Cracking the code

This is the first part of a three-part series looking at the use of technology in area schools.

UNION - Ashley Moore lets her imagination run wild during a computer class at 

BCLUW Middle School in Union.

Moore designed a starfish with glasses playing volleyball as part of the class, which has eighth grade students using coding to design computer programs.

"I just like making my own thing," Moore said. "It's really cool."

The class is taught by Theresa Penick and it helps that the school has laptops for all students to utilize. Students at the school use a program called Scratch to design the projects.

Penick said one of the main things the students learn when doing these projects is logical thinking.

"They learn seeing that things have to work systematically in the correct order and the correct terms so it can actually run the program," Penick said.

Penick said more programs have come out in recent years that make it easier for students to learn coding methods.

"They are evolving into user-friendly programs that students can use to become familiar with coding," Penick said.

Each of the students made characters in a game or dialogue that corresponded with the school theme of Character Counts and displayed their project to the younger grades at BCLUW.

"Some of them really enjoy coding a lot," Penick said.

Eighth grader Alec Giesking, 13, said he enjoys programming so much he may look into it for his career in the future.

"I like being able to mess with it and make weird things," Giesking said.

BCLUW Superintendent Ben Petty has been an advocate of adding technology in the schools and has a son taking part in this coding class.

"I've had a chance to play the games that my son and others have created using Scratch, and think this type of programming is a good foundation for teaching students more about not just using technology, but to really get a better understanding for how computer software and programs are created," Petty said.

Petty has also promoted the learning of coding at GMG, where he also serves as superintendent.

"These activities help to develop those creativity and problem-solving skills that all students need, regardless of whether or not they decide to go into a career involving computer science," Petty said.