New CS Journeys program helps students explore CS beyond the classroom

Bring learning to life with virtual field trips, class chats, and other resources.

To help bring computer science to life for students of all ages, Code.org is proud to announce CS Journeys, a program designed for students to explore how computer science impacts their world and envision their own future possibilities.

The most impactful learning often happens beyond the classroom lesson, perhaps during a memorable field trip or from a visiting speaker. Connecting what students are learning in the classroom to the real world not only enables them to better understand and recall concepts, but also excites and inspires them to continue learning.

The CS Journeys program is designed around three primary objectives:

• excite and inspire students to learn CS,
• encourage students to continue learning by engaging parents and diverse role models,
• and eventually, empower students to take control of their CS journeys with a variety of resources.

CS Journeys extends what students learn in their classroom computer science curriculum to uncover CS in unexpected places, fueling curiosity and imagination. The program offers a variety of learning opportunities from our partners, including unique virtual field trips from partners like NASA, Amazon Future Engineer, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences as well as live class chats with professionals — from companies like Roblox, Lucasfilm, Google, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art — whose jobs are touched by CS in a wide range of ways.

Resources for teachers and experiences for students of all ages

In addition to live experiences, CS Journeys provides teachers with a collection of resources for students of all ages to help them imagine a journey pursuing CS, from the youngest K-5 students, to older teens who are starting to think about college and beyond. And because parent/guardian encouragement is is so important to student success, resources are available to teachers to keep parents engaged in their children’s CS journeys.

For older students, CS Journeys also serves as a hub for resources and information that they can explore on their own. A curated suite of internships, online courses, mentorships, after-school opportunities, and scholarships are available to students exploring what’s next for them.

Finally, we encourage teachers and parents to share the resources with their students and sign up for the virtual Next Steps Discussions series designed in partnership with CareerVillage.org to demystify ‘next steps’ in high school students’ computer science journeys.

We hope these unique experiences will help excite, encourage, and empower students to continue their CS journey, both in the classroom and beyond.

-Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer, Code.org