MKE Tech Hub Coalition’s Post

To all my parent friends traveling the county and state to take your children to summer camp your investment is not in vain. Here is why computing summer programs such as the ones offered through Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing and Girls Who Code matter to the tech pipeline. This is why university and corporate parnership are important to sustaining the pipeline. I love what I do and the impact I make! You can also read our research efforts here: https://lnkd.in/ek4T_dGZ.

I’m thrilled to celebrate 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙴𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚆𝚎𝚎𝚔—a reminder of the incredible opportunities that computer science can open for students—my own included! This week is dedicated to inspiring the next generation to dive into coding, data, problem-solving, and innovation. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or student, there are countless ways to explore computer science together. Resources like csedweek.org offer ideas, activities, and inspiration to get started or take things further. Let’s inspire students to be creators, not just consumers, of technology! 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙼 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢? #CSEdWeek #ComputerScienceEducation #FutureOfTech #EducationMatters #STEM #STEAM

"Speaking to the idea of young women in STEM, you know, we'll sometimes get girls who are very interested in the graphic arts, or maybe they're into gaming. And they'll come to the space because they hear about this really cool program that has tech tools and food, and it's just open to them after school. And they come, and then they stick around for the content." I hosted an incredible session with Mary Jo Madda, Senior Program Manager at Google, last week on More Than A Test! Mary Jo's primary responsibility is guiding Code Next, a program initiated in 2016. Code Next was created to offer high school students opportunities in computer science, akin to the support athletes receive from a young age. Through her role, Madda is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of tech talent by providing them with the resources and mentorship they need to succeed. Watch: https://lnkd.in/gkMC-ckB Listen: https://vist.ly/3an66 Episode Highlights - Bias in AI: Our conversation sheds light on the crucial need for diversity in creating AI tools to prevent bias from being embedded in algorithmic models. - Code Next Initiative: Discover how Code Next, Google's program for Black, Latino, Hispanic, and Indigenous high school students, is shaping the future of tech education with its innovative, free after-school program. - Ethical Considerations in EdTech: We delve into the ethical parallels between the healthcare and education tech sectors, highlighting the importance of genuine intentions and accountability. #education #leadership #AI #learning

There’s no limit to what our girls can do, and that’s why it’s vital to give our students the tools to change the face of tech. I’m excited to announce that we partnered with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to find out the real impact that our Summer Programs can have on our students’ path to CS careers. The study confirms what we at Girls Who Code have long believed: our Summer Programs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of tech education and fostering gender diversity within the industry. According to the report, students who participate in Girls Who Code's Summer Programs are significantly more likely to pursue computer science-related majors in college compared to their peers. We credit this achievement to our holistic approach to computer science education, which emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity through programs like the Summer Immersion Program (SIP) and the Self-Paced Program (SPP). These initiatives not only provide structured learning opportunities but also cater to diverse learning preferences, ensuring that every student can thrive. At Girls Who Code, we are not just teaching coding skills; we are empowering young women to envision themselves as future leaders in tech. By scaling up our Summer Programs and reaching thousands more students each year, we are confident that we can continue to make significant strides toward a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated team at AIR for their rigorous research and validation of our programs' impact. Their findings reinforce our commitment to expanding access to tech education and closing the gender gap in technology. Together, let's celebrate these achievements and renew our commitment to creating opportunities that empower young women to excel in tech. Join us in shaping a future where every coder can realize their full potential. To learn more, check out the full report below. https://bit.ly/3RLW86B

5 Lessons Learned from 9 Amazing High Schoolers today. I got to volunteer as a mentor at SheTech Explorer day today hosted by the Women Tech Council. SheTech is an opportunity for high school girls to explore STEM careers and education pathways, and it was awesome! As a mentor I got to work with these ladies as they solved a tech challenge that was given to them. In just a short time, here are a few things I learned: 1. Don't apologize when sharing your ideas. Your ideas are awesome, amazing, and brilliant. You don't need to ask forgiveness for their existence. You need to SHARE them. 2. Collaboration creates the solution. One person couldn't solve the problem we were given. Everyone had to work together to create a great solution. 3. Diversity matters. Different backgrounds, races, language speakers, and ages were at my table. Everyone's voice mattered in solving the problem. In fact, the girls came up with a better solution, because everyone was so different. 4. Sometimes having LESS time to solve a problem is better. You don't need a lot of time to be creative and solution-oriented. These girls had ~30 minutes to solve the challenge and present it to a judge. In that period of time, the girls went from having zero ideas to deciding on a problem to solve, creating solutions for that problem, developing a slogan and a title, and designing a presentation. 5. Girls need encouragement. Oh, they need so much encouragement. Almost every girl at my table had at least one moment where they apologized for speaking or where they didn't speak at all, because they were too scared to share their ideas. As parents, educators, leaders, members of the tech industry, and just as humans, we need to encourage these girls to share more and do more rather than hiding and apologizing for existing. Then we need to stand back and watch them do amazing things.

