Lorbeer Gets College Level Course Thanks to Harvey Mudd

Lorbeer Middle School will soon be home to what Pomona Unified School District officials describe as a cutting edge computer science program.

Titled Middle Years Computer Science, the class is a collaboration between the school district and Harvey Mudd College in Claremont. The class is open to seventh- and eighth-graders and provides access to a state-of-the-art iMac computer lab where students can gain real-world experience with the latest in computer technology, district officials said.

“(The) course introduces students to the field of computer science through an exploration of engaging and critical thinking activities with an inquiry-based approach,” district officials wrote in a news release. 

Students learn algorithm development, interface design and programming, according to news release.

“They also study the limits of computers and the societal and ethical issues surrounding the field of technology,” officials said. “Students are taught foundational computer science knowledge through the creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary and problem-solving nature of computing.”

Class instructors are trained in a rigorous professional development program, part of a Summer Institute at Harvey Mudd College, officials said. They then teach technological concepts with Lorbeer’s students through hands-on projects. In the 2012-13 school year, students will use their computer skills to write, edit and produce Lorbeer’s school yearbook, officials said.

The Middle Years Computer Science program is designed to spark student interest in computers at an early age and develop talent in a strong, supportive, educational framework, officials said.

District officials encourage students interested in enrolling to contact Lorbeer Middle School, 501 Diamond Bar Blvd. Phone: (909) 397-4527.