IMACS Offers South Florida Kids Complimentary Computer Programming Classes for an Hour Of Code™

PLANTATION, Fla. - Nov. 29, 2016 - PRLog -- The Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS) is celebrating Computer Science Education Week, December 5-11, by inviting South Florida students to an Hour Of Code^™.

The Hour of Code^™ is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. It was initially created in 2013 as part of Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), an annual program dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science. Learn more at https://csedweek.org.

Hour Of Code^™at IMACS uses the center's advanced yet engaging Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics curriculum.

·       During the Computer Programming portion, students learn to write computer programs using a graphics-based programming language developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

·       In the Virtual Robotics portion of the program, students utilize a toolbox of wheels, gears and sensors to build and program robots. The robots themselves operate in a virtual world that mirrors the real world, complete with friction and laws governing momentum and energy.

IMACS President Terry Kaufman explains that, while being exposed to a particular programming language is useful, the real value of the IMACS program is that students learn to think with mathematical precision. "Programming languages go in and out of style, but computational thinking skills are applicable to every language." said Kaufman. "Although this is called 'Hour Of Code,' at IMACS we go way beyond coding."

According to Kaufman, there is a lot of research that shows if kids aren't excited about STEM by middle school, they tend not to pursue these subjects when they get to high school and college. "Exposing kids to computer science and computational thinking when they are young is critical," he said. "Giving kids a positive experience in this area only benefits them long term."

Long-time IMACS student, Azzara Nincevic, developed a great interest in programming through IMACS' Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics classes. She went on to complete IMACS' University-Level Computer Science track and score a 5 on the AP® Computer Science exam as a seventh grader. "IMACS made me realize that I would like to pursue computer science in college and after," said Azzara.

Classes for an Hour Of Code^™ at IMACS will be held at IMACS centers in Plantation, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Weston-Glades Circle. Specific dates and locations are as follows:

·       Monday, Dec 5 from 4:40pm to 5:40pm - IMACS Boca

·       Tuesday, Dec 6 from 4:20pm to 5:20pm - IMACS Delray

·       Tuesday, Dec 6 from 4:40pm to 5:40pm - IMACS Plantation

·       Wednesday, Dec 7 from 11:50am to 12:50pm - IMACS Plantation Homeschool

·       Thursday, Dec 8 from 11:45am to 12:45pm - IMACS Boca Homeschool

·       Thursday, Dec 8 from 6:40pm to 7:40pmm - IMACS Weston (Glades Circle)

·       Saturday, Dec 10 from 8:30am to 9:30am - IMACS Boca

·       Saturday, Dec 10 from 8:40am to 9:40am - IMACS Plantation

·       Saturday, Dec 10 from 12:40pm to 1:40pm - IMACS Weston (Glades Circle)

Parents of children in grades 3-9 may register for an Hour Of Code^™ at IMACS by visiting https://www.imacs.org/class-curriculum/computer-programming/ or by calling IMACS at 954.791.2333. Directions and details available as well.

About IMACS

The Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS) is an independent teaching and educational research institute dedicated to helping kids reach their highest potential in math, computer science and logical reasoning. Tailored to kids grades 1 through 12, IMACS specializes in personalized and engaging classes in the areas of math and computer science for high-achieving and advanced students in need of a challenge as well as those with untapped academic skill and/or an interest in learning. IMACS students over the last 20 years have gone on to attend and excel at universities like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Caltech.

IMACS is headquartered in Plantation, Florida and currently offers classes in South Florida, North Carolina, Silicon Valley, St. Louis, and Connecticut. Over 4,500 students from across the US and around the world attend local IMACS classes or study its online courses. For more information, visit imacs.org (https://www.imacs.org/math-computer-science/).