K-12 Outreach

CS Education Week

Every December, the Allen School celebrates National Computer Science Education Week* – an initiative led by CSEdweek.org.

We host a series of virtual events throughout the week for middle and high school students to explore and learn about computing. On the last day, we also invite students and their loved ones to the UW Allen School at the Seattle Campus for an open house. *Note that this year, the Allen School is celebrating CS Ed week early due to the academic schedule.

Read more about available events below or click here to learn about CSEdweek.org. Register to participate in our events using our Evenbrite page. Our events require no previous knowledge of Computer Science (CS) and are open to middle and high school students unless noted below.

Join us!

Monday, 12/2

Changemakers in Computing – UW High School Summer Program

4:30PM – 5:00PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

Come learn about the Changemakers in Computing High School Summer Program (CIC). CIC is a free summer program for students to learn about technology, society, and justice. CIC aims to increase the participation of underrepresented, economically disadvantaged, and/or future first-generation college students in computer science and engineering. This program is open to all rising juniors and seniors from Washington State High Schools.

Tuesday, 12/3

Machine Learning Workshop

4:30PM – 5:30PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

Dive into the world of Machine Learning at this exciting workshop. Discuss the ethics of machine learning, get hands-on experience, and discover how this tech is reshaping our world. Leave with a deep understanding of machine learning’s potential and ethical considerations

UW in the HS [High School Teachers only]

7:00PM – 8:00PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

This session is designed for Washington State teachers who are interested in learning more about the program and our offerings from a panel of UWHS staff, UWHS teachers, and Allen school faculty. The UW in the High School (UWHS) program offers teachers a unique opportunity to provide their students with access to University of Washington courses right from their own classrooms. Through this dual credit or concurrent enrollment program, students can earn college credit for courses like CSE 121 (Introduction to Computer Programming I), CSE 122 (Introduction to Computer Programming II), CSE 163 (Intermediate Data Programming), and CSE 180 (Introduction to Data Science), all at no cost for Washington state public school students. By partnering with the Allen School, you can offer your students a challenging and enriching curriculum, helping them build skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond. 

Wednesday, 12/4

Perceiving Distance in Virtual Reality

4:00PM – 5:00PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

At the core of what makes virtual reality possible is tricking our brains into thinking what we see on a tiny display 3 inches in front of our face is really a vast 3D landscape. In this session, we will learn about the different ways we perceive distance, and how to design virtual reality applications to mimic these effects.

Hello World, Hello Card: A Creative Journey With Computational Thinking

5:30PM – 6:30PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

Through hands-on coding, students will have the opportunity to express their creativity by designing their own digital art card. Students will develop foundational computational thinking skills, including breaking down problems, recognizing patterns, and applying logical sequences. They will gain experience with essential coding concepts such as user input while learning how to debug and think like a computer, all without requiring prior coding experience.

Thursday, 12/5

Combinatorics and Algorithms in Scrap Fabric Packing

4:00PM – 4:30PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

When crafting with fabrics, oftentimes, scrap fabrics will be generated. To reuse these scrap fabrics instead of throwing them away, crafters will create new fabrics by stitching together the scraps. In this activity, we will look at how combinatorics and algorithms are involved in helping crafters pack scrap fabrics.

Build your own website

4:30PM – 5:30PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

Make your starter portfolio website with us – No programming experience is required! We will go over the basics of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS so you can get started on a beginner’s project to add towards and show off later on!

Friday, 12/6

Prospective Freshman Information session

3:30PM – 4:30PM PT via Zoom – RSVP on Eventbrite

Learn about applying to the UW Allen School as Freshman applicant

Saturday, 12/7

Allen School Open House

1:30PM – 4:00PM PT in person – RSVP on Eventbrite

Join us for an exciting and interactive Open House on the last day of the UW Allen School Computer Science Education Week! Middle and high school students, along with their loved ones, can explore the fascinating world of computer science! This event is designed to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of tech innovators. Whether you’re already passionate about coding or just curious to learn more, this event is the perfect way to kickstart your journey in computer science. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your loved ones — we can’t wait to see you there!

This event is free and open to middle, and high school students and their loved ones.

CS Education Week Schedule of Events:

• Lab & Computing demos: 1:30PM-4:00PM PT
• Allen School building tours: 1:45PM – 4:00PM PT *Last tour leaves at 3:15PM
• Allen School Lab Tours/ Activities: 1:45PM – 4:00PM PT *Last tour leaves at 3:15PM

If you have any questions about the CS Education Week events or would like to request accommodations, please email outreach@cs.washington.edu