Braddock Elementary School is one of two winners in the Computer Science in Your Neighborhood competition, a joint project of the Virginia Department of Education, the Science Museum of Virginia, and CodeVA.  Braddock was named a winner in Virginia’s Region 4 and students were recognized for creating a digital product about their interest in computer science and the role it plays in their lives, families, and communities.

Teacher Joyce Matthews manages Braddock’s after-school STEM programs, which include Maker Space, Coding, GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science), Robotics, Science Club, and Gardening. The programs also provide STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) to students before and during the school day as well as during the summer.

Matthews asked students involved in Maker Space, Coding, Robotics, and Science Club to share what they thought about computer science. They created one-minute videos on the topic, “What computer science means to me.”  Matthews saw the opportunity as a chance for students to hone their presentation skills as well as express their thoughts about computer science.

As a class winner, Braddock will receive a set of robots, courtesy of CodeVA. Matthews says she will add the robots to the learning experience, enabling more students to experience how robotics makes a difference in their lives.  “For the past five years, our students have been working with VEXIQ robots,” says Matthews.  “It will be nice to have another type of robot to explore.”