[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":417},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header":3,"footer":32,"footer-cities":56,"content-\u002Fnews\u002Fas-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas":237},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":10,"extension":13,"links":14,"meta":26,"navigation":27,"path":28,"seo":29,"stem":30,"__hash__":31},"header\u002Fheader.md","Central Valley AI",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":9},"minimark",[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":12},"",2,[],"md",[15,20],{"label":16,"to":17,"icon":19},"News",{"path":18},"\u002Fnews\u002F","mdi-newspaper-variant-outline",{"label":21,"to":22,"icon":25},"Contact",{"path":23,"hash":24},"\u002F","#contact","mdi-email-outline",{},true,"\u002Fheader",{"title":5,"description":10},"header","CcnlvU-MIELm1QjRt6-8EIWzffq9TShbzfGuB7P8caE",{"id":33,"title":34,"body":35,"copyright":39,"description":10,"developedBy":40,"extension":13,"links":46,"meta":51,"navigation":27,"path":52,"seo":53,"stem":54,"__hash__":55},"footer\u002Ffooter.md","Footer",{"type":7,"value":36,"toc":37},[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":38},[],"© {year} All rights reserved.",{"label":41,"link":42},"Developed by",{"label":43,"to":44,"target":45},"Kaweah Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech","_blank",[47,48],{"label":16,"to":18},{"label":49,"to":50},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{},"\u002Ffooter",{"description":10},"footer","hsL9eJ4YEacLAdbs9C023GtZ9cLz07zVbmRn545fjvk",[57,87,125,156,183,210],{"id":58,"title":59,"body":60,"county":79,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":80,"meta":81,"navigation":27,"path":82,"seo":83,"stem":84,"tag":85,"__hash__":86},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield.md","Bakersfield",{"type":7,"value":61,"toc":76},[62,67],[63,64,66],"h2",{"id":65},"ai-in-bakersfield","AI in Bakersfield",[68,69,70,71,75],"p",{},"Bakersfield's AI conversation sits at the intersection of municipal government, the ",[72,73,74],"strong",{},"California State University Bakersfield"," community, and the energy and ag operators that drive Kern County's economy. The city was an early mover on AI-assisted permitting and has been a recurring backdrop for parent- and teacher-led debates about classroom AI use. Articles below follow specific Bakersfield initiatives, public-meeting decisions, and Kern County workforce stories — and how they reflect national AI trends from a regional vantage point.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":77},[78],{"id":65,"depth":11,"text":66},"Kern County","Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County are home to some of the most concrete AI-in-government experiments in the Central Valley, from instant municipal permitting to school-district debates about classroom AI. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is reshaping public services, education, and the energy and agriculture economies that dominate the region.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield",{"title":59,"description":10},"cities\u002Fbakersfield","bakersfield","ozFL4HvDA_g7UrRE1mHbKqcS-vDLwbiH9JWVh3rB2Ac",{"id":88,"title":89,"body":90,"county":117,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":118,"meta":119,"navigation":27,"path":120,"seo":121,"stem":122,"tag":123,"__hash__":124},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno.md","Fresno",{"type":7,"value":91,"toc":114},[92,96,111],[63,93,95],{"id":94},"ai-in-fresno","AI in Fresno",[68,97,98,99,102,103,106,107,110],{},"Fresno's AI story spans several distinct ecosystems. ",[72,100,101],{},"Fresno State"," and the ",[72,104,105],{},"California State University"," system anchor a workforce-readiness push, while local ",[72,108,109],{},"Fresno Unified School District"," debates around responsible use have made the city a recurring reference point in California's K-12 AI conversation. The city's economic base in agriculture, healthcare, and public services means most AI adoption stories here are about applied uses rather than model development — a different posture than coastal tech hubs but arguably more consequential for the people living here.",[68,112,113],{},"Use the articles below to follow how AI is showing up in Fresno-area institutions and businesses.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":115},[116],{"id":94,"depth":11,"text":95},"Fresno County","Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley and the regional center for AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, higher education, and small business. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being applied — and contested — in and around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno",{"title":89,"description":10},"cities\u002Ffresno","fresno","gOL2xk8y9t9OV6PPxP02OjYhZFHC_Cg-VGijh_V93dI",{"id":126,"title":127,"body":128,"county":148,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":149,"meta":150,"navigation":27,"path":151,"seo":152,"stem":153,"tag":154,"__hash__":155},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced.md","Merced",{"type":7,"value":129,"toc":145},[130,134],[63,131,133],{"id":132},"ai-in-merced","AI in Merced",[68,135,136,137,140,141,144],{},"Merced is a research-heavy node in the Central Valley AI ecosystem. ",[72,138,139],{},"UC Merced"," faculty appear in national conversations about AI safety, autonomous vehicles, climate modeling, and pediatric health applications, while the ",[72,142,143],{},"Merced Unified School District"," and surrounding county institutions navigate the same K-12 and workforce questions the rest of the Valley faces. The articles below cover both the campus research story and the broader applied uses around the city and county.