Posts tagged with ‘advice’
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Goodbye
Hi there! It’s Kristi, a #TeacherWhoCodes at Pixar. I’m back for the last time this summer sharing my behind-the-scenes experiences of the Summer Immersion Program.
This was my second year , and it was the best way to spend my summer. Teaching is hard work, but I get to mold minds, encourage learning, be a role model, and experience firsthand the future innovators in technology. There’s no job that can offer more than that.
One of my favorite things about Girls Who Code is that I get to see how much students grow over such a short period of time: there were shy students who broke out of their shell; there were self-doubting students that gained confidence; students who liked to work by themselves learned how to effectively work with others.
I am also so proud of what my students accomplished in just 7 weeks. What’s more, serve to benefit society, whether it’s for social justice or raising awareness about an issue. These girls care about changing the world, and I am more proud of them for that than I am for what programming skills they learned this summer.
I am already looking forward to our reunions and learning what these girls accomplish in the future. Even if computer science doesn’t turn out to be the field they pursue, I know they all have the potential to do something great.
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Final Week :(
Hi! I’m Kristi, a teacher at Pixar and I’ve been sharing my experiences behind the scenes for the past 8 weeks. I’m sad to say that this is the final week of the Summer Immersion Program. It’s truly been the experience of a lifetime!
Monday
This was the last full day for the girls to work on their projects. We spent the entire day trying to perfect new additions to the final projects. The day went by incredibly fast because everybody was trying to get as much done as possible in the little amount of time they had.
Tuesday
The girls spent the morning testing and debugging their code and making sure everything worked as they expected. I made sure each group had their project on GitHub, and that the merging process went smoothly. They spent some time developing their two minute pitches that they would deliver at graduation. Then, they got a chance to practice in one of Pixar’s theaters!
Wednesday - GRADUATION DAY!
Wednesday was graduation day, the day the students were all waiting for! It was super exciting but also bittersweet. Everything went smoothly and it was so inspiring to see my students show off their final projects to their family and friends. I was so proud of them and their accomplishments.
Thursday
We started wrapping up the summer. The girls spent the morning filling out surveys about their experience and I had them write a letter to their future self. I also talked about and how they can get involved with one. After lunch, the girls uploaded their final projects to the for everyone to check out!.
Friday
The the last day of the summer. Went spent most of the day in denial of that fact and instead have some fun. We spend the first hour playing Kahoot! with random topics. Then, Ed Catmull, the president of Pixar came to chat with us and answer our questions. We ended the day with the Good Thoughts Web activity, where everyone said something positive about another person. There were many teary goodbyes and thank you’s, and before I knew it, everyone was gone.
I had a great summer and hope you enjoyed spending it with me!
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 6
Hi there! I’m Kristi, a teacher for Girls Who Code at Pixar, and I’m back at it with an inside look at week 6 of the and Spirit Week at Pixar! Here’s the scoop.
Monday
Time to start ! We started by breaking up into groups and working on project timelines and plans. We started Spirit Week at Pixar with Pajama Day and wore PJ’s and sweats.
Tuesday
Everyone wore different colors of the rainbow today for Color Day! The students spent all day working on their final projects while Amanda, Rhea, and I went around and answered questions. In the afternoon, Amanda and Rhea set up some songs for the groups to have a Karaoke battle!
Wednesday
It was Dress Like a Pixar Employee Day for Spirit Week, so we all dressed like Pete Doctor, Danielle Feinberg, or John Lasseter - plaid on plaid on plaid. Once again, the entire day was spent working on final projects while Amanda, Rhea, and I helped with questions. All of the groups were making good progress!
Thursday
The class dressed up like people from different decades today for Throwback Thursday! The class spent the day working on their final projects again. In the early afternoon, Amanda and Rhea set up an obstacle course so the students could play Minefield, a game where teams take turns being blindfolded and led through the obstacles by a teammate. We had a lot of fun doing this in the middle of Pixar - while getting curious looks from employees - and it was a good stress reliever!
