Cracking the code

Walk into Room 152 at Pizitz Middle School and you’ll find a group of seventh- and eighth-graders huddled over glowing iPad screens. Ask them what they are doing and you’ll find they aren’t playing computer games. 

They’re building them.

The unique class, taught by Pizitz teacher Kathy Rogers and titled “Pirate Programming,” was inspired by an event held at Pizitz called Hour of Code, which is an opportunity for every student to try computer science for one hour. Children are able to learn the basic concepts of computer science through drag-and-drop programming. 

The Pirate Programming class meets in the school’s computer lab using desktop Macs four days a week. The students use the iPad lab and an  application called Hopscotch on Wednesdays in Rogers’ German classroom. During the class, students create projects that include animated greeting cards and simple games.

“It’s about creating storylines with texts, characters, emojis, etc.,” Rogers said. “These students feel a real sense of accomplishment and excitement with what they’ve created.”

Hopscotch is a program that allows students to make games, animations, stories and other interactive programs by dragging and dropping colorful blocks of code. Students use shaking, tilting or even their own voices at the iPad to control the characters. Rogers said the class teaches the students more than just computer skills. It also teaches them about collaboration as they are constantly interacting with the student next to them in an attempt to learn new things. The students create everything from mazes and 3D images to games with princesses, frogs and space aliens. They can make certain rules to get characters to perform certain actions.

“It’s about not being rushed. We are able to take our time and actually make what we want,” said one student in the class.

And the training doesn’t stop when the students leave Pizitz. Vestavia Hills High School students are taking a new course this year. Business and computer science teacher Pam Hickman said almost 50 students enrolled in the new Information Technology Fundamentals (ITF) course. In this course, students use Test Out simulation software to learn computer problem-solving skills that a computer technician would need to know in order to repair or upgrade a computer.  

“Employers are looking for people with programming and critical thinking skills,” Hickman said. “At the completion of the course, students may take the PC Pro certification exam to verify their computer problem-solving skills. These skills are good for any computer user to know, but these students want to further their knowledge in the IT field by enrolling in the upcoming Software Development and Java Programming courses.” 

Hickman said they expect to offer Software Development in 2015-16 and Java Programming in 2016-17.  Information Technology Fundamentals is offered every year. Students who have completed the Information Technology Fundamentals course have the opportunity to learn C++ computer programming in the Software Development course. 

“It is an exciting opportunity for students because they will use Robot C software to write programming code for VEX robots,” Hickman said. “The students will also use App Inventor 2 software to develop apps for android devices.”

Any student in grades 9-12 is eligible to enroll in the Information Technology Fundamentals course. Freshmen, sophomores and Pirate Programming students are encouraged to apply so they will have the opportunity to take all three courses during high school.  

Rogers sees her role as facilitating the learning process and says that she is excited to be learning about coding along with her Pirate Programmers.

 “I have to be humble enough as a teacher to not be afraid of them learning more than I know,” said Rogers. “It’s all about  trying something new. We are doing amazing things!” 

For more information on the Hour of Code, visit code.org. For more information on computer programming at Pizitz and VHHS, contact Pam Hickman at hickmanpt@vestavia.k12.al.us or Kathy Rogers at rogerskc@vestavia.k12.al.us.