On the Road with CodeHS: Ohio Edition

CodeHS recently wrapped up an exciting week in Ohio, where each school visit was filled with energy, coding challenges, and unforgettable moments. From middle school coders to high school students diving deeper into computer science, the week was packed with hands-on learning and plenty of fun.

Stop 1: Columbus Gifted Academy (Columbus, OH)

The first stop was Columbus Gifted Academy where the students were eager to jump right into Python coding. Their teacher, Lori Rice, was thrilled to welcome CodeHS, and the 8th graders — who already had a solid background in Python — jumped right into the Turtle Graphics challenge, coding their versions of the pink van. During lunch, students even came outside to check out the real van. This visit was a fantastic start to the week, leaving everyone excited for the rest of the journey through Ohio!

Stop 2: The Learning Spectrum (Columbus, OH)

The next stop was at The Learning Spectrum, a school for students with learning disabilities. The small class of eight students, each with different learning styles, quickly embraced Python coding. It was inspiring to see how CodeHS could make coding accessible to everyone, regardless of learning differences. The students ability to quickly pick up the Turtle Graphics commands, small and engaging classroom, and the presence of two class bearded dragons made this a memorable and rewarding stop on the road trip.

Stop 3: Marburn Academy (New Albany, OH)

At Marburn Academy, CodeHS worked with both high school and middle school students. Their teacher, Adam, had an impressive tech setup, including an esports team and a robot fighting arena. During the visit, an AI workshop was held where students used Google’s Teachable Machine and built websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They brought their sketches to life with the help of ChatGPT, and the students were fully engaged, even asking for autographs — an unexpected first! The creative energy at Marburn left a lasting impression.

Stop 4: Watkins Memorial High School (Pataskala, OH)

Watkins Memorial High School was another highlight, where CodeHS teamed up with teacher Teresa Gordon, who transitioned from business to computer science teaching. Two classes worked on the Corgi course, while others built websites using AI tools. Teresa has been a CodeHS Pro user for eight years and swears by the tools to support her classroom saying,

“Some people say you don’t need the paid version of CodeHS, but trust me — you absolutely do! It’s so worth it.”

The students were captivated by the presentation on the coding journey, making this a fun and productive visit.

Stop 5: Stow-Monroe Falls High School (Stow, OH)

The visit to Stow-Monroe Falls High School was one of the most memorable. Teacher Teresa Whitmer’s classes were buzzing with energy, with students even skipping their break to continue coding. They tackled the pink van Turtle Graphics challenge, and CodeHS left with thoughtful gifts: pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, high school-themed stickers, and a pink rubber duck — a nod to the classroom’s tradition of using rubber ducks to help debug code. Teresa, who has been using CodeHS since 2016, was thrilled with the visit and shared her love for the platform. The students were slightly disappointed there wasn’t a real Karel the Dog present — maybe next time!

Stop 6: Walsh Jesuit High School (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

The final school visit in Ohio was at Walsh Jesuit High School. CodeHS met with teacher Peter Hannan and his 14 students, discussing the journey into computer science and answering questions about the industry and road trip adventures. While there wasn’t enough time for an activity, the group still made time for a photo in front of the pink van. It was a great way to wrap up the Ohio leg of the trip, with Michigan up next on the horizon. Stay tuned!

Want CodeHS to visit your school?

You can still request a visit for the CodeHS team to make a stop at your school on the road trip. In addition, members of the CodeHS team will be visiting schools during Computer Science Education Week from December 2–15th. If you’re interested, request a visit here codehs.com/roadtrip.