Girls empowered to enter tech and innovation fields with coding workshop

Coding is an essential skill for anyone looking to work in software or technology.

But for a class of girls, it’s also a way of expressing creativity.

Girl’s Learning Code Day, held by the non-profit Ladies Learning Code, hosted a workshop in Peterborough to help teach girls the basics of coding.

The girls learned how to make animations using Scratch, a program that teaches the basics of coding animations and games.

“We did it in our class and I thought it was really fun and I wanted to do it again,” says nine-year-old Tilly Stimpson, who was accompanied by her dad.

She says she likes experiencing how the computer works.

That’s what Steve Blair is hoping to see. He is the head instructor for the workshop, and says he likes seeing girls interested in coding.

“It’s really inspiring, it’s something I didn’t have as a kid, and a lot of parents and volunteers say they wish they had it as kids.”

The problem with the tech and innovation sectors is they’re very male dominant says Blair, and he hopes by teaching girls how to code at a young age, they’ll want to join those fields and bring a better gender balance.

But he says even if none of the girls entered the field, it’s still worth it to teach them how to code. He adds a lot of jobs involve either working with code, or working with a programmer or web designer.

“At some point, all jobs have to do with code,” he says.

Mike Skinner, president of the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, which hosted the event, says “we’re breaking down a lot of barriers and a lot of stereotypes.”

He adds “stereotypes start at young ages, sometimes at the dinner table” so its important for children and parents to come out, since both have the opportunity to learn.

“It’s great to see multiple generations involved,” he says.

Article taken from MyKawartha.com here – https://www.mykawartha.com/community-story/7313636-girls-empowered-to-enter-tech-and-innovation-fields-with-coding-workshop/

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