Friday
Today was Halloween Day for Spirit Week and a lot of students dressed up like Pixar characters. They continued to work on their projects during the morning. In the afternoon, Amanda and Rhea hosted the Banana Olympics in honor of the 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremonies tonight. We had to do different relay races involving bananas. The last relay was Amanda vs. me to see who could eat a banana faster. I don’t know how she did it, but she won! At the end of the day, the groups presented their projects, which looked awesome! I can’t wait to see the final projects!
Are you interested in being a teacher for Girls Who Code?
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 5
It’s already week 5 of the Summer Immersion Program! I can’t believe it!
If you’re just tuning in, I’m Kristi, a teacher for Girls Who Code at Pixar, and I’m back for week 5 of the . Here’s the inside scoop on what went on behind the scenes!
Monday
The students are learning Robotics - that’s right, Robots - and Arduino programming this week! This morning I let the students work in groups to build circuits that would light up LED lights. Then, Alonso Martinez, a technical director at Pixar, came by and talked about his work on Coco (computability and complexity) and brought his robot, Mira, to show the class.The students loved it!
Tuesday
I taught the girls how to create sounds on their robot. The highlight of the day, though, was the extra behind-the-scenes tour we got of Pixar. We got to see some of the animators’ offices, which were decorated elaborately in different themes. One person had even knocked out his front office wall and created a new wall made out of Styrofoam stones to give it an Indiana Jones feel. You could tell that animators have a lot of fun. We also got to see the “Rendering Farm,” which is the room with computers used to render scenes - generate an image from a 2D or 3D models. AND we also got to go to the roof!
Wednesday
We started class with a conversation about gratitude. With all of the new and exciting things the students are learning and experiencing, it can be easy to overlook the hard work and generosity put into it by others. The girls then wrote thank-you notes to different people they’ve met throughout the summer to express their gratitude. After lunch, Sean “Stoked” Stephenson came by to do a Web Development Workshop. He showed the students how to create a GitHub account and host their own website on GitHub pages.
Thursday
Thursday was fun for two reasons: the girls got to make their robots move, and Jeff Stern, last year’s Pixar teacher, came to visit. In the morning, I talked about how to program the servos on the robots to make the wheels move. They spent some time writing functions for moving the robots forward, backward, left, and right. Then, Jeff gave his “Remember the Human” talk on UI design. After lunch, the students worked in groups to create a robot dance to the song of their choice. At the end of class, we had a dance party so everyone could show off what moves they programmed their robots to do.
Friday
It was our TA, Amanda’s, birthday! That meant it was her turn to be pranked! After the classic “empty box” gag, we surprised her with cupcakes.
Since final projects start next week, we finished the day brainstorming ideas and creating groups for our projects. I can’t wait to see what they create!
Are you interested in being a Girls Who Code teacher?
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 4
Hello again! I’m Kristi, a teacher for Girls Who Code at Pixar, and I’m back for week 4 of the with a sneak peek of what goes on behind the scenes. Here’s the debrief.
Monday
This week we started building websites; we began with and had the girls build their own websites, showcasing what they’ve done so far at GWC. I also did a lesson on and had them add it to their website so they could customize the design. At the end of the day, we played a variation of the freeze tag game.
Tuesday
Since the girls learned HTML and CSS on Monday, we focused on on Tuesday. I went over the syntax and how to use it when an HTML element is clicked. After lunch, I had the girls spend the rest of the afternoon adding whatever JavaScript they wanted to use on their websites while I went around answering questions. At the end of the day, everyone presented their websites in small groups and give/receive constructive feedback. Since final projects are coming up soon, it’s important for everyone to get used to presenting and receiving feedback.
Wednesday
I went over how to use and guided the class through how to add it to an HTML file. I had them break up into groups to create websites using Bootstrap that raise awareness about an issue of their choice. Once the students finished their projects, I had them present in front of the class. From Black Lives Matter to LGBTQ+ discrimination to Global Warming, the topics involved critical issues and I was so proud of the thoughtfulness and creativity involved.
In the afternoon, some Pixar employees gave a talk about toy design. While most of the design process doesn’t involve coding, it was definitely surprising to find out that there are coding parts to it.
Thursday
The class got to do all-day animation workshops with Michael Frederickson, one of Pixar’s animation technical directors! The students got to animate Toy Story characters and create different scenes for them. After lunch, the students learned about the Python module Michael and his team set up for the students to animate characters. Each group created a ten second movie and shared it with the class. There were some hilarious movies. As always, it was so much fun seeing what the girls came up with!
