6 Virtual Summer Activities to Enhance Learners’ Computer Science Skills

As summer begins, students and their parents are searching for worthwhile activities to fill learners’ vacation time. The extended school break is the perfect time for students to dive into learning more about their interests and take steps towards their college and professional goals.

For students who are curious about computer science or who plan to pursue STEM disciplines in college or future careers, participating in virtual computer science activities can provide them with new skills and accelerate their learning. These virtual activities––many of which are free and available to students of various ages––can keep learners intellectually stimulated and creatively engaged throughout the summer break.

Here are six virtual computer science activities for students to participate in this summer:

For students with prior computer science and programming experience, participating in a hackathon is a great opportunity to apply your coding knowledge and learn new skills while solving real-world problems. Hackathon events happen all over the country, as well as virtually, and are typically organized by universities, professional organizations, or companies with large programming teams.

Participate in the free, 3-hour CoderZ Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge, which enables learners to solve real-world problems through computer science, robotics, and coding. Through collaborative and competitive missions, students work to code an Amazon Hercules robot to deliver a package through the CoderZ virtual, gamified environment.

Girls Who Code offers two free, virtual Summer Programs for high school students to learn computer science skills they need to make an impact and prepare for tech careers. Participants learn about tech jobs and meet industry leaders, all while building a supportive community.

The popular Roblox gaming platform offers a free and powerful creation engine called Roblox Studio, where anyone can create and share their own games. Recommended for ages 8-10 and up, this 3D platform is immersive and available across all major platforms including mobile, console, desktop, and VR.

The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers free and open access to many of its real college-level courses virtually through its online platform, OpenCourseWare. MIT OpenCourseWare covers the entire MIT curriculum––with courses from arts and literature to computer science and engineering––and is free to browse and download at your own pace.

Students who are interested in app development will benefit from Swift Playgrounds, which teaches learners how to code and build apps using Swift, the powerful programming language used to create apps for Apple devices. Engaging lessons and walkthroughs equip learners to develop apps, and the interactive virtual environment enables immersive learning and creative experimentation.

Whether students are new to computer science or experienced young programmers, participating in these engaging summer activities can spark new interests and equip students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their computer science endeavors.