Goshen College Group Scores Google Grant

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA women’s computer science group at Goshen College has received a grant from Google’s IgniteCS program. The Digital Eve group plans to use the $8,500 grant to develop and deliver a computer science outreach program in the area beginning this fall.
Digital Eve is led by Jeanette Shown, associate professor of computer science and information technology at Goshen College, and Meghan Gerke, junior information technology major. Goshen College says the program created by the grant will teach students in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties about computer science and programming.
"The idea is to spark more interest in computing and science," said Shown. "I believe Indiana is very behind when it comes to teaching computer programming to its students. In fact, we have a terrible brain-drain that doesn’t leave us much in Indiana to work with. One of our goals is to have more people who understand computers to do more computer programming and start companies. Our people are just as smart as anybody else’s."
Shown says participants in the program will learn to use and program single-board computers called Raspberry Pi computers, learn the programming language Python and then take part in the third portion, which Shown says may involved the video game Minecraft.
Goshen College students will be able to submit applications to help with the program. Since the grant is renewable, Shown says she plans to apply again next year if the program goes well.
You can learn more about Google’s IgniteCS program by clicking here.