Friday
We finished the week learning about API’s and using the Google Maps API. I went over why API’s are useful and how to add a map to a website. I gave them the assignment to create a map of their favorite places and they worked on that for the rest of the day. Before lunch, , the writer of Finding Nemo (!!!), came to visit us! He answered some questions the class had and then took a picture with us. After lunch, while the class was working on their projects, they finally pulled another prank on me. I saw it coming because it had been so long, but they were able to outsmart me just when I thought I was catching onto them!
Are you interested in being a Girls Who Code teacher?
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 3
Hello! I’m Kristi, a teacher for Girls Who Code at Pixar, and I’m back again this week to give you an inside look at our . Here’s the scoop on week 3.
Monday
It’s time for another exciting week, and today I started off with teaching (OOP), a new and difficult concept. We started with extending their bouncing ball projects from last week, creating bouncing balls using OOP.
After lunch, my students pulled a NEW PRANK on me that I did not see coming at all. In the afternoon, we had a lovely presentation by about the storyboarding and editing process of Pixar movies. For the rest of the day the students worked on a project to create a scene of falling snow.
Tuesday
This morning, I gave my students a little more time to finish their falling snow project before we moved onto the next one: the City Scroller project. To make sure everyone had an equal time on the computer, we made the groups switch who was using the computer every ten minutes. The City Scroller project is a hard one, so the students continued to work on it the rest of the day.
They did not pull a prank on me today, which just made me more suspicious of them…
Wednesday
This morning was spent continuing the City Scroller project, and everyone worked really hard. This was the most difficult project so far, and the class started getting frustrated. I reminded them of our class phrase, “just keep coding,” and they managed to finish it a little before lunch. We then played a very fast game of mafia before we headed to lunch. After lunch, I expanded on what they’ve learned so far with OOP, and taught them about inheritance. They then expanded on their City Scroller project to add a block that would act like a player on the screen. They spent the rest of the day working on this while Amanda, Rhea, and I did everything we could to assist them. After class, Amanda, Rhea, and I had training for an upcoming workshop the students will be doing. Michael Frederickson taught us the basics of and how to integrate Python code to move Pixar characters around the screen. This was very exciting and I can’t wait for the students to do it next week!
Thursday
Today was our trip to ! The Square and Twitter programs were also there, so it was a great opportunity to meet students from other programs. Dolby had all of us do an icebreaker in the beginning to get us to mingle with the other programs. For the rest of the day, they randomly assigned us to tables and groups to encourage us to meet new people. Tara Murphy and Poppy Crum gave presentations on Dolby and how they come up with new innovations. At lunch, we had the opportunity to network with Dolby employees. Each table had at least one female technical intern or employee. They really took an interest in GWC and what the students are doing. After lunch they broke us up into groups to demo some of their products. This was very fascinating and a lot of fun. The day ended with a discussion of the girls’ experiences and what they liked about the tour. Everyone had a ton of fun!
Friday
Last week my students expressed interest in me bringing my personal desktop to teach them about the parts of a computer. So, this morning I did exactly that. I opened up my computer and talked about each part I had and what role that part plays. I took some parts out like the hard drives, graphics card, and RAM sticks, and talked about the process of building your own computer. During lunch, we decided to watch together as a class. However, after lunch our day was cut short due to the protests that were going to happen in the Bay Area.
Are you interested in learning to code or being a #TeacherWhoCodes? Learn more .
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 2
Hello! I’m Kristi, a teacher for at Pixar and I’m back again this week sharing the behind the scenes of our . Here’s the inside scoop on week 2.
Tuesday
It’s time to scratch what we’ve been doing with (pun intended) and start learning about . Python is a big jump from Scratch so today was filled with difficult lessons and fun projects like Mad Libs and creating a Text Adventure game. Today was also the first in a series of weekly lunches the students will have with their mentors. Each student is paired up with one female employee with a programming background at Pixar. Since the students were occupied during lunch, Amanda, Rhea, and I used this valuable time to meet with Erin to discuss the upcoming schedule. After lunch, Danielle Feinberg came to visit us and spoke about her Computer Science background and what she does at Pixar. Talk about a dream job! The students pulled another prank on me, and it starts to seem like this will become a daily occurrence. After that, the students worked on their projects for the rest of the day. Amanda, Rhea, and I ended the day with our weekly meeting with our site lead.
