COEUR d'ALENE - Dozens of students and teachers are participating in what's being called "Dign'IT" camps this week at the University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene.

Dign'IT, in its second year, was designed for middle school female students to help increase their interest in careers in computer science and software engineering. Twenty-six students are participating this year.

Highlights of the camp include learning software engineering and coding while incorporating design and visualization elements.

"I wanted to go to this camp because in the future I want to be a forensic scientist, but I want to make a program where you can enter in specific qualities of a person," said Makena Barnett, of Timberlake Junior High.

She said this is the most educational computer camp she has attended. She said multiple programmers have come to work with the students.

"I really like the people coming in, because it's kind of more education from different points of view," Barnett said.

This year, the program expanded to include teachers who are learning how to teach computer coding. Twenty teachers are in the program.

"The teachers are learning three programing languages," said Julie Amador, College of Education curriculum and instruction assistant professor and Dign'IT program coordinator. "The teachers are really looking at, 'Here's how I teach math through computer coding.'"

"This upcoming year, I'm looking at chemistry and physics and these programs that we're learning about really allow us to make mathematical models of different physical situations or chemical situations where it's kind of hard to picture a lot of stuff for the students," said Post Falls High School science teacher Andrew Durgan.

The free program creates a path to college and high-tech careers for local students.

UI sponsors the program, which is funded with state grant money.

"The goal of Dign'IT is to provide students with meaningful experiences that will expose them to interesting careers and motivate them to continue on the academic path needed," Amador said.

Terry Soule, College of Engineering professor of computer science, is leading the program for the girls. Robert Heckendorn, College of Engineering associate professor of computer science, is leading the program for teachers.