A new club at Chapel Hill High School teaches students the basics of programming software through coding.
Coding, the backbone of every app, website and computer software, tells the program what to do when the user clicks or types. Programmers use coding and manually enter text and formulas to keep systems running smoothly.
“[The coding club] looks fantastic for college applications,” club advisor and Computer Technology Education teacher Garrison Reid said. “It is a great way to get involved with others who are interested in similar topics to you, as well as an academically-oriented club.”
“I would recommend that other students join this club because it is a great way to make new friends, study new topics, explore new career path ideas and have fun!” club president and sophomore Sydney Runkle said.
The club features a learning-focused environment for groups to work together on projects just as programmers would in the real world.
“We don’t meet that often. It’s not really going to affect your schedule, and you get to learn how to code and just have fun,” sophomore Graham Sawyer said.
Members meet the first and third Fridays of every month in room A-257 to participate in coding challenges, such as those offered by the global movement “The Hour of Code.”
The “Hour of Code” focuses on introducing students of all ages to the world of programming in order to “broaden the field of computer science” through the use of tutorials and games, according to its website.
The school’s Coding Club engages students in independent work projects involving programming, tutorials and code-based games.
Currently, the ten team members are deciding on a final group project while experimenting with individual programming to fit certain interests. Reid hopes to find guest speakers in the field to appear at future meetings.
“If you don’t know anything about [coding], you can learn. If you already know some programming, you can challenge yourself,” sophomore Max Miller said.
Reid encourages students who are apt in mathematics, gaming, problem solving or computers—or those who simply enjoy learning new trades—to join the club any time during the school year.
