Computer animation and coding win innovation award for Bluffton Elementary

Bluffton Elementary School’s computer animation and coding school choice curriculum has earned a 2016 Technology Innovative Program Award from the South Carolina Association for Educational Technology.

The school’s Animation, Creation and Design program, which had previously been featured in a Discovery Channel TV show, encourages students to use technology for research, collaboration and project presentations. Students learn computer coding through WeDO robotics, Ozobots, Dash and Dot, LEGO robotics, app creation and web page design. The program also includes a gaming component that allows students to create, design and use computer games that feature 2D, 3D and stop-motion computer animation.

Principal Christine Brown accepted the 2016 Technology Innovative Program Award at the recent SCAET-sponsored South Carolina EdTech Conference in Myrtle Beach. She said the school’s innovative curriculum has benefits beyond the exploration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

“Computer coding isn’t easy, and our students make mistakes all the time,” Brown said. “But the neat thing is how willing and able they are to persevere when they experience those failures. They learn to work through their coding glitches and figure out how they can solve problems on their own without automatically running to teachers for help.”

This story was originally published November 14, 2016 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Computer animation and coding win innovation award for Bluffton Elementary."