SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. — Shelby Woods teaches computer science in Sevier County. She won one of two Tennessee STEM Innovation Network awards for Excellence in Computer Science.
“Computer Science is becoming more widely known. We see technology being used in every industry," Woods said.
She teaches seventh-grade and eighth-grade computer science at Sevier County Junior High. As technology has advanced over the years, computer science classes have also followed suit.
“I grew up with technology, but in just the 25 years of being alive, we have seen technology expand widely. Technology has taken off rapidly and my job as an educator is to teach students how to use technology safely and help technology grow," she said.
In Shelby’s class, students learn how to code and the science behind coding. They also learn about social media — something past generations weren’t taught. Social media has grown over the past decades.
And now, junior high students are learning how to create content for different platforms.
“Social media can make an amazing impact. With social media growing, we wanted to teach students the safe way to do that," she said.
The students make posts for the school’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. They also create pages for the school’s yearbook. All these skills will come in handy for her students in a few years when they join the workforce.
“The most important thing I can teach students is how to use it for their job, and how to connect that, with what they’re going to be doing," she said.