Computer science teacher Lamberto Roscioli, along with two of his former students, Jax Hutton and Jeff Drew, created a new program, known as Gemstone Academy, that puts computer science in a new light. They developed the program to teach students that are interested in technology. Gemstone Academy isn’t like most educational groups; it teaches the skills of computer science with a twist by using industry tools professionals use rather than educational ones.
Drew and Hutton both co-developed the program about two years ago. They began by creating the website and student portal that students will use. Roscioli was a mentor and advisor for the project, soon becoming more involved as development progressed. Once most of the development was complete, the program’s curriculum was tested by a few kids, and Drew, Hutton, and Roscioli became instructors to understand the details of the teaching roles. After a few tweaks and adjustments, Gemstone Academy is now ready for the public.
Roscioli was determined to make this program because of his background in technology and his 28 years of experience. “Then as I started teaching computer science, I found that there was a big disconnect between what we teach and what’s really happening in the field,” Roscioli said. Roscioli stated AI also plays a big factor for the disconnect between teaching and the field. He wants his students to use real tools instead of educational based tools in the subject of computer science.
Roscioli feels his team has accomplished a lot, considering the two year time period the program has been open for. Over the summer, the team got close to their goals and started really working to complete things. “We also started pushing the marketing side as well, and we now have some students, we have paying students, and we’re building lesson plans as we speak,” Roscioli said. Besides the online resources used in the academy, Gemstone Academy also has real life instructors teaching the class.
Project-based learning is a factor that really helps Gemstone Academy thrive. “I think a lot of students make these things and I don’t think they even realize just how much they’ve learned,” Roscioli said. Roscioli truly believes the absence of project based learning in education is really holding it back. With the opportunity to create something hands-on, he believes Gemstone Academy will give a more in-depth understanding of each lesson.
Roscioli believes this program has been successful so far. “Even if we have one child to start to think that hey, you know, I can now start looking at the world a little bit differently and I start looking for opportunities,” Roscioli said. He said his students can look at products needing to be improved and that don’t exist but with a need. Roscioli thinks that changing how just one student views computer science will overall make his program successful.
One of Roscioli’s standing goals for Gemstone Academy is that he wants his students to understand everything is done by an entrepreneurial process so that his students can look for a need and a problem to solve. AI is also incorporated into this process, but in a way where there is no disconnect. Roscioli thinks light engineering and 3D modeling is helping to achieve their goals. He wants Gemstone Academy to be interactive and change how most people view computer science.
