Students in Mrs. Samantha Bryant’s Computational Thinking class at the Laurel County Schools Center for Innovation are learning to write code to program Sphero robots for LED light variations.  “Our students are learning to write, deploy, and alternate codes to program the LED lighting within the Sphero robots,” said Bryant.  Students in the Computer Information Technology (CIT) program take classes in digital literacy, computational thinking, AP Computer Science, and computer programming to include languages such as Java, Python, and JavaScript.  “The students must develop an algorithm to create an expression via LED lights,” added Bryant.
“We are truly impressed by the talent demonstrated by the students and the utilization of advanced math skills and the digitization of program codes as elements of critical thinking and problem-solving,” remarked Dr. James M. Davis, Principal. Students can earn industry-recognized credentials as well as earn college credits in the program. “Our students become transition ready for college and careers in a higher wage, high demand career paths in computer sciences,” signaled Davis.

Titus Smith, Josh Collins, Emma Parman, Megan Smith, and Seth Perry used block coding to create a light matrix on their Sphero. Then they animated the matrix and used block coding to control the Sphero in a challenge down the hallway.