This Year’s Programs Involves Students in the Art of Computer Science – Posted 7/10/14
A group of about 15 students from Dover High School opted to spend part of their summer exercising their minds, developing some computer science skills and learning about college as participants in this year’s Summer Academy at County College of Morris (CCM).
Now in its 22nd year, the Summer Academy provides Dover High School students with a one-week opportunity to sharpen their science, math and technology skills and start planning for college. This year’s program on the “Art of Computer Science” ran from July 7 – 11.
“It’s a really good experience for someone my age,” said Lenin Agustin, 15. “Not a lot of people think about college at my age. The thing that motivates me is that I want to make a good living.”
Each year’s program focuses on a different aspect of math, science and technology. This year’s academy provided participants with the opportunity to learn basic computer coding and develop their own projects. In one session, students used Scratch from the MIT Media Lab to create stories, games and animations. Among the things developed by the students were a digital soccer field, a circus and animations involving names and animals.
In addition to honing their technical skills, students learned about the college application process, financial aid and the importance of budgeting and saving.
Funded by Alcoa, this year’s Summer Academy also included a fun-packed day at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Photo: Lenin Agustin, a participant in CCM’s Summer Academy, learns computer coding as he works on developing an animation.
Credit: Rick Burchfield