January 16, 2020 | Microsoft Coding Workshop with Federal Way, Franklin, Graham-Kapowsin and Challenger High Schools
A large group of 71 girls/non-binary students from Federal Way, Franklin, Graham-Kapowsin, and Challenger High Schools visited Microsoft on an engaging IGNITE field trip to learn about computer science and STEM careers! Students were greeted enthusiastically by Microsoft staff, who had our name tags all ready for our arrival. The facility was amazing, with cool lighting, table games, and a great presentation and activity space with tables and computers.
Liz Bander and Liz Maher got us started on the coding activity and made it fun. They demonstrated on the TV screens so the girls could follow, and provided written instructions as well. Students programmed a turtle to move around the screen. By using a series of simple commands, the turtle was able to draw a box and then a variety of shapes such as flowers.
Many of the girls were able to get started quickly and run with it. Others were a little more tentative to start, but then were able to create the turtle going through the maze and gained new confidence! As students got more comfortable they were able to manipulate parts of the code to change the line color, background color or speed. It was great to see their confidence develop and the realization that they could actually code - and that it was kind of fun!
During this time, other Microsoft employees including Brittany DiGenova, Molly O’Donnell, Mary Beth Thome, Amara Gordon, Viv Liao and Christina Tobias were helpful in encouraging students when their coding sequences ran into errors and assisting them with figuring out how to code some of their creative ideas.
A special shout out to Liz Bander for her passion about coding, getting young girls involved and excited about coding, and knowledge about coding and teaching!
After lunch, an engaging panel of Microsoft employees gave valuable career guidance and tips to our students, including Viv Liao, Katina Reece, Angela Harris, Sufen Fong, and Jenny Lian. The panelists shared their backgrounds and stories, how they got started at Microsoft, and advice for how to nurture an interest in coding and technology careers. It was great to hear that there are options for getting started, including the traditional four-year college route of course, but also the LEAP program, Apprenti, which is an apprenticeship training program for tech, and ADA Developers Academy. It is important for these young girls to know that there are different ways to get where they want to go!
Students really enjoyed being able to talk to successful women in the field and getting to ask questions. A lot of the girls who already had some coding experience got even more confirmation to keep going down that path. It was incredible to see these young ladies so excited about the possibilities and different options that are waiting for them after they graduate.
The girls left with some great takeaways, which are always great reminders for us professionals as well!
- Other women have done this, so can you!
- Support each other
- Don’t forget to share and give!
- Be a well-rounded person
- Believe in yourself!
- Find friends who will support you
These events are so important because they fuel an interest in computers, technology and STEM that was already there and provide the opportunity for self-discovery and exploration. No matter the outcome, these girls benefitted from meeting strong, independent, confident women - some not much older than themselves! - who are successful and making a great living and career.
Thank you for the opportunity to visit Microsoft and meet these amazing women in technology. We are changing the futures of young women! Thank you Liz Bander, Liz Maher, Brittany DiGenova, Molly O’Donnell, Mary Beth Thome, Amara Gordon, Viv Liao, Christina Tobias, Angela Harris, Sufen Fong, and Jenny Lian, and the IGNITE team, for making this possible!