National Coding Week: NHA Excel-erate Course Setting Scholars Up for Future Success

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Adapting to the evolving world of technology is paramount for scholars of all ages, and a new class at some National Heritage Academies’ (NHA) partner-schools is helping scholars add coding to their technology toolbelt. National Coding Week, which is commemorated this year from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20, emphasizes this education and exploration of coding computer programs.

The weeklong celebration of coding is just the beginning for scholars in this exciting new course called Tech Apps and Coding. As a part of NHA’s Excel-erate program, middle school scholars are getting a head start on learning how to code. Scholars are chosen for the course based on math scores and their desire to learn the behind-the-scenes of computer coding.

Rachel Licata teaches the course to about 40 scholars at Walton Charter Academy in Pontiac, Michigan. She said the program is going to give scholars a thorough education on the history of computers and the basics of how to write and implement code.

“We’re teaching them the foundational building blocks of coding,” Licata said, adding it also provides students a platform launching them into the future.

As the class progresses, scholars build on their knowledge. They start with basic activities like moving a turtle across their screen using corresponding buttons. Scholars will eventually go under the hood to learn and write the code that was making the turtle move. In Licata’s classroom, scholars will have a final project designing web pages through code.

This culmination of skills is giving scholars everything they need to step into high school coding with confidence. Licata said she is confident that Tech Apps and Coding is preparing her scholars for coding education down the line.

“When they leave us here in middle school, they’re going to be prepared with the tools to help them best succeed in high school,” Licata said.

Even if scholars don’t expand on their coding knowledge in high school or college, they should be prepared to reap the rewards of taking Tech Apps and Coding.

Alex Brown, an education technology specialist for NHA, said coding is a skill employers are searching for, and with how much technology is integrated into our lives, this comes as no surprise.

“If you look at what is out there in the job market, especially for when our scholars get to the job market, whether it’s business, or finance, or social media, you need to know the backend of coding,” Brown said. “Most jobs are now looking for people with some coding background. This knowledge will help you in almost any industry.”

It is clear the impact of these lessons will live on past National Coding Week. “This program is a gamechanger for our middle schoolers,” Licata said.

National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.

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SOURCE National Heritage Academies