The CEMC is excited to announce the return of CS Escape, a virtual workshop series aimed at introducing programming to Grade 8 students in Canada from gender identities under-represented in computer science. Sessions are open to individuals who identify as women, non-binary, trans, agender, and Two-Spirit—among others. CS Escape ultimately seeks to address gender disparity in STEM, where marginalized groups continue to encounter significant barriers to participation and advancement in technology fields.
“CS Escape is a workshop that is designed to introduce coding by creating interactive 3D scenes. The lessons and follow up activities are designed to teach the basics of programming and provide a glimpse into the creative potential that is at the heart of Computer Science. Students sign up with partners so that they can support each other in learning and creating. We hope that it sparks interest in participants to pursue a newfound interest further.”
-Sandy Graham, Director, CS Escape
Designed for students with little or no prior coding experience, CS Escape is structured around four sessions to build foundational computer science skills in an encouraging and accessible environment.
Participants will use CoSpaces—a 3D animation tool that enables the creation of interactive digital experiences in virtual or augmented reality. Through guided lessons and personalized support from experienced facilitators, students will develop and share their very own virtual escape rooms, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and programming skills. The workshop will culminate in a follow-up challenge on February 1 where interested students will apply their newly acquired skills in a practical project.
Students are encouraged to sign up with a partner, and all attendees will receive a 6-month Pro license for CoSpaces to continue exploring independently. Please note that partner sign-ups are prioritized in the selection process.
Here’s what past participants have to say about their experiences with CS Escape:
"Overall a fairly thorough explanation of CoSpaces that expanded my knowledge of coding. It enhanced my curiosity about computer programming and I am grateful for the experience as it will prepare me for high school as I have always wanted to explore deeply into computer science. Thank you for the lessons."
"Thank you so much for the classes this month! I learned a lot of block coding this month! I really enjoyed it, solving it with my friend. I will definitely share the CS Circles with my math teacher who loves problem solving! I will definitely be using CoSpaces again with my partner! : D \<3"
"From my point of view I think it was an overall amazing experience and has made me more interested in other types of coding methods. I will definitely be learning more and am looking forward to using my newly learned skills in the future."
CS Escape workshop sessions will be held January 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2025 and the follow-up challenge will be held on February 1, 2025. Visit this webpage for more information and to apply.
Story by Zoey Wadsworth