Building the future: EPHS students teach fifth graders about computer science

Imagine a classroom where puzzles unlock the secrets of technology and handmade bracelets tell digital stories. This vision came to life when Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) students from the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) partnered with Prairie View fifth graders for a day of hands-on exploration and discovery on December 16!

Through three interactive activities, fifth graders got a glimpse into the world of computer science:

• Parity Bits: With a clever card trick, students learned how computers check for errors in data by exploring patterns and metadata, understanding how these techniques help maintain data accuracy.
• Robot Maze: By writing algorithms to guide a paper robot through a maze, students practiced breaking down problems into steps and creating repeatable solutions, which are key skills in computational thinking.
• Binary Bracelets: Using beads in Eden Prairie’s school colors, students encoded their own initials into binary, gaining a deeper understanding of how computers store and share information.

CSHS is an extracurricular club that encourages students’ enthusiasm for computer science, honors academic excellence, and promotes service. Each student who volunteered has taken one or more computer science classes.

“Learning computer science is not typing alone on a computer; it’s a collaborative process that requires creativity and thinking abstractly to solve real-world problems,” said EPHS math and computer science teacher Jessica Brent, who advises CSHS. “Computer Science in the Schools is about the joy of discovering, learning new things, and creating something together.” 

This collaboration between fifth graders and high schoolers has taken place for over 10 years, giving the younger students a chance to hone their problem-solving and logical reasoning skills while high schoolers strengthen their leadership and ability to explain complex topics.  Thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Education, the district is expanding K-12 computer science opportunities like these to prepare each student for life and career in an increasingly tech-driven world. 

“Career projections by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently identifies the technology sector as jobs in the greatest demand, but AI and computer science has a large impact on every industry,” said Brent. “Learning how computers work and how to use technology in sophisticated and ethically responsible ways will be important for any career.” 

Technology-focused Discovery Groups in elementary school give students early exposure to engineering and computer science, which they can then explore in Design, Model & Make and Coding & Robotics courses at Central Middle School. Students interested in computer science have many opportunities to pursue their interests at EPHS in courses like Computer Science Principles, Cybersecurity, AP Computer Science (Java or Principles) and the iOS Mobile App Development Capstone.

“Our school district is on the cutting edge of technology education by giving students multiple opportunities through their K12 experience to learn coding, to play with the principles behind computer technology, and to use design thinking to solve problems,” said Brent.