Coding clubs give young Dallas-area students a head start on technology, life skills - Dallas News

Hemant is one of nearly 20 Barbara Bush Middle School students who participate in the school's Afterschool Coding Clubs for School Students (ACCESS) program. It was created by the University of Texas at Dallas Department of Computer Science and Technology as a way to introduce elementary and middle school students to the basics of computer programming. 

UT-Dallas assigns about 75 of its computer science students per semester to lead the clubs at 50 elementary and middle school across North Texas, including Barbara Bush in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD.

Deyonna Davis, a career and technology teacher at Barbara Bush and sponsor of the coding clubs, said she's seen a range of students join the clubs — from those who have the latest technology to some who may not even have internet access at home.

She said the coding clubs expose the children to new technology and helps bridge that gap.

"Everyone gets something out of this," Davis said."Students who don't have exposure to computers can be around computers while learning the basics, and those who do have that background knowledge can elevate the knowledge they already have."

'A very human experience'

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