Computing Adventures @ VSU 2011

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s Department of Math and Computer Science is introducing area students to the basics of computer science during the first week of Computing Adventures @ VSU 2011.

Camp began Monday with the first of four week-long sessions to be held within the next month. The first session includes 24 middle school students from Lowndes County and surrounding counties.

“The campers have been building Lego robots and programming them to do different things,” said Dr. Krishnendu Roy, a professor in the Department of Math and Computer Science. “They will also create small games and animations on the computer using a program called Scratch.”

The first session will conclude Friday with presentations from the campers.

“The second session begins next Monday and includes the first set of high school students,” Roy said. “The high school campers will build robots as well, and will also develop applications for the Android mobile phone.”

The Department of Math and Science organized its first Computing Adventures @ VSU last year. Roy said that the camp is expected to help students become familiar with the principles of computer science.

“The students use computers and learn about different sciences in school, but they do not learn about computer science. The main goal is to acquaint them with computer science in a creative and fun way.”

Other coordinators for the camp include Stacy Mills, math professor, Deborah Stone, student assistant, and Alexandra Wang, Lowndes High School student.

There is still space for five more students for the high school sessions. For more information, visit www.valdosta.edu/computingcamp/ .