High school students in the Los Angeles area and beyond will soon be able to study up on quantum computing thanks to a partnership between The Coding School and several physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The virtual computing camp is set to start later this summer and will also be made available to first-year college students.
The camp comes about as a result of the LA-based company’s “codeConnects” program, an initiative specifically aimed at increasing the amount of diversity in the field of computer science. The initiative aims to reach underrepresented students who may be overlooked in traditional learning environments, including students of color, students with learning disabilities, students from rural communities and socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
“Today, we’re at the dawn of a new era in computing technology. You don't need an advanced degree in physics to explore quantum computing,” Amir Karamlou, an MIT graduate fellow and instructor who is leading the summer camp, said in a statement. “Over the next decade, quantum is likely to revolutionize the world in the same way the modern computer did in the mid-20th century.”
According to the company, coding classes, as they’re now offered, are typically tuition-based, making it impossible for low-income students to take courses. The Coding School believes money shouldn’t stand in the way of a student’s success and offers several scholarships to students in financial need.
Additional scholarships are available for students affected by COVID-19, including those who have a parent that has lost a job, or are considered to be an essential worker.
“Students who develop knowledge in quantum now will be prepared for [a] world-altering technological movement,” Karamlou continued.
The Coding School will offer a year-long quantum computing course for high school students in the fall of this year. The virtual course will be taught by Francisca Vasconcelos, a Rhodes Scholar and MIT graduate.
In addition to classes on quantum computing, The Coding School also offers classes in mobile app development, game development, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science, among others.
"To ensure long-term employability and social mobility, it’s critical to look forward to the tech skills of the future and prepare students with those now. Quantum computation is one of those skills,” Kiera Peltz, founder of The Coding School, said in a statement.
