COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — TECH CORPS’ mission is to share technological information with as many young kids as possible. More than 200 elementary and middle school students are participating in project-based camps this summer.
In collaboration with several organizations and non-profits throughout Columbus, the group has provided its “Techie Camp Program” to children from 3rd to 8th grade. Instructor Jessica Jones explained that the kids learn about everything from data analytics to programming, app development, and coding, all for free.
“I have a lot of friends who are coders for games and like banks, and a lot of the things that we do in this class, they also do,” Jones said.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, students’ reading and math scores still haven’t recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one reason why Jones feels it is imperative to start teaching this technology early.
“It’s really important for them to learn this because, when I went to college, I was one of the few people I knew who didn’t know what to get into or know what I wanted to do,” Jones said. “So, having experience in stuff like this is good for deciding what you want to do in college.”
Organizers want this program to prepare these kids for their future. As the summer camp Director, Ted Murdaugh, with the City of Refuge Goodlife Foundation noted, the economic foundation is based on education.
“The earlier we can start that process and plant these seeds in the minds of young people, the more successful and the better the outcomes are going to be, you know, as they matriculate through life,” Murdaugh said.
Throughout this process, many of the students, like Tyanne Morris, shared that her curiosity has deepened her engagement with the program.
“It’s fun that you can, like, make a game and stuff like that, but after you’re done coding, you can look at the game and say, wow, I made this,” Morris said. “You can be like, this game’s really fun and I’m so happy.”
The group hopes to scale up this program next year and offer it to more kids in the community. To see the story on NBC4, click here.
