Training tech 'wizards' at the DI library

The wizard on the screen asks Danielle to type in the name of her favorite pizza. If she answers “pepperoni,” the wizard says “That’s my favorite.” If she types “meatball,” the wizard replies “That’s my second favorite.” If she says “mushroom,” the wizard says “Yuk!”

Danielle has just constructed a conditional structure in Adobe Flash, one of the basic concepts that are common to all programming languages.

Danielle is one of ten students taking part in a six-week programming course at the Daniel Island Library. The students from third to fifth grade are learning basic programming concepts while developing actual mini-applications.

Their instructor, Susie Starkman, controls the class like the conductor of an unruly orchestra, lecturing here, demonstrating there and assisting students all over the room. Remarkably, they are all on the same page.

Starkman, who has over three years of Apple iOS experience as well as development experience in a variety of languages, also is the founder of Code Surfers, LLC, which specializes in teaching children programming in after school programs.

Enthusiastic and engaging, Starkman explains the benefits of the course.

“Programming is the new world language. Every person should know how to do it, regardless of the field you go into. You are either going to have a coder to work alongside of you (or) you are going to have to do it yourself, regardless of the industry.”

“If you were a fashion designer, and wanted to do a light up gown like some of these designers have done, you’re going to need to do it with software.”

It is also training in how to think.

“Programming really teaches them logic,” continues Starkman, who is donating her time, expertise and materials for the sessions. “Everything needs to be done step-by-step.”

But those benefits aren’t the best thing about the classes. The best thing about it, class participant Nicholas Haas, age 8, says “… is learning how to make computer games and fun stuff.”

The class is the first of its kind from the Berkeley County Library System, thanks to generous support from the Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund (LBMF). In response to Lucy’s death in 2015, library staff and community members created the fund to honor the 13-year-old daughter of Daniel Island Library Branch Manager Timothy Boyle.

According to her father, Lucy was an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, devouring 300 pages a day. Lucy was also an extremely talented programmer. Tim remembers her playing “Alien Invaders” for the first time at a restaurant, then rushing home to reverse engineer the game on her Mac that afternoon. She had a strong social conscience, always wanting to do something to fight discrimination and prejudice. She was captivated by all of the STEM subjects.

The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Many different organizations are devoted to this topic and may define it slightly differently, but the ultimate aim of STEM education is to encourage students to become interested in STEM subjects at an early age.

The fund named for Lucy has already created a collection of books on STEM subjects that she loved, including “Teach Your Kids to Code,” “JavaScript for Kids,” and “The Art of Lego Design,” as well as other titles of interest to teens. Now the LBMF’s mission is expanding to classes and workshops for hands-on STEM activities.

The Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund, established last year by Daniel Island resident John Gilsenan, with assistance from several other community members, has received more than $15,000 in donations, including a $10,000 grant from the Daniel Island Community Fund.

Right now, the Daniel Island Library is, according to Gilsenan, “… like a beta site. We’re going to do what we’re doing, find out what works and what doesn’t, and then we’ll roll it out to the other branches of the library system.” There are seven library locations in Berkeley County.

If you would like to help, the Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund has been set up at NBSC. Cash or check donations may be made by:

• dropping by any NBSC location

• mailing a check, made out to Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund, to NBSC, 230 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 100, Daniel Island, SC 29492

• placing a donation in the easily identified memorial fund donation box in the Daniel Island Library.