UW Leads Activities in Wyoming Schools During Computer Science Education Week

To commemorate this year’s Computer Science Education Week -- an annual call to action across the country to inspire K-12 students to learn more about the field of computer science -- the University of Wyoming led several coding activities in Wyoming schools the week of Dec. 4.

During the week, Cindy Jones, K-14 STEM Education Outreach Office program manager in the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and student ambassadors Gage Hepworth, of Laramie, and Benjamin Willis, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., visited schools throughout Wyoming. They talked with students about what computer science is and what computer scientists do, as well as led various coding activities.

Natrona Virtual Learning Academy and Southridge Elementary School in Casper and Farson-Eden Elementary School were among the schools visited. The team even hosted a Computer Science Education Family STEM Night at The Science Zone in Casper. Students who participated in the week of activities ranged in age from 4-8.

Coding activities included coding with Sphero indi, Sphero BOLT and Ozobot Evo, as well as coding without computers.

“Computer Science Education Week is an important outreach effort for this office,” Jones says. “Raising awareness about this field and facilitating these activities can equip students with a range of skills and knowledge that are relevant and valuable in our world today. This not only encourages students to seek out programs and careers in computer science, but also fosters a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability.”

According to Jones, Computer Science Education Week events hosted by UW would not be as successful as they are without the support of a UW Tier-1 Engineering Initiative one-time funding grant, which made it possible to purchase all of the robots and activities used throughout the week.

“I am very thankful to have been a recipient of this grant,” Jones says. “I also want to thank all of the schools and organizations that reached out to my office to invite us into their learning environments. This year, we reached almost 850 students across the state of Wyoming. We hope to double that number next year.”

For more information about the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences K-14 STEM Education Outreach Office, visit www.uwyo.edu/ceas/resources/outreach/.