Looking ahead
Looking Ahead
CS4MS+ seeks to create a larger impact as it grows. Local schools are beginning to implement computer science clubs into their extracurricular repertoire, and the CS4MS+ team is excited to supplement them while they develop. This project views computer science education not only as a beneficial learning experience for students but also an opportunity for community engagement.
Community activities
CS4MS+ plans to develop and host events that community members can take part in, such as a coding summer camp. Students from local schools could join this interactive activity while taking the next step in furthering their computer science knowledge. This boot camp/workshop is in a similar vein to a hackathon but geared more towards curating skills in young students in a fun learning environment.
The first step towards creating such an event is hosting the first-ever CS4MS+ field trip on campus in the fall of 2021. The plan for the field trip is to offer a variety of activities modeled after resources provided by CS-Unplugged. CS-Unplugged compiles fun activities that young students can work together to perform in order to understand computer science concepts without the use of computers. Groups of students will circulate through stations led by CS4MS+ team members. To close, the students will gather to listen to an interactive presentation about the benefits of computer science knowledge.
Community partners
The CS4MS+ project started by working with local schools. While we plan to continue those relationships, we are also interested in partnering with other community organizations and non-profits. If you are part of such a group and want to include computer science and proplem solving activities in your programming, please contact us. We will be glad to explore the possibility with you.
The future of the CS4MS+ team
While the project has mostly consisted of students within the computer science major or minor, CS4MS+ hopes to expand its team's skillset in the future. The project is open to all majors, and would gladly accept education majors as part of the team! Students with minimal or no programming knowledge would be surprised to know how much they can contribute and learn.
CS 341: Computer Science Community & School Outreach
Starting in with the fall 2021 semester, the CS4MS+ project has an official course number in the CS curriculum, rather than using the CS 499: Independent Study course as it has previously. This will allow learners to see it listed in the course catelog and drectly sign up for the course, rather than needing to seek permission.
"I enjoyed being able to assist in helping students find their passion in computer science, being able to teach students computer science concepts in a fun way was very enjoyable to me." ~Participating student