On October 21st, Boston Latin Academy was visited by alumnus and Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk, who donated one million dollars to the school for purposes of STEM education. Mr. Blecharczyk began his career as a software developer, and coded Airbnb’s first website. He currently serves as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer.
Currently, BLA students interested in technology can enroll in a limited number of tech-focused courses: AP Computer Science Principles, Interactive Media Design, and Computer Programming in Java. BLA teacher Ms. Abrams has taught mathematics for many years. This is her first year teaching Java. I had the opportunity to speak with her about Mr. Blecharczyk’s donation.
When asked about how she uses technology in her teaching, Ms. Abrams shared that she encourages her students to implement the concepts they learn in her class in their own programming and code. She also uses her projector on a regular basis in her lessons.
Ms. Abrams is hopeful that Mr. Blecharczyk’s donation will be invested in computers that will permit her to use industry standard software for her classes. Currently, the Chromebooks she uses prevent her from using the optimal software and present their own challenges in regards to WIFI.
When asked about the impact of investment in technology beyond BLA, Ms. Abrams shared that many of her students are interested in pursuing computer science in college and potentially a career in software engineering later on. In the coming years, Ms. Abrams believes that a greater investment in technology will provide BLA students a strong foundation for college-level technology courses and beyond.
The booming tech industry is composed largely of young entrepreneurs. Any person with the drive and knowledge can become a major disruptor in the field. With the programming and design concepts soon to be offered in BLA’s courses, any student with a few ideas will be on a path towards success.