Aug. 17-19: Boeing Computer Programming Camp for middle-school students

By Brandon Chapman, College of Education

Rachel Wong
Wong

PULLMAN, Wash. – A free computer programming camp for middle-schoolers, designed to help promote the students’ logical thinking and problem-solving skills. is being spearheaded by Rachel Wong, a College of Education doctoral student.

Hosting and coordinating the program, Wong is working with the college’s educational psychology program, as well as the computer science program in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.

“With the increasing use of technology within the classroom, I think it’s important that children understand how these things work, and become familiar with them,” Wong said. “They have long-term academic benefits for students, and can be applied in different fields.”

Programming is used to create software and tell the computer how to do certain things. Students will learn how to plan, test, debug a program.

The program will run 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 17-19, on the Pullman campus, with food and drinks provided all three days. Anyone interested in registering or more information should contact Wong, rachel.wong@wsu.edu.

Wong is not an expert in programming, but computer science doctoral candidate Chris Cain is, and he will be overseeing the course instruction.

The two students, along with associate professor Sola Adesope, spent part of the summer solidifying the curriculum.

A big component of the camp is a research element that Wong is helping with.

“Since we’re saying that programming helps children’s logical thinking skills and learning performance, I think it’s important to examine this further and see whether there will be noticeable changes even after just three days of programming instruction,” Wong said.

Adesope is the primary investigator on the research. He was recently recognized as a Boeing distinguished professor of STEM education, and is doing the research through that.

 

Contact:

Rachel Wong, 509-335-8439, rachel.wong@wsu.edu