Fifth-grader Justin La was coding Intelino trains for the first time at Bella Vista’s after-school makerspace.
“It sounded fun to be able to do so many STEM activities,” he said. “I figured out how to make the trains run.”
Classmate Callie Parkin also worked with the trains.
“I thought coding sounded like a good hobby,” she said. “I like the challenges here and getting the chance to do it on my own.”
It was the first day that the Bella Vista makerspace advisers, Dan Sampson and Wendie Nielson, had brought out the coding trains for the group that meets almost weekly. Students had figured out the train track’s set up and commands on their own.
“I wanted to be able to help the kids explore, create and learn how to use different programming tools,” Sampson said. “They can create in a safe learning environment after school and have the freedom to choose what they…
