Middle school students invited to apply for 2-day coding camp at NCSC

Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal
·1 min read

Students entering grades 6 through 8 for the 2024-25 school year are invited to apply for a new Code a Carnival experience June 17-18 from 9 to 1 p.m.

Students will create their own arcade carnival game such as whac-a-mole over the two days using Microsoft’s MakeCode Arcade and a Micro:bit device.North Central State College and the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development are hosting the camp at the NCSC Kehoe Center, 175 Mansfield Ave, Shelby.

Students entering grades 6 through 8 for the 2024-2025 school year are invited to apply for new Code a Carnival experience on June 17 and 18 from 9 to 1 p.m. Students will create their own arcade carnival game at the North Central State College Kehoe Center in Shelby.
Students entering grades 6 through 8 for the 2024-2025 school year are invited to apply for new Code a Carnival experience on June 17 and 18 from 9 to 1 p.m. Students will create their own arcade carnival game at the North Central State College Kehoe Center in Shelby.

Crystal Dean, NCSC Testing Center specialist/tutor, will lead students through the skills-based activities.

“I am beyond excited to lead this coding class and work with our local area students,” Dean said. “For many students, learning basic coding can be an empowering experience that teaches a wide range of skills: creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, confidence and more.”

The Code a Carnival experience will help students explore coding and computer science as an interest and potential career pathway. Students will learn block-based coding, engineering and physical computing. Beginners to advanced coders will find activities at their skill level. Students will learn critical thinking, assessment and hands-on development of software applications.

Participation is free. Code a Carnival camp is funded by a Microsoft TechSpark grant, the North Central State College Foundation and the Mansfield-Richland Area Educational Foundation. Supplies, Micro:bit device, snacks and lunch will be provided each day. Students should have a Windows, MacOS or Chromebook laptop to participate. A limited number of loaner laptops will be available upon request.

Apply by May 7 at https://ncstatecollege.edu/summer-coding-camp. There are 30 seats available.

For information, contact Randy Blankenship, workforce development manager, at 419-755-4767 or by email at rblankenship@ncstatecollege.edu.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Code a Carnival June 17, 18 at NCSC Kehoe Center, Shelby, is free.