Middle School Class Name Suggestions

[Heather Wright]

Hello,

I am trying to decide what title best suits my 8th grade middle school class. It is closest to something like 'Design Thinking.' It includes students learning software to design and create and code games and robotics. 

First, are there any other names that would be better suited? 

Second, if you have a class similar to this, what standards do you use: NGSS, STEM, Engineering, CS, ISTE, etc.? Any info is appreciated. 

Thanks,

[Jacqueline LaBerge]

Oh, you KNOW I just had to throw this into AI for you. I always have it help me name things. It's so good at this.

🧠 Design + Innovation Focus

Great if you want the process and mindset front and center.

• Creative Computing & Design
  Clear, modern, and future-ready.
• Design, Create, Innovate
  Very middle-school friendly and easy to explain to families.
• Applied Design & Technology
  Sounds intentional and skill-based.
• Digital Design Lab
  Feels hands-on and experimental.

---

💻 Coding + Creation Focus

If coding, software, and game creation are big pillars.

• Coding & Interactive Design
  Signals both logic and creativity.
• Game, Code & Create
  Student-attracting and instantly understandable.
• Creative Coding & Robotics
  Direct and honest about what happens in the room.
• Computational Design Studio
  A little elevated, but still approachable for 8th grade.

---

🤖 Engineering + Robotics Lean

If robotics and problem-solving are a major anchor.

• Robotics & Digital Design
  Clean, clear, and future-facing.
• Engineering Design Studio
  Feels professional without being intimidating.
• Innovation & Robotics Lab
  Has energy and movement baked in.

---

⭐ Catchy but Still Legit

Fun enough to hook students, solid enough for a course guide.

• Create: Code: Build
  Short, punchy, and memorable.
• Think • Design • Build
  Very aligned to design thinking without saying it outright.
• Innovation Studio
  Broad enough to grow as the course evolves.

---

My Top 3 Picks (based on what you described)

If I had to narrow it down for an 8th grade audience that includes software, game design, coding, and robotics:

1. Creative Computing & Design
2. Game, Code & Create
3. Think • Design • Build

If you want, we can:

• Align the title with high school pathways
• Make it match district course naming conventions
• Write a one-paragraph course description to go with the title
• Or tune it to sound more “engineering” or more “creative”

Just tell me the direction you want it to lean, and we’ll name it like a pro. 🎯

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” –  Yeats

Sincerely,

Jacqueline LaBerge

School District of Bonduel Computer Science Instructor

Code.org AP CSP & CSD Facilitator

Book time to meet with me

---

From: 'Heather Wright' via WI-csandit-teachers <wi-csandi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:54 AM
To: wi-csandi...@googlegroups.com <wi-csandi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [WI-csandit-teachers] Middle School Class Name Suggestions

 

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[Pavao, Aaron]

Mine's called Computational Thinking, but it's for high school.

-- 

Aaron Pavao

(he/him)

Math & Computer Science

Waunakee High School