Computer science outreach day at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Building a burglar alarm may one day lead to a career in technology. That is the idea behind a four session workshop targeting young girls in the 4th through 6th grades.

Mindy Hart is the outreach coordinator for Purdue University computer science department.  Hart said programs workshops like this really helps to develop young girls interest technology.

"The formative years are between 4th and 8th grade. So anything that we can do to expose them to computer science at that age level is good. Especially in this case, the 4th through 6th grade range, with a parent involved also become very beneficial," said Hart. 

The program is not just limited to girls.  Many students are interested in a hands on approach to learning computer science and a rotating theme helps the lesson stick.

Jang Soo Lee participated in the workshop. He said, "In a classroom, sometimes I get bored, but here we do a lot of stuff and we interact with computers a lot."

Many of the kids and parents agree that a hands on approach helps spark the imagination better than a lecture series.

Jennifer Gray is the mother of two girls participating in the workshop. She said her girls already have an in interest in the science field.

"It's just developing it and continuing to put creative ideas in front of them," said Gray.  

A grant from the Motorola Foundation Innovation Generation allows each student to take home a robotics kit.