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":146},[147],{"id":132,"depth":11,"text":133},"Merced County","Merced punches above its weight in AI research, anchored by UC Merced — a leading West Coast hub for AI in agriculture, climate, autonomous systems, and health. Coverage on this page tracks both academic research coming out of the campus and how AI is showing up across Merced's schools, businesses, and county institutions.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced",{"title":127,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmerced","merced","pSWWlEzMdcv2_RZrUKdkEHU3bixNboePGdHbSdd1m34",{"id":157,"title":158,"body":159,"county":175,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":176,"meta":177,"navigation":27,"path":178,"seo":179,"stem":180,"tag":181,"__hash__":182},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto.md","Modesto",{"type":7,"value":160,"toc":172},[161,165],[63,162,164],{"id":163},"ai-in-modesto","AI in Modesto",[68,166,167,168,171],{},"Modesto's AI conversation tends to combine ag-tech adoption stories with workforce-readiness questions for the city's small and mid-sized employers. ",[72,169,170],{},"CSU Stanislaus"," and the regional community college network shape the higher-ed angle. Coverage below follows Modesto-area AI announcements and the wider Stanislaus County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":173},[174],{"id":163,"depth":11,"text":164},"Stanislaus County","Modesto and Stanislaus County sit between the Bay Area and the southern Valley, and their AI story reflects that bridging role — from agriculture and food processing to the **California State University Stanislaus** community to small businesses adapting to AI-driven changes in marketing, hiring, and operations.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto",{"title":158,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmodesto","modesto","l75Dc40MX8wTb4lD088Yx9we4ypuDwmcvE-uEdqqREc",{"id":184,"title":185,"body":186,"county":202,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":203,"meta":204,"navigation":27,"path":205,"seo":206,"stem":207,"tag":208,"__hash__":209},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton.md","Stockton",{"type":7,"value":187,"toc":199},[188,192],[63,189,191],{"id":190},"ai-in-stockton","AI in Stockton",[68,193,194,195,198],{},"Stockton's economic base in logistics, healthcare, and higher education gives the city a different AI profile than the southern Valley. ",[72,196,197],{},"University of the Pacific"," anchors the academic conversation, while San Joaquin County government, hospitals, and warehouse operators are navigating practical adoption questions: cost, training, security, workforce impact. The articles below track Stockton-area AI announcements and the broader San Joaquin County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":200},[201],{"id":190,"depth":11,"text":191},"San Joaquin County","Stockton and San Joaquin County sit at the northern edge of the Central Valley, where logistics, healthcare, and the University of the Pacific shape the local AI adoption story. Coverage on this page follows how AI is being put to work — and questioned — across San Joaquin County's institutions, employers, and public services.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton",{"title":185,"description":10},"cities\u002Fstockton","stockton","TYEBK9akp2HbpAFmYY67FeKt7Rs7L8tvtYeQBtgJAHw",{"id":211,"title":212,"body":213,"county":229,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":230,"meta":231,"navigation":27,"path":232,"seo":233,"stem":234,"tag":235,"__hash__":236},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia.md","Visalia",{"type":7,"value":214,"toc":226},[215,219],[63,216,218],{"id":217},"ai-in-visalia","AI in Visalia",[68,220,221,222,225],{},"Visalia's AI footprint is grounded in the practical adoption stories that come with a Tulare County economy built around agriculture, food processing, and rural healthcare. ",[72,223,224],{},"College of the Sequoias"," and the surrounding K-12 districts anchor the education conversation. The articles below cover Visalia-area AI developments and the Tulare County context, with a focus on applied uses rather than research or model development.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":227},[228],{"id":217,"depth":11,"text":218},"Tulare County","Visalia is the largest city in Tulare County and a center for agriculture, healthcare, and county-government services in the southern Central Valley. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being adopted across Tulare County's schools, hospitals, ag operations, and small business community.