Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Don’t see what you are looking for below? Contact us at info@boldidea.org
COVID-19 UPDATES
How has Bold Idea adjusted for Covid-19?
Until it is safe to return to in-person instruction, Bold Idea programs will be virtual. ideaSpark Coding Clubs is still the same program with a focus on mentoring and student success through self-guided learning. We are maintaining our partnerships with Dallas ISD and north Texas businesses. When possible the programs we offer at these locations will also continue online. For the most up-to-date information on a specific school we partner with, please check with the school directly for their current program updates.
PARENTS & STUDENTS
How can my child sign up?
There are several ways your child can get involved:
We partner with elementary and middle schools in Dallas ISD. Registration opens for the yearly program in August and continues through the school year. Check to see if we partner with your school. If we don’t, let the staff know that you’d like to bring Bold Idea to their Dallas ISD school. Depending on resources, we might be able to partner.
We also offer online Coding Clubs for any 3rd to 12th grade student residing in the U.S. Students participate in Coding Clubs during the school year. Additionally, we offer a 7-week Online Coding Camp during the summer. Registration for Coding Clubs opens in August. Sign up at programs.boldidea.org.
What is the cost to participate?
Students who participate in the ideaSpark Coding Clubs at their Dallas ISD school participate for free. Students who participate in Online Coding Clubs that are available to any student pay a $800 program fee per 28-week program year (about $28 per weekly session).
What if I can’t afford the program fee for the online Coding Club?
We provide financial assistance to students and their families who request it. When registering for a Coding Club there is an option to request financial assistance for a partial or full amount of fees. We also offer monthly payment plans.
What if my student does not have access to a computer?
We do not want access to technology to limit student access to computer science education. Our new Bold Laptops Program allows for students to apply to receive a laptop from Bold Idea. We only ask that the student enrolls in a Coding Club and regularly attends.
MENTORS
How can I help mentor students with Bold Idea?
We love our mentors both long-time and new! Learn more about what it takes to become a volunteer mentor and apply here.
What are the requirements to be a mentor?
We require that mentors be high school graduates, pass a criminal background check, and watch/attend any required training. We also ask that our mentors make a time commitment to attending each weekly session or inform us ahead of time if you cannot.
To see a more detailed outline of what we expect from our mentors go here.
Can I mentor if I do not know how to code?
Yes! We do not require our mentors to be expert coders. You can be a beginner, an expert, or someone in-between. However, if you have little to no experience with coding we do ask that you read through and work on our curriculum yourself before you begin working with students.
WHAT IS COMPUTER SCIENCE?
What is Computer Science?
We like Code.org’s definition of computer science: “the art of blending human ideas and digital tools to increase problem-solving power”
Is computer science the same as coding or computer literacy?
Programming (or coding) is the process of writing instructions in a language that a computer can understand to execute a task. Computer science is much more than programming. Computer science covers hardware devices and systems, networks and communication, data and information, societal and cultural impacts, computational thinking... and coding (creating programs).
Computer literacy is the general use of computers, often focused on particular software applications, like office productivity software.
Computer science and computer literacy are different. The latter is focused on using computer technologies rather than understanding how/why these tools work and creating them. The work of Bold Idea is focused solely on computer science education, informed by standards created by The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA).
Isn’t it easy to learn to code online?
While free or inexpensive online coding programs are engaging, they lack the benefits of an in-person mentor and a project team. Online learning neglects students who don’t have a computer or Internet access at home, as well as students who have not yet developed an interest in computer science. Bold Idea students also benefit from the support of an experienced mentor compared to an online program or single-teacher classroom.
ABOUT US
How do students get involved?
We partner with Dallas ISD schools and community organizations that serve Dallas ISD students. These partners host the program for students in 3rd to 12th grades. Students learn about the ideaSpark Coding Clubs through a recommendation by their teacher or through classroom visits from Bold Idea staff and volunteers - or other marketing activities.
We also offer Online Coding Clubs for any student in the 3rd to 12th grades in the United States. Registration for Coding Clubs is available annually in August. The Coding Club schedule and registration is available at programs.boldidea.org.
How do you get students excited about Computer Science?
One of the challenges to the success of Bold Idea’s computer science mentoring program is building interest among girls and minority students. With little to no experience or understanding of computer science and with a lack of representation in the tech industry, these students are prone to assuming our program is either not of interest or not for them. These types of assumptions deter girls and minority students from registering for our courses. There are a few ways we can correct those assumptions and overcome this challenge.
The first is by freshly communicating computer science – making it approachable as a tool to be creative and solve problems. Students are more engaged when they see that their interests can be part of their technology projects. Another solution is to bring our mentors into classrooms to share their experience so that students can see people who look like them involved in technology. This removes some of the mystery and makes computer science feel more personal. Another solution to our challenge of building interest is through word-of-mouth marketing. We have found that students – girls, especially – tend to recommend our program to friends after they’ve built interest and confidence.
How are you funded?
Bold Idea’s fundraising is centered on relationships – most notably professionals in technology and engineering companies. Our corporate partners, like Texas Capital Bank and Alkami Technology, are invested in building a pipeline of tech talent while also giving their employees an avenue for community involvement using their skill sets in computer science. Bold Idea checks all those boxes and we’ve seen corporations become invested in our mission quickly because of that. Our partners commit to sponsor funding for a program site and to provide both volunteer mentors from its tech staff to meet our 1:2 ratio and a team captain who oversees weekly program delivery and opportunities for career exploration. Corporate sponsors, individual donations, and program fees cover most of our program costs.
How did Bold Idea get started?
In 2014, Robyn Brown, Ben Davis, and Jenn Beecham met and cultivated a small group of software developers around the idea of mentoring students in coding. All three had a background in technology - Robyn a writer, Ben a web developer, and Jenn an engineer. The developers they met locally in Dallas had a deep passion for coding, which often originated in middle and high school. After many years in the field, that passion would diminish through the drudgery of work. Educating younger students in coding might re-ignite that passion, they wondered.
Thus, the idea of mentoring as a way to teach computer science was born. They started by mentoring the students who might not see a place for themselves in technology - girls. For one year, the team of mentors (no name yet) partnered with Girl Scouts and offered Saturday coding workshops at a UT Dallas classroom. A call from AT&T in early 2015 led to our first corporate partnership and the foundation of the non-profit organization.
The team, now called Bold Idea, wondered though how much students would remember after one afternoon class. While the mentors may have sparked interest, it was obvious that long-term development in computer science was necessary. In the fall of 2015, they began piloting ideaSpark, a weekly, structured program with mentoring and hands-on learning in computer science. The program officially began in January 2016.