A wall and at least one generation separated two groups of students learning computer programming skills in Coeur d’Alene this week. In one classroom, 26 middle school girls took some of their first steps into computer coding. Next door, 20 high school teachers from across the Inland Northwest sat for similar lessons in hopes of integrating computer science into their math courses. The dual approach for girls ages 11 to 14 and for teachers is called Dig’nIT, short for Digital Innovation Generating New Information Technology, and is presented by the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene. Computer science skills are in high demand, but women still lag far behind men in pursuing those careers, said Julie Amador, director of the UI’s Idaho Regional Mathematics Center at Coeur d’Alene’s Harbor Center. Only about 15 percent of UI computer science students are females, Amador said/Scott Maben, SR. More here. (SR photo by Kathy Plonka: Rylie Rasmussen, 13, center, of Hayden, participates Thursday in University of Idaho’s software coding camp for middle school girls at the Coeur d’Alene campus)

Question: How are your computer skills?