"Hello everyone,
I recently came across an enlightening post in the Diversity Blogs titled 'The Seth Bonder Initiative for a Diverse and Inclusive K-12
Seth Bonder Camp
| Ai4opt |
remove preview |
|
| Seth Bonder Camp |
| The Seth Bonder Summer Camp in Computational and Data Science (SBC) has been successfully delivered over ten times in the past five years, benefiting hundreds of students. In 2022, a five-year plan was initiated to significantly increase the program's impact by expanding the training from hundreds of students to longitudinal education for thousands or even tens of thousands of high school students through multiple long-term partnerships and flipped classes. |
| View this on Ai4opt > |
|
|
This blog spotlights the Seth Bonder Summer Camp (SBSC) in Computational and Data Science for Engineering. The program is designed for high school students, primarily those who have limited exposure to computer science or data science during their educational journey. Remarkably, this camp has attracted a diverse array of participants, including minorities, women, and students with learning disabilities. The curriculum offers a gentle introduction to computational and data science using compelling applications in various fields.
One aspect of the blog that resonated with me was the emphasis on introducing students to computational science early on. In my personal journey, I was unaware of the vast potentials of computational science until late into my academic years. Being introduced to such knowledge earlier would have indeed been a game-changer.
However, where my experience diverges from the blog's narrative is in the method of instruction. While the SBSC employs tools like Karel the Robot and the visual programming language Snap!, my introduction was through traditional, textbook-based learning which, at times, felt detached from real-world applications.
With the overarching goal of the SBSC to amplify the representation of African-Americans and Hispanics in data science, it's encouraging to see initiatives focusing on inclusive education. But it also brings to mind a thought: How important is the medium or tool of instruction in influencing interest? Can changing the method of instruction alone foster a deeper love for a subject?
Looking forward to hearing your experiences and views on this!
Best regards,
Shiv
------------------------------
Shiv Goel
UC Davis
San francisco CA
------------------------------