Microsoft Coding Workshop with Woodmont, Nautilus & Broadview Thomson Elementary Schools

 

On October 25th, students from Woodmont Elementary, Nautilus Elementary, and Broadview Thomson Elementary Schools visited Microsoft’s Redmond campus for an exciting day of coding workshops! The girls learned the fundamentals of coding using Microsoft Small Basic, and practiced programming animations. After enjoying lunch, they got to hear the inspirational stories of women who work at Microsoft. In the Q&A portion of the panel, students found out what it takes to have a successful career in a STEM field. They learned that with continued effort, it is possible for them to achieve their loftiest goals!

“This was such an empowering experience for our 4th and 5th grade girls. There were so many wonderful learning opportunities throughout the day! The biggest and most important one however, was that no matter where you come from or who you are, that once you set your mind on your dreams and goals anything is truly possible. Thank you for inspiring our next generation of strong and powerful women leaders!“

– Carolyn Poole, Broadview Thomson

 

 

After attending this event:

86%

of girls/non-binary students are more interested in STEM

64%

of girls/non-binary students want to study harder to attend college and further their education

Here’s what the students had to say:

Thank you for giving us your time to teach us how to code and remind us that we can do anything we want. I learned a lot about how to use small basic and how your work inspires people all around the world. When you said “keep asking questions”, it really inspired me because if I can keep asking questions then I’ll get smarter and get a cool and inspiring job like yours!

– 5th grade

Thank you for giving us your time and for thinking about us. I learned a lot about how your work can inspire others and that life can be great. When Chandler said “girls can do anything” it really inspired me because it made me feel special! 

– 5th grade

 

Thank you for teaching us how to code and to use Small Basic which showed me that coding can be fun! I learned a lot about people’s lives and how they got to Microsoft, and how or why you became an engineer. I also learned how your work can inspire others. When Eliza said “be curious and ask questions”, it inspired me to be curious about things and if I have a question to ask then I should ask, because it’s good to question and be curious about things.

– 5th grade

Thank you for giving your time to see us and thinking about us. I learned a lot about people’s lives and how they became engineers and how your work can inspire others. When Sue said “read as much as you can” it really inspired me because that way you can learn.

–  4th grade

 

Thank you for teaching me how to use Small Basic. I learned a lot about people’s lives and how they ended up being engineers and how you can work to inspire others. When Eliza said to stay in school, stay motivated and ask questions, it really inspired me because I am very much planning to stay in school. I ask questions most of the time and I’m usually very motivated. So maybe I could be an engineer too.

– 5th grade

Thank you for letting us code and thank you for the food and relaxing chairs. I learned a lot about coding and about you guys. I told my mom how much I learned and how it inspired me. This is the first time I got to learn how to code, and I love coding so much now. I loved the unicorn floaty. You gave your time and helped us. I did not know Microsoft was coding, I learned so much. I got the Turtle to move. Coding made me happy and I almost got to 2,000 points on Tetris. When Chandler said that you can switch colors it inspired me because I never know you could change colors like that.

– 4th grade

 

Thank you for teaching us to code in Small Basic and giving us your time by creating this field trip for girls. I learned a lot about people’s lives and how they became engineers. I also learned how your work can inspire others. When Sue said “read as much as you can”, it really inspired me to read more because I don’t focus on reading much, and I only focus on things I could do later and not read. So I want to read more.

– 4th grade

Thank you for teaching us how to code and for inspiring us to work at Microsoft. I learned a lot about how you got into Microsoft and why. When Sue said “read a lot”, that inspired me because I like to read a lot. It was important to go on this field trip because I didn’t know how to code before I went on the trip.

–  5th grade

 

Other comments from students:

  • “It inspired me to do programming”
  • “I liked asking the lineup of women how they started just like us, and then got to work at Microsoft”
  • “I LOVED coding and am definitely doing it again”
  • “I absolutely loved the coding parts, it made me more interested”
  • “This event interested me in how they made laptops and how the first computer was made!”
  • “The turtle coding inspired me to do more coding and explore more variables and properties”
  • “I enjoyed when the women were talking, because this showed me to follow my dreams”