The Code Ninjas Workshop for middle school girls is from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Rheki 112.
Interested in virtual reality? Code Ninjas is for girls interested in programming computers, making and playing games,concerned about the environment and you.
Participants will learn about bees, learn to program in Processing, learn how their program can make a difference, talk to role models who program in their jobs and meet other young women interested in programming.
This workshop will focus on learning to program with an environmental theme: What is happening to the bees? We will design 3D simulations and games around the theme of bees.
Then participants will view the games in an Oculus Rift interactive virtual reality. Included in the workshop are sessions teaching girls how to program computers, an expert will discuss the environmental crisis facing bees, and panel of programmers from industry will discuss their experiences.
The following is a tentative schedule for the workshop.
9 – 10:30 a.m. Introduction to 3D Programming
Students will learn to draw simple 3D shapes. We will teach them how to use setup and draw methods, data types, and variables. Students will use graphics and colors to make a simple scene.
10:30 – 11a.m. Presentation about bees
A Michigan Tech student who studies hive-collapse disorder will talk to girls about things that impact bees, and how they can help bees to continue to pollinate our food supply.
11 a.m. – noon Programming with Objects
Girls will be introduced to objects and classes. They will learn to use objects and the functions and variables inside of classes. Girls will learn how to make a plan for their simulation and divide in into smaller steps that can be done sequentially.
Noon – 1:00 Lunch
1 – 2 p.m. Programming
Girls will program their own simulations and will work by themselves or in small groups.
2 – 2:30 p.m. Role-model Interviews
Girls will meet women who have careers/educational backgrounds in computer science, and will be able to ask them questions.
2:30 – 3 p.m. Programming
Girls will continue programming their own simulations and will work by themselves or in small groups.
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Oculus Showcase!
Girls will demo their code in the Oculus Rift. Parents are welcome to come at 4:00 to see their daughter’s simulation.
4:30 p.m. Parent pick-up.
Sarah Larkin-Driscoll and Miriam Eikenberry-Ureel, local high school students and Michigan regional winners of the prestigious NCWIT Aspirations Award, will present the workshop. They aim to teach middle school girls how to write programs that can be displayed in a 3D space.
This workshop is sponsored by an AspireIT grant from the National Center for Women & Information Technology and facilitated by the Michigan Technological University Computer Science Department.