Wednesday
The students didn’t get all the time they needed to finish their Text Adventure project yesterday, so I started this morning by giving them some extra time. We then had a panel of women engineers at Pixar, and they answered questions the students had. It was interesting to hear each of their experiences, and also to learn some fun Pixar facts. After that, I continued the day by teaching some more complex Python concepts, including functions. In my experience, functions are a big hurdle students have to get over, and I saw a lot of struggle with it. The majority of the students finished their projects by the end of the day, but I could tell their understanding wasn’t quite deep enough. I took note of that and decided we should go over it again the next chance we get. Again my students pranked me, but this time I got them back. Two can play at this game ;)!
Thursday
We did more Python today and the students created random generators of band names and Haikus. There were some hilarious combinations. Lucia Greco, a blind expert on technology, came to talk and really opened the students’ eyes to thinking about people with disabilities when designing projects.
I continued with lessons on how to read programming documentation and how to efficiently use Google. Yes, googling is a real skill programmers need to know! They practiced these skills on a project using Pygame, and some of the students finished it by the end of the day. Again, they pranked me, and again I got them back. We’re all starting to have a lot of fun with this, and we’re trying to think of new things to do.
Friday
As planned, I reviewed functions and gave students an assignment that focuses on how to utilize functions. I think this helped a lot and I believe my students now have a good understanding of functions. Before lunch, we went outside and played a game since we haven’t had many opportunities to do so this week. After lunch we got on the bus and headed over to for our first field trip. The students got to tour a startup company and see what it looks like on the inside. They were able to ask questions to a panel of employees, and I was so proud of the questions my students came up with. MemSQL was kind enough to provide food and giveaways during the trip, so of course the students loved that. They had a fun time, but we were also able to have a serious discussion on diversity in the workplace, since MemSQL has an almost all male engineering team and that is something they are aware of and want to change. By the time we got back to Pixar, it was time to go home. Amanda, Rhea, and I stayed for a little bit to clean up the classroom, reflect on how the week went, and prepare for anything we need for next week.
Are you interested in learning to code or being a #TeacherWhoCodes? Learn more .
Coder Confessional: How to Avoid a Summer Productivity Slump
School’s out and the sun’s out, but are you still craving a way to be creative and productive? Maybe you’re even missing your classes a bit - don’t worry, I won’t tell! - and you’re looking for some inspiration.
While summer is a great time to destress and relax in the sun, it’s also the perfect time to get your creative coding juices going! Here are my five favorite ways to stay ahead of a summer productivity slump:
1. Hackathons
I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret: I’m a little obsessed with hackathons. If you’re feeling bored now that classes are over and you’re looking for a fun outlet for your coding skills, hackathons are the BEST opportunities. They’re a great way to learn new skills and practice old ones, meet other coders, and push yourself to build a product from start to finish.
One of the main reasons I love hackathons so much is they can remind you of all the best parts of being a coder. Without the stress of trying to get an A on an assignment or the constraints of following a professor’s instructions, you have the freedom to build anything you want, any way you want to make it.
Most hackathons are 12-24 hours, though some intense ones can last up to 36 hours. The best part: they’re free! You will rarely, if ever, have to pay a fee to participate in a hackathon, and there’s always tons of free food throughout the night! If you’ve never participated in a hackathon before and you’re feeling a little nervous, click here for a taste of what to expect at your first hackathon.
2. Museums
One of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling uninspired or lazy is to go to a museum. While I appreciate art, I do prefer museums dedicated to the sciences. Admiring the technology and machinery in the exhibitions will not only get your inner science nerd jumping for joy, but will also inspire you to go home and create something yourself! Click for some suggestions of the best museums to visit.