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia",{"title":212,"description":10},"cities\u002Fvisalia","visalia","gN4g7aAl-cqD4FfSTgtTAarltUoKLh8NFlPzCbZngqU",{"id":238,"title":239,"archived":240,"author":241,"body":242,"date":405,"dateModified":405,"description":406,"extension":13,"meta":407,"navigation":27,"path":408,"rawbody":409,"seo":410,"sitemap":411,"stem":412,"tags":413,"__hash__":416},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fas-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas.md","As AI chatbots rise, Bakersfield kids learn coding plus critical thinking at Code Ninjas",false,"CVAI Education Desk",{"type":7,"value":243,"toc":397},[244,248,252,270,277,281,296,303,307,322,325,329,340,343,349,353,363,366,369,384,387,391],[245,246,239],"h1",{"id":247},"as-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas",[63,249,251],{"id":250},"building-tech-skills-early","Building tech skills early",[68,253,254,255,257,258,261,262,265,266,269],{},"In ",[72,256,59],{},", a local ",[72,259,260],{},"Code Ninjas"," program is introducing children to coding at an early age as artificial intelligence and digital tools become more common in school and everyday life. The program, located near ",[72,263,264],{},"Calloway Drive and Brimhall Road",", serves students from ",[72,267,268],{},"ages 5 to 14"," and is designed to help them create interactive digital projects such as video games while learning the logic behind how technology works.",[68,271,272,273,276],{},"Owner ",[72,274,275],{},"Mina Rama"," frames the effort as more than an extracurricular activity. The goal is to help children become comfortable with technology in the same way they are expected to build foundations in reading and math. That emphasis reflects a broader shift in education, where digital literacy is increasingly treated as a core skill rather than a specialized one.",[63,278,280],{"id":279},"how-the-program-teaches-coding","How the program teaches coding",[68,282,283,284,287,288,291,292,295],{},"Instruction is tailored by age. Younger children, generally between ",[72,285,286],{},"5 and 7",", begin with ",[72,289,290],{},"block-based coding"," and visual learning activities, including work on tablets and offline exercises meant to match their developmental stage. Older students start with a similar foundation and then progress toward ",[72,293,294],{},"text-based JavaScript",", giving them a clearer path from basic concepts to more advanced programming.",[68,297,298,299,302],{},"The program also uses a ",[72,300,301],{},"belt-based system",", giving students visible milestones as they move through the curriculum. That structure appears intended to make technical learning feel more approachable and motivating, especially for children who may be encountering coding for the first time.",[63,304,306],{"id":305},"learning-persistence-and-problem-solving","Learning persistence and problem-solving",[68,308,309,310,313,314,317,318,321],{},"Rama said the instruction focuses heavily on ",[72,311,312],{},"logic, reasoning, and breaking large problems into smaller steps",", suggesting that the real value lies not only in producing code but in learning how to think through challenges methodically. That approach is reinforced by instructors such as ",[72,315,316],{},"Alana Jackson",", a ",[72,319,320],{},"Ridgeview High School"," student who teaches at the center and has been coding since she was 10.",[68,323,324],{},"Her perspective highlights one of the program’s strongest themes: the payoff often comes when students work through frustration and eventually solve a problem on their own. In that sense, the classes are as much about resilience and confidence as they are about technical fluency.",[63,326,328],{"id":327},"responding-to-the-rise-of-ai-chatbots","Responding to the rise of AI chatbots",[68,330,331,332,335,336,339],{},"A major reason the program feels timely is the growing presence of ",[72,333,334],{},"AI chatbots"," in students’ lives. Rama said children increasingly mention using tools like ",[72,337,338],{},"ChatGPT"," for homework, which has changed the kinds of conversations happening in class. Instead of treating AI as something to avoid entirely, the program appears to be teaching students how to question what those systems produce, evaluate whether responses are accurate, and understand when they need to investigate further.",[68,341,342],{},"That focus on skepticism and safe use is especially important as AI tools become easier for young students to access. Rather than simply showing children how to generate answers faster, the program is trying to teach them how to assess information, recognize limits, and avoid taking automated outputs at face value.",[344,345,346],"blockquote",{},[68,347,348],{},"“It’s not just a syntax, it’s critical thinking.”",[63,350,352],{"id":351},"why-it-matters-in-bakersfield-and-beyond","Why it matters in Bakersfield and beyond",[68,354,355,356,358,359,362],{},"For ",[72,357,59],{}," and the broader ",[72,360,361],{},"Central Valley",", the effort speaks to a larger need to prepare young people for a future shaped by software, automation, and AI-assisted work. Programs like this can help local students build familiarity with the technologies that are increasingly influencing education, employment, and communication.",[68,364,365],{},"The story also underscores an important point for technology development more broadly: AI literacy is not only about learning to use tools, but about learning to question them. By combining coding lessons with critical thinking, the Bakersfield program is positioning students to be more thoughtful users and creators of technology, not just passive consumers of it.",[68,367,368],{},"Parents interested in enrolling children can visit during weekday morning hours.",[68,370,371],{},[372,373,374,375,377,378,383],"em",{},"Central Valley AI is produced by the ",[72,376,241],{}," team and developed by ",[379,380,43],"a",{"href":44,"rel":381},[382],"nofollow",", a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.",[385,386],"hr",{},[63,388,390],{"id":389},"source","Source",[68,392,393],{},[379,394,395],{"href":395,"rel":396},"https:\u002F\u002Fbakersfieldnow.com\u002Fnews\u002Feyewitness-mornings\u002Fas-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas",[382],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":398},[399,400,401,402,403,404],{"id":250,"depth":11,"text":251},{"id":279,"depth":11,"text":280},{"id":305,"depth":11,"text":306},{"id":327,"depth":11,"text":328},{"id":351,"depth":11,"text":352},{"id":389,"depth":11,"text":390},"2026-04-28","A Bakersfield after-school program is teaching children coding, problem-solving, and how to think critically about AI tools as technology becomes a larger part of daily life.",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fas-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas","---\ntitle: \"As AI chatbots rise, Bakersfield kids learn coding plus critical thinking at Code Ninjas\"\ndescription: \"A Bakersfield after-school program is teaching children coding, problem-solving, and how to think critically about AI tools as technology becomes a larger part of daily life.