SUNY Poly brings coding to elementary students

Over the course of two months, fifth graders at Clinton Elementary School learned coding from Interactive Media & Game Design major Michael Spencer.

Fifth graders at Clinton Elementary School are used to lessons in fractions, writing, and ecosystems but for two months last spring, they were given some very special and innovative lessons in the world of coding, thanks to a now-SUNY Poly graduate.

Michael Spencer, of Dover Plains, a graduate of the Interactive Media & Game Design Program, concluded a two-month program with fifth grade students at Clinton Elementary that taught them basic video game design through a program called Construct 2.

Spencer helped students through various tutorials, techniques, and processes that are used almost universally across the gaming industry.

During a culmination presentation, the fifth grade students shared what they learned in their informative sessions with Spencer, including demonstrations to teachers, fellow students, and the media, of a simple game they had created.

“I think it’s the ultimate, kind of ‘edu-tainment,’ with a lot of the different things that are happening these days, if you can grab their interest, I think you can reach them, you can teach them,” Dr. Stephen Grimm, Clinton Central Schools superintendent told WKTV NEWSChannel 2.

The collaborative effort between SUNY Poly and Clinton Elementary faculty was part of a new initiative at Clinton Elementary called What I Need Now (WINN) – a program designed to provide new learning opportunities and topics to students. The introduction of coding helps introduce even the youngest students to college and career-ready skills and encourages them to think about their future academic choices.