CodeMasters After School offers engaging after school programming for elementary and middle school students.
For the 2022-23 school year in Miami-Dade, the program serves students in grades 4 through 8 at
Excelsior Charter Academy, Jeremiah Academy, Lake Stevens Middle School, Miami Shores Elementary School and Norwood Elementary School.
Read the 2016
and 2017MIAMI HERALD
articles about CodeMasters!
Students meet at least two afternoons each week to invent and create through computer programming.
They work with committed certified teachers and FEF's computer science Ph.D. Fellows to understand the basics of coding and then choose to learn either to program animations or games or to build web pages and mobile apps using proven code.org, Khan Academy, MIT, and other curricula.
Through this hands on exposure to STEM through coding, students not only learn mathematical and computational concepts, but also gain insight into the inner workings of technology and learn strategies for thinking critically, solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas, a group of skills useful for everyone.
In addition to coding, students in CodeMasters meet with tutors as needed; review life skills; prepare for high school and college or advanced training; and explore careers. Elementary school students also focus on strengthening their literacy skills, learning about healthy eating and nutrition, and engaging in physical activity.
CodeMasters is FREE, and daily snacks are provided at no charge at most locations.
Why Learn to Code?
For Spring and Summer 2023 in Hillsborough, CodeMasters teaches robotics, game design, animation, and drone programming to students in grades 1 through 5 at Broward, Edison, Mendenhall, Oak Grove, Palm River, Robles and Sheehy Elementary HOST After School and Summer Program sites and at the following Tampa City and County Parks: Emmanuel P. Johnson, Fair Oaks, Grant, Kenly and Wellswood. Contact the locations directly to enroll your child in after school and summer programming.
APPLY FOR 2023 Summer Programs
Applicants must be in good academic standing at their schools
and must be able to attend all of the program days. To apply, please complete the form below
and click the "Submit" button. After we receive the application, we will contact the student's parent / guardian with additional information.
If you have questions, please call 813-272-2772 or email
Toni-lee @ FEF.
NOTE: All form fields marked with * below are required.
SUMMER CAMPS
During summer, CodeMasters offers engaging and intensive 5-6-week camps for elementary, middle and high school
students in select Florida cities designed to expose them to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) through coding within the context of Web design; artificial intelligence, mobile app development; game design and/or robotics. Some CodeMasters summer tech camps prepare students for Digital Tool or industry certification.**
In all camps, in addition to exploring STEAM in action, students work with certified teachers
and FEF's STEAM doctoral Fellows to review or learn grade-level academic skills; plan for middle / high school, college,
or advanced training programs with help from counselors and college representatives; tour college campuses;
receive career planning and entrepreneurship advice from professionals working in various STEAM fields;
and visit cultural and STEAM-rich venues to add realism to their studies.
**In industry certification camps, students will be eligible to earn 3 college credit hours
in certain majors once they pass their certification exams.
Web Design: Did you know that every single web page on the Internet
is built with a language called "HTML?" In this class, students learn the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript,
the building blocks of the web, and begin to design and develop their own web sites.
Artificial Intelligence: Are programmers developing Artificial Intelligence (AI)
applications that will replace the job of someone you know? In this class, students learn how to build their own applications
with AI and machine learning. They craft programs that train their computers to mimic human intelligence in image recognition.
Mobile App Development: How often do you swipe and tap your way through
your favorite mobile apps? This class teaches students to create their own! They learn the fundamentals
of computer programming and mobile app development as they design and build their own apps to
run on smartphones or tablets.
Game Design: How much time do you spend playing video games?
Students leave this class knowing how to create their own! They learn the fundamentals of computer programming
and game design as they create their own 2-D video games.
Robotics: Looking forward to riding in a self-driving car?
Students leave this class understanding the robotics principles that make them work! They learn the fundamentals of computer programming and practice applying the principles of design thinking as they build and/or program their own robots.
Academic Support: Students review the math, language arts and other concepts and skills
they should have learned by the end of the school year.
Career Exploration: Do you know what it takes to become a web/software developer, teacher,
doctor, or engineer? Students talk with professionals from a variety of career fields to learn how they can prepare
to do what they do.
Questions? Please contact 813-272-2772 or
Lyra @ FEF.
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
Prior to the start of all programs, FEF holds dedicated training sessions, during which our certified trainers coach instructors on how to teach the selected coding curricula. In hands-on classes, instructors work through the student lessons, create coding projects, and explore best classroom practices for enhancing engagement and facilitating skill development. During the programs, our trainers continue coaching and monitor instructor progress.
For summer certification camps, FEF hosts a week-long Instructor Training Institute at which coding instructors spend several days working to attain the Digital Tool and industry certifications that they will in turn spend the summer preparing students to earn.