November 30, 2017

Elementary students to engage in computer code activities at SVSU

Friday, Dec. 1,9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

SVSU computer labs and Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum

Saginaw Valley State University faculty and students will engage about 100 elementary school students in learning computer programming.

As part of the globally-observed Hour of Code initiative - aimed at increasing interest as well as diversity in computer science - fourth graders will participate in computer code-related activities Friday, Dec. 1 on SVSU's campus.

Two classes of students from Big Rock Elementary in Chesaning and Martin G. Atkins Elementary from the Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District will participate.

George Corser, SVSU assistant professor of computer science and information systems, and SVSU computer science and information systems students will guide the elementary school students through the process of writing a computer program using programming language. Those sessions will take place in the Doan Science East building (rooms SE 136 and SE 145).

In addition to writing code, students from the participating schools will tour the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum at SVSU. At the museum, students also will craft necklaces using beads that spell out the participant's name in computer code language.

The Hour of Code event is a global movement that reaches students in over 180 countries. Friday's event will mark the third consecutive year SVSU has participated in Hour of Code activities.