Art Exhibit | Pexels by Matheus Viana
Art Exhibit | Pexels by Matheus Viana
Can you program a robot to play popular tunes on a xylophone? Twenty children in Auburn University’s Computer Science and Arts for All program know how.
The students, grades 3 through 5, not only developed computer science skills in this special five-Saturday, but also learned the fundamentals of music – then harmoniously blended the disciplines.
“If you want to build a pipeline for engineering, you have to start at an early age,” said Daniela Marghitu, director of Auburn University’s Education and Assistive Technology Laboratory and professor in computer science and software engineering (CSSE). “Young children’s brains are like sponges. They are so eager to learn, and these children are having fun doing it!
“These kids have so much potential. It’s our responsibility to reach out to them and provide them with the opportunities so they can make the most of their abilities. We must continue to look deep and explore new ways to educate them. These kids aren’t coming here to play games and videos. We’re here to develop games and videos.”
Whereas science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are often regarded as educational cornerstones, Marghitu made one tiny edit to the acronym. “There is what I call STEAM, which is science, technology, engineering — the arts — and mathematics. Art is the foundation of computing. It’s mathematics, right? Music is also a science. Many researchers and scientists are building on this to connect art and technology.”
Marghitu, who has directed special computer science outreach programs at Auburn, starting 20 years ago with the Computer Literacy Academy, has a special love for music. But it wasn’t until her PhD student and accomplished musician, Fatemeh Jamshidi, expressed a desire to earn a doctorate in computer science and master’s degree in music that both sciences could be blended into a program.
“It’s funny how people with common passions come together,” Marghitu said of Jamshidi, who, along with fellow CSSE PhD student Prashamsa Pandey, assist Marghitu with the program and in the laboratory.
Original source can be found here.
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