3. Coffee shops
While the general vibe of your neighborhood coffee shop will be unique to the particular location, most cafe’s tend to be full of writers, coders, designers, and other individuals hard at work. The wifi, constant access to coffee, and the social atmosphere are major draws for the self-employed. Make friends with your local barista, take over the comfiest chair you can find, and get inspired by the people around you!
4. Networking
Summer is the perfect time to follow up on the connections you’ve made this year. Did your friend introduce you to a colleague? Did you meet someone you’ve always admired? Follow up with these acquaintances and invite them to coffee/tea! Most individuals will be open to meeting for a quick coffee break and these are great opportunities to ask for advice, learn more about their careers, and create relationships with potential mentors.
5. Bootcamps
Bootcamps are often the most overlooked opportunities in tech. I personally think they’re hidden gems when it comes to professional development. Over the course of a few days (or weeks, or months), you will learn valuable skills and meet other motivated individuals with similar interests as yourself.
Some bootcamps simply require a fee and commitment to the program, while others have a longer application and selection process. Whatever the case, you’ll work your coding muscles and find yourself surrounded by inspiring professionals in tech.
Once you’re done with your coding bootcamp, you’ll be ready to dive back into the academic year with our .
Picture credits:
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 1
Hello! I’m Kristi, a teacher for Girls Who Code at Pixar. Each week this summer I’ll be writing about my experience as a teacher for Girls Who Code, so you can see how different it is from the other side. Here’s the inside scoop on week 1.
Monday
I’m usually not a “morning person,” but Monday was one of those days where I was happy to wake up early because I was so excited for the first day. The morning was filled with a lot of logistical information for the students, so I started the class with a name game to try to create a friendly environment. Amanda, Rhea, and I then shared our backgrounds and career paths with the class so we would feel less like strangers to our students.
I also had the students create a summer contract to come up with goals and expectations for themselves and the teaching staff, so we could agree on what kind of environment we want in the classroom. Finally, we began our first lesson on . The class broke into groups and each group had to make a program that utilized one part of Scratch. Then, they had to present their program in front of the rest of the class. I loved seeing what they came up with for an open-ended project like this.
Tuesday
I lectured a lot. When I thought the students were ready for a break, I decided they should play , one of my favorite games for this type of setting. The students also completed one of their assignments: to make a flowchart for their neighbor to do a task (e.g. fill a cup up with water, walk across the room and pick up something, etc.). As they did this, I walked around the room and tested some out so they could see where they could improve (and so I could make a fool of myself). For instance, one flowchart told me to walk to the kitchen, so I ran into a table that was directly between me and the kitchen. I also willingly shouted “I’m a Barbie girl!” because another flowchart told me to. I hoped that seeing me having fun doing silly things would make them more willing to step out of their comfort zone.
Wednesday
The students got a much needed change from Tuesday and spent all day working on projects. I went around the room and helped with questions, making sure they understood what they were doing. I took note of common questions to see where I may not have explained the material in the best way. The girls seemed to enjoy applying what they’ve learned.
Thursday
Like Wednesday, the students worked on projects all day, with only a short interruption for my lecture in the middle. They worked long and hard, so after a while I suggested they take a break like usual. This time they refused to take a break! They just wanted to keep working! It was a teacher’s dream come true!
Friday
As the first week was about getting to know each other and being comfortable trying new things, I decided to finish the week by showing the class . We had a discussion about it and I shared my story of how I was like the girls Reshma described. I hope that if any of my students can relate to me and my story, they will be be brave and not worry about being perfect.
The students spent the rest of the day finishing their last project and pulling a prank on me! It was all in good fun and, honestly, I was glad they worked as a team to pull it off. We ended the week with a presentation of the class’ first week projects, which, as you know, is always the highlight of my day. First official week is done, and I feel confident that I am creating the environment that I intend to.
Are you interested in learning to code or being a #TeacherWhoCodes? Learn more .
How to Walk That Stage With Girls Who Code Swag
Hello there! I’m Stacy Phan, an alumni from the at Pixar in 2015 and a current for the 2016 Summer Immersion Program at GE. I recently graduated from San Leandro High School and I wanted to make sure that I was representing everything I care about around my neck as I accepted my diploma…especially Girls Who Code. So, I created my very own Girls Who Code stole.
