Programming mini-course brings together IMPA Tech students and young people from PI

An introductory course in algorithm analysis and programming brought together undergraduates from the Technology and Innovation Mathematics bachelor’s degree program and high school students from Piauí’s public school system. Over the last two weeks, 68 young people from Piauí have passed through IMPA Tech’s classrooms and computer labs to take part in the training experience. The extension activity was taught by Professor Uéverton Souza, who had the support of IMPA Tech students as monitors and mentors.

The course contributed to the students’ education, promoting a collaborative experience of teaching, learning and exchanging knowledge. “It was a great experience to be able to pass on the knowledge we acquired during our degree. Remembering how much fun it was to learn how to make a computer perform an algorithm and feeling a little like our programming monitors felt when they were teaching us,” said Alan Santos.

Professor Souza conducted theoretical and practical lessons, going through the initial ideas of computing. “The activity aimed to present fundamental concepts of programming logic and algorithm analysis, bringing participants closer to computational thinking and scientific practice,” he explained.

The people from Piauí were Seduckathon 2025 finalistsThe students took part in IMPA Tech, the largest student innovation and entrepreneurship marathon in the Northeast, and won a trip to Rio de Janeiro as a prize for the competition. In addition to the course at IMPA Tech, they visited IMPA’s headquarters in Jardim Botânico and took part in tourist experiences in museums and educational institutions in the city.

Young Marya Klara Lopes, from Jerumenha (PI), was one of those selected. “The meetings with Professor Ueverton were very enriching. He was able to explain the content clearly and didactically. What I liked most was the way he encouraged the class to participate and brought practical examples, which helped a lot with understanding and made the lessons more dynamic,” she said.

A third-year high school student at CETI Sebastião Rocha Leal, Marya also interacted with the IMPA Tech undergraduates. “Everyone was very receptive, collaborative and open to exchanging ideas. The environment was very conducive to learning, as there was a spirit of cooperation, and the classrooms are comfortable and well-equipped, and the laboratories offer excellent conditions for practicing programming,” she added.

For undergraduate student Guilherme Willemen, the experience was motivating. “I believe that having this exchange with high school students is very important. Leaving the position of student to be able to contribute in some way to the education of other people teaches us important skills for professional and personal life, such as practicing empathy and care by having patience to pass on the knowledge we have acquired here. It gives me a sense of pride to know that because of this ‘little ant’ work we can contribute and encourage the students of Piauí,” she said.