On November 16, New York Tech hosted a networking and learning event on responsible technology careers that brought together dozens of students from New York Tech, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and CUNY schools at the New York City campus. The experience was in collaboration with All Tech Is Human, a non-profit organization at the forefront of the Responsible Tech movement, dedicated to creating a tech future that is ethical, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Ten New York Tech students are training to serve as liaisons between faculty, staff, and students in areas such as AI and ethics and building the responsible tech ecosystem at New York Tech.

Melinda French Gates and her team at Pivotal Ventures, Renee Kuriyan Wittemyer, Laurel Yamaguchi and Christina Chin have been extraordinary believers, supporters and importantly, EARLY and SIGNIFICANT funders/investors in Break Through Tech. We simply would not be where we are without them - and by direct cause/effect - could not have built a program that has, and as we scale, will continue to impact the lives of so many high potential women in tech AND the business community they are entering and transforming - as described in this NEWYORKTIMES.COM article. We are on a mission to change the path to power and influence in a tech-enabled world and we could not be more grateful to Melinda French Gates for being the rocket fuel we need. Pivotal Ventures Cornell Tech

In the US, the proportion of workers in tech who are women is slighter higher than in the EU at 35%, according to a recent article by the Financial Times, but it’s clear we still have a long way to go. We don’t expect all kids to become computer scientists, but with so many careers now requiring some form of digital skills, we do believe in giving ALL kids opportunities to learn coding skills early on. Let's make sure that all of our kids feel invited, included, and confident in their STEM skills, so that they can be the inventors, entrepreneurs, and change makers using technology to solve the issues they are passionate about in our digital society. #diversityintech #womenintech #stemeducation #learntocode #teachcoding #computerscience

Today's impact story features Sophie, a 2023 TechGirl from the USA! In her story, Sophie talks about expanding her horizons and developing her confidence through the #TechGirls program. Sophie now runs projects that teach younger students about programming and the limitless opportunities that come with STEM. "My goal is to not only boost the members' confidence in their creative abilities, but also broaden their understanding of the technological world, which some may have found unfamiliar. I am confident that I can make a positive impact on our environment through my actions and motivation, inspiring me to take on greater challenges in the fields of science and technology." Read the rest of Sophie's story here: bit.ly/47qIY5x #TechGirlsGlobal #TechGirls2023

I'm so excited to be able to finally share dressCodeHQ's latest project: #ChooseComputingScience - a website designed to support parents, guardians, and any significant adults in young people's lives to ignite an interest in the world of tech and encourage them to choose Computing Science. The site is styled to appeal to young people, but #ChooseComputingScience is built with adults in mind—because you play a crucial role in nurturing future tech talent. There are so many fantastic opportunities for young people—from competitions and events to other initiatives—but this information is often shared directly with schools and teachers, even though many don’t require teacher involvement. We know that Computing Science isn't taught in every school in Scotland, and even where it is offered, there’s no equity access across schools. Compared to other traditional STEM subjects, Computing Science has the fewest teachers, the lowest overall uptake, and the largest gender gap. As a result, many of these amazing opportunities might not reach as many young people. We want to empower parents, guardians, and any key adults in young people's lives to be aware of these opportunities and share them with the young people in their lives. Upcoming events will be shared via social media and through our newsletter, and we'll keep the site regularly updated. Alongside events, the site features career inspiration in a friendly, engaging way for young people, as well as excellent books, gadgets, and videos to help nurture curiosity and interest in tech. The tech talent pipeline starts in our schools, and parents, guardians and other significant adults in young people's lives are some of the most influential figures when it comes to course choice at school. This is more than just a website—it's a movement that we hope individuals and industries in Scotland will rally behind. You can use our social media assets and the hashtag #ChooseComputingScience to help spread the word. Check out the site and share: https://lnkd.in/e3eQ6guJ Made by the incredible TwoFifths Design who always goes above and beyond! Scottish Business Network Techscaler Scottish Tech Army SCOTTISH BUSINESS RESILIENCE CENTRE LIMITED Glasgow City Innovation District Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Scottish Games Network Scottish Financial Enterprise Futurescot DIGIT.FYI