Indy Standard

Middle school students from Cold Spring School have successfully combined personal experiences with technology to create a smart home project aimed at helping elderly Hoosiers live independently. This innovative approach earned them first place in the Middle School Division of the CSforGood competition, which was hosted by Nextech at the Indiana Statehouse on December 4.

The winning project brought Cold Spring School a $1,000 technology grant and awarded each team member $200. Out of more than 100 teams that applied, only 13 finalists were selected to present their projects.

Cold Spring is a K-8 environmental science and STEM magnet school within Indianapolis Public Schools. Genevieve McLeish-Petty, the computer science teacher and team sponsor at Cold Spring, commented on the students' focus: “Our students focused on how technology can address real-world problems.” She added that they developed solutions inspired by personal experiences and ethical questions explored in school-wide projects.

The student team researched common challenges faced by the elderly and designed various solutions. They took charge of coding, designing, and testing their ideas, even building a 3D model of the smart home using tools like a Glowforge laser cutter and 3D printers. Despite facing challenges with sensor accuracy, they managed to overcome these through collaboration and troubleshooting.

McLeish-Petty expressed her pride in the team's achievements: “This competition was an incredible opportunity for our students to combine their skills and creativity.” The school's commitment to innovative learning continues as Cold Spring students and staff explore ways to refine the project for future use.