WESTFIELD–Kids these days–they’re learning computer programming earlier and earlier.
The Westfield High School Computer Club provided Children’s Corner preschool students with the computer programming Fisher-Price toy called the Code-a-Pillar, along with instruction on how to use it. The toy helps to teach children how computer programming works, and was purchased with money the club gathered from a fundraising event this year.
Students play with the Code-a-Pillar given to them from the Westfield High School computer club (photo provided by Karen Whitaker)
The preschool, which is partially staffed by high school students who operate as teachers, worked with the computer club to create a lesson plan for the device. The hope is to increase interest in computer sciences.
“We were discussing one day how not enough students are taking computer sciences in school–particularly not enough girls–and they wanted to do something and this is what is what they came up with,” Karen Whitaker, advisor for the computer club and technology teacher at Westfield High School, said.
The Code-a-Pillar is an interactive toy that allows children to control it through the assembly of its various parts. The toy is made to move around on the ground and each segment has its own action that tells the system what to do. These actions may be turning, moving forward, light activation or sound-making.
The toy is a tool that can be used to teach children early in their lives how computer programming works. The operation and functionality of the device was taught to the preschool children by the students and their teachers.
Whitaker said that hopefully this is not the only piece of technology the computer club purchases this year. Currently they have plans for another in-school fundraiser, which they hope will provide them with enough money to purchase a $400 humanoid robot that club members can program.
