Hempfield students have chance to make apps thanks to grants
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Hempfield area students can soon bring their app ideas to fruition, thanks to a new program offered at the middle schools.
App Creator by Project Lead the Way teaches eighth grade students how to design, code and program an application that is used on smartphones, aimed at solving real world problems.
“The app they create is supposed to be a problem solver, so that can be anything they choose really,” said Briana Flynn, a teacher at West Hempfield Middle School. “Anything related to education. It can be the health field, activities that they’re involved in …. So it will be interesting to see where their creativity leads them with that part.”
All three Hempfield Area middle schools — Harrold, Wendover and West Hempfield — received $30,000 grants per building for the program, according to Cheryl Goughneour, a computer literacy teacher. the money will be used for course training, new equipment like tablets, laptops and supplies and curriculum costs associated with the course.
Split over two school years, money will be used to integrate a Computer Science for Innovators and Makers program into the sixth grade curriculum during the 2020-21 school year. Further details have the program have not yet been discussed.
“The reaction from students has been incredible,” Goughneour said. “Each building had 50 to 60 students register for the new course. Many have come to me with their excitement about the new course.”