Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) students and teachers are taking advantage of a new initiative provided through the Mission Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and approved by the Mission City Council. While the Code the Town initiative is primarily aimed at small businesses, the Mission EDC extended some of it to the school districts serving Mission. Mission CISD serves the largest portion of the city.
In offering services to the district students and teachers, Mission EDC enlisted the help of Sylvan Learning Centers and Border Kids Code. Strong interest from Mission CISD resulted in the district getting 57 of the 100 slots that were available for Code the Town. The program will serve elementary students in grades 3-5. All Mission CISD elementary schools will share equally in the available program slots given to the district.
For the participating students, they attend two weeks of after school lessons at the Mission Boys and Girls Club. Students work on projects that entail basic computer programming and basic coding. They also focus on problem solving skills and logic.
“We took full advantage of this opportunity for our younger students because it is aligned with much of what we are doing as a school district,” said Cris Valdez, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “The project is geared toward encouraging and igniting student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math or STEM. We have also been working toward expanding our STEM driven instruction into our elementary schools.”
Valdez also said the added benefit comes in the professional development opportunity for some of our junior high school and high school teachers. She says this will provide the participating teachers instructional tools for them to integrate into their classrooms and to build adult capacity by sharing with other teachers in their schools.
Mission EDC has indicated the professional development for teachers is designed to use a train the trainers model. Educators will engage in hands-on, collaborative activities that can be used in their classrooms as well as provide information on several web-based programs that teachers can use in their classroom lessons.
Valdez indicated the number of slots available for teachers may be limited, but through the train the trainer model, those who participate should be able to then share what they have learned with other teachers at their school and around the district.
“We have been focusing on developing student skills and interests so they are better prepared to compete in the 21st Century job or college climate,” said Valdez. “Programs like this become a true win-win situation since it benefits our students; and in the end, our local economy when the students are ready to enter the workforce.”
Mission EDC hopes to have students present their finished projects during Computer Science Education Week on December 8-14.
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