If you’re like me and want to show off your status as a girl who codes at graduation - it could be your Summer Immersion Program graduation or even a future high school or college graduation - follow the steps below to create you own DIY Girls Who Code stole!
1. Design your stole.
I drew out different designs until I settled on one that I really liked. I included the Girls Who Code logo, the name of the Summer Immersion Program I did, and “<b> woman </b>.”
2. Find a customization vendor.
I contacted a local customization shop in my city to see what the costs would be to create my design.
3. Order your stole.
I ordered a (it comes in tons of different colors).
4. Finalize the customization.
After receiving the stole, I went to the customization store to show them my design and figure out if embroidery or vinyl print would be best. We ended up going with vinyl just because the stole I got was pretty thin satin and I didn’t want the embroidery to go through and show on the other side. I had a friend digitize my paper design on Adobe Illustrator so that the people making my stole could use it for the vinyl print.
5. Show off your stole at graduation!
After 1.5 days, I had a personalized Girls Who Code stole - just in time for graduation!
Here are some additional tips and tricks that I wish I had followed to make the process easier:
1. Plan ahead.
I did not plan ahead, and had to pay an extra $4 for rush shipping. Also, digitize your design sooner than later. Whether it’s you or a friend who is doing it, make sure you finish up your design in advance so you can speed up the process of having the stole made.
2. Group order.
When you order in bulk, usually the order will be cheaper if the design is all the same. If you were all from the same summer program, the shop making your stoles might be willing to give you a discount. Or, if you decide not to put the name of your specific Summer Immersion Program, you could get more than twenty girls in on the order and it will definitely be cheaper overall.
3. Add your name.
This will increase the cost if you have it done at the store, but if you go to Michaels, they have iron-on embroidery and then you can make your stole even more customized and personal.
4. Add decorations.
I didn’t really have time to do this, nor did I particularly want to just because I wanted a very simple look. However, if you want to spice up your stole a bit, get a hot glue gun and drop by and there are a ton of things you could get to decorate your stole: fake flowers, rhinestones, glitter, ribbon, and more!
Do you want to learn to code and join Stacy and 10,000 other girls who code? near you!
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Who Codes: Week 0
Hello! My name is Kristi, and this is my second year teaching for . This year I have been placed at Pixar, something I’m just as excited about as the students. Each week this summer I’ll be writing about my experience as a so you can see how different it is from the other side.
You may be asking yourself, “Why Week 0?”
Two reasons:
- It’s my prep week so classes haven’t started yet.
- Because programmers start counting from 0.
Week 0 is when my two TA’s, Amanda and Rhea, and I do everything we can to get ready for the summer.
Monday
It’s not time to go to Pixar yet, so today I’m working from home. The first thing I do after checking my email is look at Piazza. This is a forum for the teaching staff of all the Summer Immersion Programs to ask questions and get advice. Many teachers ask questions that are relevant for everybody, so it’s good to stay up to date on it. I spend a majority of the rest of the day going through all the documents GWC has provided for me, and bookmarking the most important ones. I quickly glance through the curriculum and start working on projects for Week 1. The last hour of the day I do a check-in via Google Hangout with my TA’s.
Tuesday
Today’s the day I get to go to Pixar! I have been waiting months for this. The meeting isn’t until 4pm, so I work from home all morning. I begin the process of going through lecture slides provided by GWC and updating them to match my teaching style and how I like to explain things. Finally, 2:30pm comes around and it’s time to make the journey to Pixar.
When I get there, I’m as excited as a kid on Christmas morning! We meet with Erin, Alyssa, and Addie, who will be helping us with anything we need. They give us a quick tour, and then show us the classroom. That is the moment it really hits me. This year is going to be completely different from last year. Up until this point I had pictured my old classroom at eBay. It scares me a little that I will have to come up with a new routine. After the tour, we discuss logistics for the summer and the “Meet and Greet” with the students and parents on Wednesday.
At 6pm it’s time to call it a day and drive home.
Wednesday
I’m working from home again this morning, mostly going through lecture slides and making sure I know everything about the projects the students will do. When 2:30pm hits, it’s time to once again make the journey to Pixar. Tonight is the Meet and Greet, and I want to be there by 4pm to help set up. We go over logistics again with Erin, and practice our introductions. At 5:30pm people start arriving, and I get very nervous about meeting the parents.
