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4-H Expands Access to Computer Science Education

Clovers CODE youth pose for a picture at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

Thanks to a grant from Google, 1,500 more Ohio youth will have increased access in 2023 to computer science education offered by Ohio 4-H. The funds are part of a $5 million grant to National 4-H Council to help expand access to computer science, and Ohio will serve as the lead state in this initiative.

The grant was announced in October during a youth coding event at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Ohio 4-H youth learned how to create code for animation during the event and shared their work with Jon Husted, lieutenant governor of Ohio.

The grant allows 4-H to expand its Clovers CODE (Creating Opportunities Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted watches young people practice coding.Designed for Everyone) statewide programing that introduces problem-solving, computer literacy, and coding through hands-on activities. The programing is offered in 50 counties across the state through OSU Extension’s Mobile Design Lab, a 35-foot bus that helps deliver on-site educational programming across the state in areas where computer science education resources are limited.

“Our goal is to move youth from content consumers of technology to content creators with technology,” said Mark Light, leader, Ohio 4-H STEM and digital engagement specialist, who also leads the Clovers CODE initiative.