Library’s Homework Center Offering Free Coding Club on Thursdays
The following article appeared on January 11, 2017 in Framingham Source:
"FRAMINGHAM – Last Thursday, about a half dozen elementary students began to learn how to code thanks to middle and high school students with the Framingham Public Library’s Homework Center.
The Homework Center is hosting the Coding Club for students in grades 2-5 on Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. at the main Framingham Library.
One of the founders of the Club is Framingham High junior Varun Tekur, who learned how to code in high school.
Tekur said coding “has helped me learn to create interesting projects and to improve my problem solving skills,” and it hopes to provide those skills to the members of the new Coding Club.
The Club is free and those interested in participating need to pre-register by emailing Homework Center Director Judy Gatlin at jgatlin@minlib.net.
“We thought that a coding club would be a great opportunity for elementary school students because the world around us is dominated by programmed technology,” said Tekur. “Although many students don’t realize this, its very important to know how much can be created using code. Also, the basic principles of coding can be taught to very young students, allowing these students to build upon their knowledge in middle and high school with more advanced programming.”
Tekur said “even if students don’t decide to pursue programming in high school, it is still an awesome experience for them to understand the inner workings of the technology around them.”
Tekur, who has been a member of the youth advisory board of the Framingham Homework Center said “coding also teacher people a different way of thinking which can help enhance their problem-solving skills.”
“Working with the students was a very fun and rewarding experience, and it was great to see the students work through problems and their excitement when they solved a problem,” said Tekur of the first session of the Coding Club.
Gatlin said the Thursday Coding Club can handle about a dozen students, and if the Coding Club proves to be more popular she will look at adding additional sessions beyond the Thursday at 4 p.m. one."
*The Homework Center was originally funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the first 18 months of the Program. Today the Homework Center is in its 6th year and is funded by FPL.