Year-long initiative begins to empower youth with digital skills using STEM

In a groundbreaking effort to boost digital literacy among students, SR1 has launched the C.O.O.L.™ Kids Learn to Code initiative, a year-long program that began in September 2024. This initiative will also offer weekend classes and summer programming in 2025, aiming to teach coding in an age-appropriate way. The focus is on enhancing critical thinking and preparing students for future careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

The program’s primary goal is to empower students through hands-on activities that teach coding concepts, while encouraging them to solve real-world problems. Using educational tools such as Scratch, Python and basic data science platforms, students of various age groups will build confidence in navigating technology and developing essential programming skills.

“It’s about more than just coding. It’s about showing these kids how technology can be used to solve problems,” said Vickie Liou, instructional designer at SR1. “We’re preparing them for a world where digital literacy is key to success.”

The program integrates fun and interactive coding sessions with lessons designed to foster collaboration and critical thinking. Students will tackle real-life challenges; using the coding skills, they will learn to address problems across subjects like math, science and literacy. This interdisciplinary approach is designed to help ensure that coding is not just a standalone skill, but rather an integral part of the students’ overall learning experience.

In tandem with the C.O.O.L.™ Kids Learn to Code initiative, SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy has launched a parallel program designed specifically for its youngest learners. The Code and Go Mouse Robot program, also led by Vickie Liou, introduces K-2 students to coding in a playful yet educational way, guiding a robot mouse to its cheese target while teaching foundational programming skills.

“It’s just a tool to help our students build both the hard and soft skills they need to succeed,” Liou explained. “By making learning fun and interactive, it motivates our students to explore programming, experiment and collaborate with their peers.”

The Code and Go Mouse Robot kit turns abstract coding concepts into concrete, hands-on learning experiences. Even simple tasks, like setting up programming challenges, become valuable moments of skill development. The curriculum also blends STEM with other subjects, allowing students to use the robot mouse to solve not just programming challenges, but also problems in math, literacy and science.

“I can’t wait to see how our scholars grow through this experience,” said Liou, expressing her excitement for the program’s long-term impact.

For more information visit www.SR1Tech.org or www.SR1CPSA.org.