A group of L. Frances Smith Elementary School students will be one of 18 teams competing in a showcase next week where Hoosier students will exhibit how computer science can be used to solve problems in their schools and communities.
The Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday will be the site of the 7th annual Nextech CSforGood Competition.
In partnership with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), the CSforGood competition is open to all Indiana K-12 students, who are asked to use their imagination, creativity and tech skills to identify a problem in their school or community and design a solution to it using computer science. That could be through the creation of an app, website, or physical computing device.
Nextech is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, which aims to boost computer science access for Hoosier K-12 students. Nextech has invited schools to the annual competition since 2017.
There were 66 teams that entered into the competition this year, according to a press release, and Smith was one of 18 to earn finalist status.
One computer science-related solution will be declared the winner out of elementary, middle and high school categories. Including Smith, there are six elementary teams in competition.
Teams win cash prizes, and educators win money as well, which is to be used to purchase tech for their computer science programs.
The competition will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Indiana Statehouse atrium. Winners will be announced at about 11: 15 a.m., according to organizers.
Smith’s idea — “School Finder” — is a QR code that “solves the problem of navigating a school property for those who are new to the school or want to learn more about it,” according to a description.
Smith — with its various iconic tubes and tunnels — was designed by architect John M. Johansen. The school at 4505 Waycross Drive is in the midst of $20 million in renovation work that began in May and will last until July 2027, so some additional navigational help could be useful.
Among the improvements will be a new secure entry facing Waycross Drive, where the front entrance was originally located when the school was built in 1969, a completely converted courtyard to create a media center, parking changes, a new west-connecting corridor leading to a STEM lab and classroom renovations.
Designers during an update to school board members last year said they intend to keep as many of Smith’s iconic multi-colored tubes intact as possible, ensuring they will remain a centerpiece of the design.