While everyone eats and mingles, we have them play . After that, we take them to a theater where we give an overview of GWC and talk about our coding background. Then it’s time for the classroom tour and we end the night with a screening of Finding Dory!
Thursday
Confession time: Teachers don’t know everything.
Specifically, I don’t know much about robotics and circuits. For one week of the summer we’ll be working with , which I’m very excited about, though I barely know anything about them. I spend all of Thursday learning as much as I can about them so I can feel more confident in my ability to each that section.
Friday
The laptops are ready for us to check, so the TA’s and I meet with Erin at Pixar first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, some of the programs we need did not install correctly so we spend the day going through each laptop and installing them. While I took charge of this, Amanda and Rhea wrote personalized notes on post-its that they put on each student’s laptop. We also organize our classroom supplies, cleaned off the white boards, and discussed the agenda for Day 1. We finished installing programs on all but a few laptops, but decided to call it a day by that point. We went home excited for our first week!
Do you have a question for Kristi? Email us at !
Coder Confessional: College Application Survival Guide.
“College” + “Applications”
If you’re an upcoming senior in high school, these are probably two of the most dreaded words in the English language. The notion of of college itself can lead to so many questions:
“What type of college do I want to go to?”
“What if I don’t choose the right school?”
“What if I don’t get in?”
“HELP!”
I get it. Applying to colleges isn’t easy, and the pressure of finding the “perfect fit” makes it even harder. I graduated from high school a year ago and I still remember application season as if it was yesterday. Here’s a list of lessons I learned in the process that will hopefully make your senior fall a little bit easier.
1. Remove bias
When you’re beginning to look at colleges and universities, it’s easy to immediately turn to the “big name” schools and think those are the only options (Ivy leagues, major sports schools, etc.). Try to start with a clean slate. If you let yourself consider as many schools as possible, regardless of how well they’re known by others, you’ll have a much easier time figuring out what truly appeals to you. Then you can begin to narrow down your personal “requirements.”
2. Think about what’s important
What’s important to you in a school? One of the biggest issues I’ve found in the application process is that many students form their personal preferences based on their “dream school,” rather than the other way around. I recommend taking a moment to visualize your dream day at college. Close your eyes and picture yourself: are you walking through a snow-covered campus? Do you recognize everyone you pass? Are you wearing head-to-toe school apparel, cheering for your team in a massive stadium? Imagining an ordinary day at college can help you figure out what is important to you and what you consider irrelevant.
3. Now, get specific
Once you’ve visualized the broad factors of your school, begin to think about the specific aspects of college that matter most to you. This is the time to begin considering your intended major and its presence within the school. Do you dream of an entirely technical school, where you are surrounded by like-minded students who all have a passion for STEM? Are you imagining a big research university with a strong technical program? Or maybe you prefer a liberal arts college, where you can blend you interests in tech with a perspective from other fields? There are so many different kinds of schools, so consider all of your options and think about what appeals to you most.
4. Personality over appearance
The personality of a school is one of the hardest things to identify, but it should be a major part of your decision. A school could have everything you could possibly want, but if you don’t clique with the general vibe, you won’t be completely happy. I’ve found the best way to figure out a school’s personality is to visit and talk to people. Walk around the campus, sit in a class, ask current students questions, and if possible, stay overnight.
If you can’t visit a school, bring out your inner stalker (we all have one, don’t lie). Look through college review sites, facebook friend your random acquaintance who goes to the school… dig deep into the internet and see what people have to say online.
5. Consider your entire list
You should now have a clear idea of the kind of school you want to go to. Everyone has a different list - some apply to five “reach schools,” others apply to one. However many schools you choose to apply to, make sure you like every single one. Don’t just apply to a random school because you think it would be a good “safety.” Ideally, you should be able to be happy at each school on your list.
6. Breathe
I know it’s hard to trust in the system, especially when it seems like everything is rigged, but let the application process unfold. Wherever you end up, you will learn a lot, meet inspiring people, and grow as an individual.
Good luck!
