Toms River students prep for digital futures

Playing an online game is easy. Writing it is another story completely. During Computer Science Education Week, students in the Toms River Regional District are honing their skills as producers through the global Hour of Code initiative.

The activities, spanning several days, are part of almost 200,00 similar events taking place globally, aimed at enhancing in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills and creating a path to high-paying careers in computer-related industries.

Coding is the term used to describe writing software lines that infuse everything from microprocessor-driven toys to cell phones and laptops.

"This initiative isn't as much about learning complex programming languages, as much as developing a way of thinking," said Assistant Superintendent Marc Natnagara. "Students who learn to code apply trial and error, inductive reasoning, and providing evidence to solve problems...from animating cartoon avatars to programming two-foot-tall robots."

District officials say they've invested $4.5 million in the past four years on technology infrastructure, devices and wireless access for education. Teachers have learned Goggle classroom, virtual field trips, online assessments, and markerspace creation.

The district is also one of 34 in the state Department of Education's InnovateNJ initiative, partnered with Jersey City's A. Harry Moore school to connect shore students with their urban peers who have multiple handicaps.

All grades, K through 12, are gaining experience. Elementary students engage in a "Simon-Says"-styled exercise that invokes the linear instructions of a program, then write the code to produce a PB&J sandwich. A teacher follows the steps as written, the way a computer would - and success, of course, is determined by whether it turns out to be a sandwich.

Secondary-level students move Star Wars characters through various environments in a drag-and-drop program, and pair off in Minecraft-based activities.

High schoolers learn how programming and coding skills are applied in all their subjects, and how to harness them for real-world futures.

Tiffany Lucey, Supervisor of Educational Technology, coordinated the activities. "Our teachers have embraced algorithmic thinking, helping students plan ahead and doing advanced mental exercises," she said, "like imaginging how two-dimensional figures move in 3D space."

"I have seen children with disabilities who rarely smile, shout out their enthusiasm when faced with graphical coding challenges on an interactive smart-table on loan from Teq,"she continued, referring to a valuable digital teacher resource.

On the horizon for the district is NJ Makers Day in March, featuring manufacturers and producers from around the Garden State and encouraging hands-on learning.

"These events," said Natanagara, "and the October Jersey Shore Makerfest, highlight the kind of instruction that integrates STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math] across all subject areas, as the high schools prepare for the potential implementation of specialized academies in 2017."