Computer Science Department Educates Local Youth

Computer science was the focus across Wyoming in December and the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) at the University of Wyoming was a critical program partner in the effort.

The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) designated Dec. 3-7 as “Wyoming Computer Science Week” throughout the state. The CEAS participated in the activities by sending a team of undergraduate volunteers to engage elementary-school students with hands-on activities in their classroom.

The student volunteers included Computer Science students Rafer Cooley, Shaya Wolf, Jake Centner, Andey Tuttle and Jason Fantl. Cooley, Wolf, Tuttle and Fantl all are researchers in UW's Cybersecurity Education and Research (CEDAR) center, which exists to provide centralized resources and communication to university, government, community, and industry partners in all aspects relating to cybersecurity.

The group led “plugged” and “unplugged” activities, and the students implemented activities that UW School of Teacher Education Associate Professor Andrea Burrows and Computer Science Assistant Professor Mike Borowczak developed together in summer 2018 for UW's GenCyber Camp.

CEAS Outreach Coordinator Teddi Freedman says the group engaged about 200 students over the course of the week. The schools involved in the event included Prairie Wind Elementary School in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Beitel Elementary School in Laramie, Wyo.

CEAS Computer Science Week schedule
Dec. 3 - Prairie Wind Elementary School – Second grade | Beitel Elementary School – Kindergarten, fifth grade
Dec. 5 - Beitel Elementary School – First grade, fourth grade
Dec. 6 - Beitel Elementary School – Family Code Night
Dec. 7 - Beitel Elementary School – First grade


Robotics Competition
Members of the CEAS Outreach Team will participate in the Rocky Mountain BEST Robotics Competition on Dec. 8-9. The competition, which takes place in Denver, aims to inspire middle- and high-school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The CEAS is a sponsor of the event.