Seventh-grade students in Oak Knoll’s Computer Skills course recently stepped into the role of app developers, building and testing their own mobile apps using MIT App Inventor.

In the classroom, they explored how simple code, logic, and sequencing come together to create functional technology, gaining hands-on insight into how apps are designed and built. This project introduced foundational computer science concepts in an accessible, student-centered way, encouraging experimentation, problem-solving, and collaboration.

As an introductory experience, the focus was on understanding the process rather than producing complex outcomes, allowing students to see how ideas translate into digital action.

This project underscores Oak Knoll’s commitment to forward-thinking, real-world learning and grew out of Upper School Computer Science Department Chair Dr. Talia Nochumson’s continued professional engagement with evolving approaches to coding and digital literacy.

Through the class, students move from being passive users of technology to thoughtful, confident creators. Alongside hands-on projects, they develop essential digital competencies, including file organization, productivity tools, and collaborative workflows.

The course also emphasizes digital literacy, with guided discussions and activities exploring data privacy, targeted advertising, misinformation, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence, helping students understand both the power and responsibility that come with technology.

By introducing computer science in a supportive and accessible environment, the Computer Skills course demystifies STEM fields and encourages students—particularly young women—to see themselves as capable and confident participants in an increasingly digital world.