\"\ndate: 2026-04-28\ntags:\n  - education\n  - coding\n  - bakersfield\nauthor: \"CVAI Education Desk\"\ndateModified: \"2026-04-28\"\n---\n\n# As AI chatbots rise, Bakersfield kids learn coding plus critical thinking at Code Ninjas\n\n## Building tech skills early\n\nIn **Bakersfield**, a local **Code Ninjas** program is introducing children to coding at an early age as artificial intelligence and digital tools become more common in school and everyday life. The program, located near **Calloway Drive and Brimhall Road**, serves students from **ages 5 to 14** and is designed to help them create interactive digital projects such as video games while learning the logic behind how technology works.\n\nOwner **Mina Rama** frames the effort as more than an extracurricular activity. The goal is to help children become comfortable with technology in the same way they are expected to build foundations in reading and math. That emphasis reflects a broader shift in education, where digital literacy is increasingly treated as a core skill rather than a specialized one.\n\n## How the program teaches coding\n\nInstruction is tailored by age. Younger children, generally between **5 and 7**, begin with **block-based coding** and visual learning activities, including work on tablets and offline exercises meant to match their developmental stage. Older students start with a similar foundation and then progress toward **text-based JavaScript**, giving them a clearer path from basic concepts to more advanced programming.\n\nThe program also uses a **belt-based system**, giving students visible milestones as they move through the curriculum. That structure appears intended to make technical learning feel more approachable and motivating, especially for children who may be encountering coding for the first time.\n\n## Learning persistence and problem-solving\n\nRama said the instruction focuses heavily on **logic, reasoning, and breaking large problems into smaller steps**, suggesting that the real value lies not only in producing code but in learning how to think through challenges methodically. That approach is reinforced by instructors such as **Alana Jackson**, a **Ridgeview High School** student who teaches at the center and has been coding since she was 10.\n\nHer perspective highlights one of the program’s strongest themes: the payoff often comes when students work through frustration and eventually solve a problem on their own. In that sense, the classes are as much about resilience and confidence as they are about technical fluency.\n\n## Responding to the rise of AI chatbots\n\nA major reason the program feels timely is the growing presence of **AI chatbots** in students’ lives. Rama said children increasingly mention using tools like **ChatGPT** for homework, which has changed the kinds of conversations happening in class. Instead of treating AI as something to avoid entirely, the program appears to be teaching students how to question what those systems produce, evaluate whether responses are accurate, and understand when they need to investigate further.\n\nThat focus on skepticism and safe use is especially important as AI tools become easier for young students to access. Rather than simply showing children how to generate answers faster, the program is trying to teach them how to assess information, recognize limits, and avoid taking automated outputs at face value.\n\n> “It’s not just a syntax, it’s critical thinking.”\n\n## Why it matters in Bakersfield and beyond\n\nFor **Bakersfield** and the broader **Central Valley**, the effort speaks to a larger need to prepare young people for a future shaped by software, automation, and AI-assisted work. Programs like this can help local students build familiarity with the technologies that are increasingly influencing education, employment, and communication.\n\nThe story also underscores an important point for technology development more broadly: AI literacy is not only about learning to use tools, but about learning to question them. By combining coding lessons with critical thinking, the Bakersfield program is positioning students to be more thoughtful users and creators of technology, not just passive consumers of it.\n\nParents interested in enrolling children can visit during weekday morning hours.\n\n*Central Valley AI is produced by the **CVAI Education Desk** team and developed by [Kaweah Tech](https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech), a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.*\n\n---\n\n## Source\n\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fbakersfieldnow.com\u002Fnews\u002Feyewitness-mornings\u002Fas-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas\n",{"title":239,"description":406},{"loc":408},"news\u002Fas-ai-chatbots-rise-bakersfield-kids-learn-coding-plus-critical-thinking-at-code-ninjas",[414,415,85],"education","coding","QLPkRYEoZnE6jrRh_pj1wOSvLj2j3Qi3aPcezsk-JfY",1779739125160]