Coding for Success: Web Development and Programming Collaboration

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Web Development and Programming at the Advanced Career Education (ACE) Center at Hermitage High School in Henrico County is a two-year program that focuses on the infusion of critical thinking, problem solving, logic, and collaboration within computer science. The curriculum requires an intensive hands-on approach to learning through guided and practical problems to build and hone inquiry skills. As computer science is the fabric of technological advancements today, it is imperative to teach students not only technical skills but also collaboration skills. Students are given a wide range of opportunities to work with other students from various backgrounds and to work remotely and with others using different curricula. Student collaboration ensures a classroom-learning environment equitable to the unique talents and strengths of each student. Website development for CodeRVA, a new computer-science themed high school, offered a project-based learning opportunity in 2016, for students enrolled in Hermitage’s Web Development and Programming. Students built a website as a communication tool to advertise and inform people about the innovative school. CodeRVA was established to meet the growing demand from Virginia businesses for people skilled and knowledgeable in computer science. Subsequently, this project required students to work collaboratively in teams using the Scrum Agile project management method to build the initial prototypes of the websites. These teams’ websites were then presented to the CodeRVA Admissions and Student Support Committee, which chose between the two prototypes. Based on committee feedback, one website prototype was selected and is being used for the school. Students who developed this site used the Bootstrap framework for design and responsive features and their curriculum knowledge to modify the layout, to organize the code, and to frame the information architecture.