Exploring STEM Literacy Elective Course (2017 - present)
An elective course -- for high school or middle school students -- integrating math with computer science, as a foundation for further STEM learning. The course, which is taught by YPP instructors and/or Math Literacy Workers, integrates experiential-based learning about coding as it underlies digital technology with foundational middle school math concepts. The output of the course is a pop-up coding boot camp, where course participants design and implement activities for younger students. The boot camps introduce students to the above concepts with the larger goal of strengthening the pipeline of STEM learning.
Computational Thinking Labs (2019 - present)
Similar to the STEM elective described above, Computation Thinking Labs enable students to facilitate a Lab engaging younger school students in their communities. The labs focus on computational thinking, programming languages, Fermi Problems, utilizing data to tell stories, and learning how to plan and execute a successful workshop. They take place over a school break (1-2 weeks) or the summer vacation (6 weeks).
Coding Camps (2015 - present)
In April 2015, YPP Greater Boston piloted its first Coding Camp with 25 young people who learned to create websites. The project was a joint initiative of the Young People’s Project and Resilient Coders. Over the course of one week, students are taught by tech professionals, and coached along by their peers, as they spend a week building web- sites. During that time, they learn HTML/CSS, pick up Agile/Lean practices, and they meet local tech entrepreneurs and author. The first coding camp featured presentations by Vsnap CTO Chris Swenor, and Tim Wright, author and Tech Director of UX at Fresh Tilled Soil. On the last day, the coding camp participants present their work to their peers, parents, community members and the tech industry volunteers and their colleagues. Each presentation ends with a “Next Steps,” during which the student talk about what they want to do next with their websites.
National Science Foundation Award: "Bridging Math & Digital Media Literacy" (2009 - 2014)
From 2010 - 2014, with the support of the National Science Foundation-ITEST division (Award # 1031633), YPP created a pilot program called Bridging Math & Media Literacy (BMM). This project guided high school students through a mathematics-based, programming experience which prepared them to teach mathematics and programming to middle school students. Using a "drag and drop" programming language called “Scratch”, the participants explored mathematical concepts. Products of the project included two modules, the first using video games based on existing mathematics games and the second using simulations to explore social issues. The goals of the project were (1) to develop computational literacy as well as mathematical literacy and (2) encourage students to pursue STEM careers.
YPP SCRATCH Student Gallery - A sampling of projects created by YPP Math Literacy Workers