A Makey Makey activity sits in the media center on March 15. Throughout the week of March 12-18, students were taught about various aspects of technology in the media center to honor Teen Tech Week. “We had two different Makey Makey workshops. Makey Makey is a circuit kit, and so (students) used that to play games and stuff to show how circuitry works,” library media specialist Lindy Weaver said. “I think we’re trying to do a really good job of helping teachers learn tools to help integrate things into their classroom that make it successful.” Photo by Johanna Hall.
By JOHANNA HALL – ODTV Executive Producer
The Clarke Central High School Media Center held Teen Tech Week from March 12-18.
Teen Tech Week is nationally recognized from March 5-11 each year. However, this is when the Clarke County School District held their Spring Break, so, the Clarke Central High School Media Center specialists decided to celebrate Teen Tech from March 12-18.
“The whole idea is that you celebrate anything that has to do with teenagers and technology, and especially how that happens in a library,” Media Center specialist Lindy Weaver said.
During the week, members of CCHS’ Tech Team have been presenting sessions on technology to various classes. On March 16, there was a Teen Tech showcase, where Teen Tech Team and robotics team members showcased their projects.
“I just think that it’s nice to be able to get outside of your element and we all know that anything that’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related, whether it’s directly related to your curriculum or not, helps students in any way. So I think it’s just fun to help students do something a little bit different,” Weaver said.
One of the classes held during the week was a computer science and programming lesson. The class, called “National Hour of Code”, was taught by University of Georgia systems administrator Jason Manous.
“(The students) were working on it. They had challenges and they were working through them and it seemed well-received,” Manous said. “(Knowing how to program) is important because we live in an increasingly software-driven world. When I was coming up, it was excusable to not know how a computer worked. Nowadays, you really ought to know, at least at the top level.”
Senior Timothy Tillman attended this coding lesson and enjoyed the experience.
“We were in there with our Chromebooks and this dude came in there and talked to us about coding. We practiced a little bit. We played this game called Minecraft and directed it, like the characters, where to go and everything,” Tillman said. “I kind of got an idea of what coding was because I never experienced it. It’s pretty cool.”
Along with coding, library specialists and tech team members have organized other activities for students such as building cardboards robotic arms, connecting circuits and learning more about technology through computers and iPads. On March 17, there is a Breakout EDU activity planned, as well.
“We all know that students use technology every day, I just think it’s important that we celebrate that and realize that not all technology is harmful,” Weaver said. “Adults always want to say, ‘Oh, kids and their phones’ and all of that, but technology can be really great as well and it offers a lot of opportunities for kids.”
