TCS Inspires Girls to Pursue STEM Careers with goIT Program
This spring, St. Andrews School in Honolulu, Hawaii, became the first school in the state to adopt goIT, TCS’ flagship program for digital innovation and career readiness, for its 4th and 6th graders. The goIT program teaches students about artificial intelligence and how to use machine learning and classification models to design tech-for-good solutions for their community’s challenges.
The students learned by doing and applied their creativity and problem-solving skills to their projects. The program was especially successful in attracting girls and other underrepresented groups in computer science careers, as more than 75% of the participants were girls, compared to the usual rate of just over 50% for goIT.
“This program was especially exciting and rewarding for goIT,” said Leah Operana, North America goIT Program Lead, “First, it engaged so many girls, all eager and excited to learn about AI and design thinking and, second, because it brought goIT to Hawaii for the first time ever. We look forward to continuing our partnership with St. Andrew's Schools and to expanding goIT’s impact across the state.”
TCS is committed to encouraging girls to follow their dreams in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. The United States Census Bureau reports that only 27% of the STEM workforce are women. More diversity and representation in tech jobs will inspire the next generations and benefit everyone. The students from St. Andrew’s presented their digital innovation ideas as pitches to a panel of volunteer judges, who were industry experts from TCS and a celebrity judge, Hawaii Representative Scott K. Saiki of House District 25. The program’s lead facilitator, educator Peng Ratchaworapong, shared his thoughts on the experience after the showcase.
The learning materials, swag, and the time that TCS volunteers put in were so valuable,” he said. “What TCS did with this program made a big impact on these young minds and I believe the goIT experience is what every classroom should be like all of the time. I enjoyed every minute of it and just want to say a big ‘mahalo’ for your support.”
Coincidentally, Ratchaworapong had another life-changing experience thanks to TCS. He was part of Team TCS Teachers, an initiative that gives a selected group of teachers from the U.S. and Canada free entry into a top marathon. He completed the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon last year.
The students learned by doing and applied their creativity and problem-solving skills to their projects. The program was especially successful in attracting girls and other underrepresented groups in computer science careers, as more than 75% of the participants were girls, compared to the usual rate of just over 50% for goIT.
“This program was especially exciting and rewarding for goIT,” said Leah Operana, North America goIT Program Lead, “First, it engaged so many girls, all eager and excited to learn about AI and design thinking and, second, because it brought goIT to Hawaii for the first time ever. We look forward to continuing our partnership with St. Andrew's Schools and to expanding goIT’s impact across the state.”
TCS is committed to encouraging girls to follow their dreams in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. The United States Census Bureau reports that only 27% of the STEM workforce are women. More diversity and representation in tech jobs will inspire the next generations and benefit everyone. The students from St. Andrew’s presented their digital innovation ideas as pitches to a panel of volunteer judges, who were industry experts from TCS and a celebrity judge, Hawaii Representative Scott K. Saiki of House District 25. The program’s lead facilitator, educator Peng Ratchaworapong, shared his thoughts on the experience after the showcase.
The learning materials, swag, and the time that TCS volunteers put in were so valuable,” he said. “What TCS did with this program made a big impact on these young minds and I believe the goIT experience is what every classroom should be like all of the time. I enjoyed every minute of it and just want to say a big ‘mahalo’ for your support.”
Coincidentally, Ratchaworapong had another life-changing experience thanks to TCS. He was part of Team TCS Teachers, an initiative that gives a selected group of teachers from the U.S. and Canada free entry into a top marathon. He completed the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon last year.
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