A New Cohort and a Longer View of What Comes Next
This fall, 63 middle and high school students are actively enrolled in Urban Coders Guild’s newest cohort. Students meet twice weekly to study Web Development, Unity Game Development, Python or Cybersecurity, with classes that began the week of Sept. 21.
Some are returning UCG participants. Others are joining us for the first time. Across the cohort, students bring different interests and different starting points. Our work is to help them build technical understanding and begin seeing where those interests might lead.
Learning to build and work through challenges
A coding course creates opportunities to practice more than syntax. Students can break a problem into steps, test a solution and revise an approach. They can learn to ask questions and explain why they made a particular decision.
Those abilities matter across education and work. We are designing learning experiences that give students repeated opportunities to practice them, alongside the technical knowledge each course requires.
Our Five C’s describe the environment we want around that learning: Comfort, Courage, Confidence, Community and Competency. Students need room to ask questions and attempt unfamiliar work, with guidance that helps them make progress.
Making participation possible
Our partnership with Rogers State University brings near-peer instructors and mentors into the learning experience. These relationships can help students see college and technical study through someone a little further along the path.
Clear family communication, dependable devices and coordinated transportation assistance also support participation. These are ongoing operational responsibilities, and we continue strengthening them alongside classroom instruction.
Connecting this year’s learning to future opportunities
This cohort includes 32 middle school students and 31 high school students. Their next steps will differ. A younger student may discover a new interest. An older student may begin connecting technical study with a project portfolio or a college and career plan.
We are developing campus experiences, appropriate credential support and education partnerships that can help make those next steps clearer. As the year progresses, verified attendance, student work and feedback will help us understand what is working and what needs to improve.
Stay connected and help the work grow
Families can introduce another family to UCG or help us understand what supports participation. Professionals and organizations can offer career conversations, project feedback and partner introductions. Financial contributions help sustain instruction, equipment and student experiences.
To explore a connection, contact mikeal@urbancodersguild.org. To contribute financially, visit our giving page.
Follow UCG on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for updates throughout the year.
We are proud to welcome this cohort and grateful to the families, instructors and partners helping students take their next steps.
