In the last couple of years, I’ve been on the receiving end of a couple of queries from high school students that all boil down to “is there some way I can get involved this summer?”
Last year, I managed to work with two students on demos that our recruiters could use at career fairs, etc. The thought has occurred to have somebody this year work to help set up a high school robotics competition (which I have had in mind for a while, but never had a chance to implement).
To be fair, I have only had four such inquiries, but based on the metric standard ratio of asked to unasked questions, I’m going to assume those four questions represent 40 people out there somewhere who are actually interested. These have been students finishing grades 11 and 12, who are planning to study CS, and want some outlet for their interest before they show up as a first year student.
Can anybody picture a good way to set up something like a “bridging program” for such students? Imagine a half dozen grade 11/12 students who plan to study CS, can program in some minimal way, and want to (let’s say) volunteer a few weeks of their time to get some good CS experiences.
I feel like there’s a good idea in there somewhere, but I just can’t quite see it. Thoughts?
March 30th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Send them to me. I need lackies to help put together this years frosh week.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I think that a day or two day unconference with the intent of having students meet each other and talk about computer stuff, as well as brainstorm project and technology ideas would be cool. I’m imagining this happening in late june or early july – after school is out for the summer. And then, follow up the unconference 6 to 8 weeks later with a Basecamp like presentation day, where groups or individuals can pitch their ideas or projects, and show what they have done.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
That’s a really good idea Kerry. I like it, but who will put it together? I think it will be hard to leverage WICS for any more events than they are already doing.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Ooops, or CSSS, with Froshweek etc.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I like the idea of them helping with Frosh Week. Get them active in CSSS from the get-go. Call ’em ambassadors or something. It would take work from the CSSS though to mentor them sufficiently (the worst is if you take a keener and don’t have enough work for them).