taught at the workshop and helped write the curriculum, said: "It was challenging to write the curriculum because we had to fit so many topics into a weeklong workshop but, in the end, it was so rewarding to see how much everyone got out of the workshop and enjoyed programming in Python!" Guy Sandler from Campolindo and Evie Napolitan from Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School also helped at the workshops as teaching assistants to provide more individual supports throughout the weeks.
Parents were truly impressed by the students' progress and creativity after watching the Show-And-Tell.? Moraga Library Branch Manager Rita Carrasco, who helped organize and support the workshop, was very pleased with the results. "I can't believe how well the kids learned to program!" she praised. On the last day of the workshops, each student was presented with a certificate and STEAM prizes donated by Sydney-Paige Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit who has served over a quarter million students since 2013 by collecting and distributing new school supplies, books, and toys so students can have the tools and confidence needed to learn and thrive.
eSTEAM Computer Science Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Moraga that has offered free summer coding workshops for underprivileged students in Contra Costa County since summer 2023.? eSTEAM Computer Science Club also offers free year-round American Computer Science League (ASCL) tutoring workshops and hosted local contests since 2021. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA