AUSTIN, Texas—Girlstart and Austin Independent School District announced a new program to promote computer science education with girls on Tuesday. The program, which will supplement current Girlstart After School STEM programming, is the result of a $100,000 grant from Google. Seven AISD schools will participate in this new program, which will reach a total of 105 to 140 girls (about 15-20 girls per school).
Interview opportunities with representatives from Girlstart, AISD and Google, as well as photo and video opportunities of girls participating in a current Girlstart After School program will be available Tuesday, Nov. 19.
When: 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19
Where: McBee Elementary, 1101 W. Braker Lane, Austin, Texas, 78758
The new Girlstart program will consist of three semesters of computer science programs, which will include a series of STEM Saturday workshops in three different computer science areas:
- App development
- Video game development
- Robotics
Each semester will focus on a new theme to allow these girls hands-on experience in multiple types of computer science programming, including coding with Raspberry Pi and MakeyMakey devices; building functional apps; developing video games and apps; and programming robots to solve team-based, practical challenges. All girls will be provided with opportunities to continue their learning experiences following the program’s close. In addition, they will be encouraged to participate in Girlstart’s broader alumna program, Girls’ Alumnae Board, to continue their engagement in CS and STEM.
To learn more about Girlstart’s STEM programming within AISD, please visit Girlstart.org.