In a society that is increasingly dependent on technology, jobs in software and computer engineering are in high demand. Christopher Anand, computing and software engineering associate professor at McMaster, is doing his part to inspire kids to pursue the many opportunities in this ever-growing field.
For the second year in a row, Anand is hosting a series of computer programming workshops at schools in Hamilton and Cambridge as part of Science Odyssey, Canada’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). From May 11 to 20, universities, museums, research centres, laboratories and classrooms are hosting 873 STEM events in 254 cities across the country.
This week, Anand, who has been promoting STEM among youth for the past 15 years, is connecting kids of all ages to work together to build reading games.
Students in grades 6 to 8 are creating animations of words using Elm, a programming language. Students in grades 11 and 12 will develop reading games incorporating the graphics and the games will given to students in kindergarten to grade 2.
“The high school students are taking what they have learned in math, physics and computer science and combining it with a good dose of imagination,” explains Anand. “The 6 to 8 students are learning basic coding skills and exercising mathematical knowledge and the K to 2 students are getting some awesome reading games from kids in their own school and community.”
“The regions creating the most wealth today are the regions attracting and retaining talented Computer Scientists and Software Engineers,” adds Anand “These workshops help to ensure more and more of these jobs will come to Ontario.”
