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Happy Computer Science Education Week

This year's Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) will be held from December 5th to the 11th to continue inspiring students who have a passion for computer science while also piquing the interest of new students. The first CSWdWeek was created by the Association for Computing Machinery (AMC) in 2009 to raise awareness for and familiarize younger generations with the importance of computing in all careers.

CSWdWeek was inspired by the American computer scientist, United States Navy rear admiral, and mathematician Grace Brewster Murray Hopper. She worked on the development of many successful programs such as Harvard Mark I, which was an automatic protocomputer during World War II that could perform long computations. She was a visionary who succeeded in male-dominated fields and opened many doors for women. CSEdWeek month and days were selected in honor of Hopper’s birthday, December 9th, 1906.

As technology advances, most jobs require some level of understanding of computer science, so the primary goal of this program is to familiarize the younger population with programming and coding from an early age. Now, thanks to CSEdWeeks bringing awareness to computer science, there are multiple programs available for high schoolers and middle schoolers that give students the opportunity to participate in computer competitions. Students can compete in computer science categories such as coding, video game design, website design and/or webmaster, and software development. It’s proven that students involved in these types of competitions and programs from an early age can improve teamwork and communication skills as well as become more mature and focused, which is an advantage when choosing college majors or starting career paths.

If interested in more details on computer science competitions, please visit:

  • CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Program;
  • American Computer Science League;
  • USA Computing Olympiad (USACO); and
  • Technology Student Association (TSA).

Happy Computer Science Education Week!

 

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • • 0 Comments

National Static Electricity Day

National Static Electricity Day is celebrated every year on January 9th.

Static electricity is defined by Library of Congress as “an imbalance between negative and positive charges in objects.” This type of reaction can occur to any of us because we can see, feel, and hear its reaction. Static electricity is harmless and can occur in more than just one form of static shock, such as rubbing a balloon against your clothes and sticking it on the walls or even on your hair to make your hair raise.

The first person to speak about static electricity was Thales of Miletus, a Greek philosopher, when he noticed dust was sticking to his ambers after he rubbed them; but it wasn’t until many years later that the term “electricity” was established, and that’s when humankind started to understand and research more about the concept of static electricity. Now, National Static Electricity Day is celebrated because it has become an essential aspect of and shaped our everyday lives in many positive ways. For example, thanks to static electricity and electric engineering developments, factories’ air pollution can be managed.

Here are some fun facts about static electricity:

  • Lightning is known to be a form of static electricity due to electric charge exchange between clouds;
  • Static electricity could be the future source to solve our energy problems; and
  • Photocopy machines use static electricity to place ink on paper.

If you want to learn more about science and static electricity, please visit: https://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html

 

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • • • 0 Comments

STEM Activities for Kids to Enjoy During Quarantine

For kids who hated to wake up and get ready for school, the recent stay-at-home orders likely seemed like a welcome break from the normal routine. But, even for the children who were not fans of the daily school routine, after being stuck at home for over a month, the novelty has likely long since worn off.

Not to worry, we have compiled a list of fun activities and websites that can help stave off boredom for at least the next few weeks.

  1. Dr. Kate Biberdorf (Kate the Chemist), on the Today website, offers up recommendations for two science experiments for kids, including the creation of homemade puffy slime.
  2. The Legends of Learning website is currently offering access to free math and science games.
  3. LiveScience.com has listed a roundup of activities and resources available to supplement home learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
  4. The James Dyson Foundation, an organization aimed at raising up and educating the next generation of engineers in the United Kingdom (UK), is offering 44 science challenges, available for download, on its website.
  5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has created a website that offers education for kids in the area of artificial intelligence (AI).
  6. Bonus for parents: Check out this article on what Google is doing to launch a new category of apps in the Google Play Store called, “Teacher Approved”. When you download any of these apps, which can be found within the Kids tabs in the Play Store, you can rest assured that these apps have been pre-approved by educators.

Being stuck at home does not have to be boring. It can be an opportunity for kids to engage in the kind of fun educational activities they would not otherwise have time for. And best of all, they get to enjoy these activities while spending quality time with you.