Virtual Girls into Coding #6!

GIRLS! THE TECH COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU! THIS EVENT IS ORGANISED ESPECIALLY FOR YOU! COME AND JOIN US ONLINE AND GET INVOLVED!

I am delighted to invite you to our VIRTUAL "Girls Into Coding " event via Zoom! It's a free event. Choose 1 of our 4 exciting workshops. There will also be lightning talks to inspire & encourage girls aged 10 -14 to get involved in tech. Each participant can only book one workshop because they will run simultaneously.

You will be able to explore online coding activities, online robotics, 3D Design, electronics, and physical computing using the BBC Micro: bit (tiny computers), This is a fantastic opportunity to use Python (text-based language) and to get some hands-on making time from the comfort of your home

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

IF YOU BOOK MORE THAN ONE TICKET PER PARTICIPANT, YOUR BOOKING WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED.

THE 4 WORKSHOPS BELOW WILL RUN SIMULTANEOUSLY - THEREFORE EACH PARTICIPANT SHOULD ONLY BOOK ONE WORKSHOP

Workshop #1: The Crawlbot

IMPORTANT NOTE: For this workshop, Girls Into Coding (GIC)will send a kit to the participants prior to the session. GIC will provide a postage-paid envelope for the return of the kit once the event is over. Please note that this particular workshop will only be available to UK RESIDENTS.

Build a 2-legged crawling robot. Then attach a Microbit controller. Use MakeCode blocks to code the legs to move in a lifelike manner. Then code the robot to respond to your touch!

• Material needed: A computer (Windows or Mac, but not a tablet)

• Experience: No experience required

Workshop #2: Microbit Robot

IMPORTANT NOTE: For this robotics workshop, Girls Into Coding (GIC)will send a kit to the participants prior to the session. GIC will provide a postage-paid envelope for the return of the kit once the event is over. Please note that this particular workshop will only be available to UK RESIDENTS.

Build a robot powered by a Microbit that will move and avoid obstacles.

You will assemble the robot, add a motor controller board, an ultrasonic sensor, and wire the components together. You will program the robot using MicroPython.

• Materials needed:

A computer with access to the internet; the kit & instruction sheet will be been sent to the participants prior to the session.

• Experience:

The participants should have a good basic working knowledge of Python. They will be guided by instruction sheets and live demo.

Workshop #3: Robot Simulator - Avoiding obstacles with a virtual robot

We will be using an online version of the webots simulator to program a robot to avoid random obstacles as it travels across a virtual classroom! In this activity, we will learn about simple algorithms which can help robots travel to where they need to go! We will also find out about the importance of simulating robots and why this can help us write better programs!

• Material needed:

A computer and access to the internet

• Experience:

We will be writing these programs in python and it will help if you have basic experience of programming in python before. But even if you haven't you're welcome to join in and we will accommodate everyone!

Workshop #4: Exploring 3D Design

This is an exciting remote learning workshop for bright young minds where they get to compare and assess some of the best freely available 3D Design software.

Participants will quickly get up to speed on core skills, best practices, workflow process and required tasks to become a successful 3D Designer..

Participants will understand and use parametric modelling tools (shapes & measurements) and free form modelling tools (moulding & shaping digital clay).

If you have done this workshop before and you want to join again, you are welcome! We will make sure you work on new projects!

• Materials needed:

- Personal Notepad to take down important Notes, Sketches, and Observations.

- Personal Laptop. (Please download and install all software on the list under 3D Design)

1. Blender

2. SketchUp

3. Sculptris

4. TinkerCAD, (You will need to Register for a TinkerCAD account Online)

- Basic knowledge of Computers and use of the Internet

- A Portable Storage Device, e.g., USB, SD card, (8GB or over, optional)

• Experience:

Beginners are welcome. No experience required!

Workshop #5: Robots and behaviours

A fun introduction to creating behaviours for robots. We'll be using a robot simulator and programming a robot with insect like traits for moving around! We'll be using python code, but it doesn't matter if you haven't used it before.

Level: Beginner - medium

Material needed: A computer with an internet browser (Google Chrome is best)

LIGHTNING TALKS: 

Roma Agrawal MBE- @RomaTheEngineer "Building Bridges"

Roma is a chartered structural engineer who has worked with signature architects during her fifteen-year career designing footbridges, towers and sculptures; including six years as a senior structural engineer on The Shard, the tallest tower in Western Europe.

A multiple award winner, both for her technical prowess and her contribution to raising awareness of engineering as a career, Roma was given the ‘Diamond Award for Engineering Excellence’ by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering. She has appeared in documentaries and has been featured in many UK broadsheets, magazines and online; on the BBC, ITV, has given two TEDx talks about engineering.

She actively promotes engineering, scientific and technical careers to young people and particularly to under-represented groups such as women.

Roma recently authored 'Built: The hidden stories behind our structures', released in the UK and USA in February 2018, with the aim to inspire an interest in engineering with the general public.

Kate Kallot - @KallotKate

Kate specializes in creating strategic alliances that empower the global technology and developer ecosystem to drive innovation focused on solving real-world problems. Tech for Good Leader with a strong belief in the power of AI to drive social change. She believes that by using tech innovation, we can help accelerate economic development on the African continent.

She has won multiple accolades throughout her career being named Business Insider Top 100 Transformers 2020, VentureBeat Women in AI Rising Star in 2020, the CES ‘Best of Innovation Award’ and the China AI Industry Innovation Alliance ‘Most Remarkable Product Award’ in 2018.

TERMS OF PARTICIPATION - IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ

In order to be able to join our Girls Into Coding online event, you must comply with these 3 conditions below, otherwise, your registration will not be valid and will be cancelled. The event will be on Zoom.

1. Book your ticket on Eventbrite

2. Submit the consent form (available on Eventbrite online page once ticket booked). Please read it carefully.

3. Read the Girls Into Coding code of conduct for the virtual event (available on Eventbrite online page once ticket booked)

Each participant can only choose one workshop. Each workshop lasts 1.5 hours. The group activity is for all, so you do not need to book a ticket for it.

Tickets are limited to 2 maximum per family // Please register the participant only, parents do not need to register. If you book 2 tickets, the girls will need one computer each as the workshops will be running simultaneously.

Girls must be between 10 and 14 years old.

If you book a place but are unable to attend, please inform us as soon as possible so we can reallocate the place to someone on our waiting list.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

- Zoom software downloaded in advance of the call. It is free and safe and can be downloaded here: https://zoom.us/download.

- A laptop with a microphone

- A webcam or built-in camera (this is optional, but we encourage you to use your video if you feel comfortable doing so).

- Earphones, if you are not able to find a quiet space.

After registering and filling out the consent form, we will send you a Zoom link on the day of the event and provide you with an URL that will allow you to take control of the robots with your device for the group activity

Please ensure that you provide accurate contact details on registration.

If you have any access questions, please get in touch as soon as possible.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

BOOK YOUR FREE SPOT NOW!