Things to know about a new initiative Google is launching this week called:

“Made with Code.”

WHAT IS “MADE WITH CODE?”

The Google-led version of this initiative is getting a lot of coverage in the national press. It’s an effort to get more girls involved in computer programming. A website launching Thursday features female role-model techies who write software. They write code to design cool fabrics or choreograph dances and much more. There are simple, fun coding lessons aimed at girls and a directory of coding programs for girls. The search giant is also offering $50 million in grants to support girls coding.

A “Made With Code” kick-off event is scheduled for Thursday in New York with 150 girls, where indie rockers Icona Pop will perform and coders will demonstrate how they make everything from animated movies to designer fabrics with software.

WHY IS GOOGLE INVOLVED?

“Coding is a new literacy, and it gives people the potential to create, innovate and quite literally change the world. We’ve got to show all girls that computer science is an important part of their future and that it’s a foundation to pursue their passions, no matter what field they want to enter. Made with Code is a great step toward doing that.” — Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube and early Google employee.

Inserted from http://www.inc.com/associated-press/google-new-initiative-to-get-girls-code.html It’s a growing trend that is really important to our economy, both nationally and right here in Greensboro. According to CBS News yesterday there are “less than one percent of high school girls think of computer science as part of their future, even though it’s one of the fastest-growing fields in the U.S. today with a projected 4.2 million jobs by 2020, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

This is not a new effort. Here in Greensboro, NC, we have some great opportunities for girls to get started on their own made with code program. My daughter has participated and a number of her friends. AAUW Greensboro is one of approximately twenty local branches in North Carolina. With over 75 members and several college/university partner affiliates, the organization meets monthly from September to April. In addition, we hold special events of interest to members and of service to women and girls in Greensboro such as $tart$mart and TriadTechSavvy. 

Inserted from http://greensboro-nc.aauw.net/

Imagine today’s world without computers. Computers and information technology have impacted every field you can imagine – business, manufacturing, health care, sports, entertainment including travel and tourism. Made with code is happening. We live in a digital world that opens new frontiers almost daily. New, exciting, IT related careers emerge such as Cyber Law, Gaming, Apparel design, Bioinformatics, etc. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that by 2016, five out of the top ten fastest growing jobs relate to IT (check out theFAQpage for more information). Most IT jobs require good skills in communication, problem solving, creativity, human interaction and collaboration – the kinds of skills most often attributed to women.

UNCG is currently working in collaboration with theNational Center for Women in IT and Guilford County Schoolsto increase awareness about IT education and careers among middle-school girls in grades 6 through 8. High-school students who have participated in past summer camps will be invitedto serve as teen mentors. Thanks to a grant fromLincoln Financial Group, and Aspire IT Middle School program, UNCG is able to offer this summer camp again for middle school girls in 2014. Through hands-on activities, participants will:

• Create animations and video games using MIT’s “SCRATCH” software – Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu) is a programming
• environment that was designed specifically to allow people to quickly begin creating their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art.  It is a project of the MIT Media Lab’s “Lifelong Kindergarten Group,” and is widely used to enable students to explore their digital creativity.
• Design web pages – Students will learn how to design and publish web pages.
• Develop Android mobile applications using Google AppInventor (http://beta.appinventor.mit.edu/about/) which uses many of the same ideas as Scratch to create an easy-to-use programming environment, but is specifically designed to create apps for Android smartphones and devices. Have a great idea for a simple Android app? Learn how you could turn that into reality using AppInventor!
• Film Festival – “Become a video Diva. Learn to tell a digital story by creating a storyboard, filming, and editing your very own video production.”
• LEGO® Robotics – work with robotic sets that allow your student to bring their toys to life.
• Explore computer and Internet security
• Build and repair computers
• Field Trips to area industries (locations TBD)All participants will receive a complimnetary flashdrive in order take their projects home, as well as a copy of the SCRATCH programming software. Please feel free to browse the websites for the previous workshops in the archives link.Additional information on how to register your child can be found in the Registration Information section. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

From <http://wiit.uncg.edu/>

Email: wiit@uncg.edu

Made with code is such an important initiative. It is great that there are such great programs locally and now globally. Getting involved is the right thing to do.