Generating Interest In Computer Science Through Middle-School Android Summer Camps

Abstract

We conducted a week-long summer camp to promote interest in computer science among middle-school students. The camp primarily used self-paced video tutorials to teach programming concepts using the App Inventor for Android programming environment. Based on strong interest from students and parents as well as positive survey feedback, we conclude that the camp was very successful. We have made the camp resources, including 36 video tutorials, freely available at http://artsci.drake.edu/mathcs/appcamp, and they may be used in future camps at any institution.