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Coder Confessional: Advice for a Summer Intern
Summer internships can be really fun and rewarding, but they can also be a little intimidating. Whether it’s your first internship and you feel absolutely clueless, or you’re an experienced intern who’s looking to get promoted to a full time job, here are some pieces of advice:
1. Dress code
Getting dressed for your first day can be somewhat terrifying: you want to fit in, but you also want to feel like yourself. Think about what kind of company (or individual) you’re going to work for. Will you be on Wall Street, surrounded by people in suits and “”? Or perhaps you’re at a more artistic, design-oriented company. If you’re working in tech, you’ll most likely encounter a casual dress code. Feel free to show off your personality a bit. If you’re more comfortable in a dress than in jeans, go for it! If you like to add a little bling to your look, throw on some accessories.
2. Be on time!
I can’t stress this point enough - first impressions do matter. Your first day can set the tone for the rest of your internship, and trust me, you want that first impression to be a good one. My personal rule is that being “on time” actually means being five to ten minutes early. This is especially important on your first day because that little extra time will hopefully relieve some of your first-time jitters. Get some fresh air on your way to the office, maybe pick up a coffee, and take a breath.
3. Look around
When you get to your office and start to get settled, take a look around. You’re new to this place, and it’s okay to explore a little. Say hello to your co-workers, find the nearest restroom, and acclimate yourself with the work environment.
All offices are different, and it’s important to get comfortable with the general tone: is everyone collaborating and communicating constantly throughout the day? Or do most people plug in their headphones and only check in once or twice a day? Take note of the office culture and ask questions.
4. Show off
The attitude you put forth can have a major impact on both your success and how much you enjoy your internship. I know some companies leave the “grunt work” to summer interns. If that’s the case, be the best coffee runner they’ve ever seen! Or, maybe you’re interning at a company that gives you the opportunity to share your perspective and contribute to the products. Whatever your experience, just remember that employers tend to give interns the work they think you can be trusted with. Don’t be afraid to show off during the first week. This is the time to demonstrate your value. If you show your hunger for work and your ability to do it well, your boss is more likely to give you real assignments.
5. Just do it
The final piece of the puzzle is your work ethic. If you’re given a task, don’t wait a few hours (or days) to complete it. If you’re in a meeting and people are throwing around ideas for jobs that need to be done, write them down and do them. You can never be too enthusiastic at an internship. You got the job for a reason, so prove just how valuable your skills, experiences, and perspective are and get to work!
If you have any other questions, concerns, or random thoughts you’d like to run by Girls Who Code, reach out to blog@girlswhocode.com.
Are you a Girls Who Code alumnae looking for an internship or job? Head over to our exclusive job board, , to see what opportunities are available with our Hire Me partners like Adobe, Facebook, Twitter, Sephora and more!
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By Lucy Berman
Coder Confessional: Resume Anxiety.
The summer is upon us. After the initial excitement of long days, sunshine, BBQs, and the end of school work comes the anxiety of finding a job or internship. The internet is flooded with examples of “good” resumes but aside from what is visually nice to look at, what does a “good” resume even mean? Why can’t employment just be as easy as (see GIF below)?
While I can’t guarantee that you’ll make it rain immediately, here are some helpful resume building tips to get you started.
First, make a list of what you bring to the table. Why should the hiring manager want to hire you? Be specific.
This list should include:
- Your education: Which school are you currently attending? List your your graduation year, major (if applicable) and relevant coursework.
- Your experience. Where have you worked or volunteered? What did you do in those jobs?
- Your skills: What programming and spoken languages do you know? Are you certified in anything? Have you won any awards? Can you share links to projects or things you’ve done online?
Now, make the list of what you bring to the table look good. Most word processors have resume templates and are a good place to start formatting your resume.
After you’ve selected your template, here are 10 additional formatting steps to keep in mind.
- Put your name and contact information at the top of the resume. Your name should be bold and a larger-sized font than anything else on your resume
- Font sizes 18-24 are a good place to start for your name, sizes 10-12 are a good place to start for everything else.
- List your education as main bullets (Ex: College Name, May 2019 Expected Graduation) and relevant coursework as a sub-bullets (Example: Introduction to Computer Science, Fundamentals of Computer Science, Udacity.com Python programming course)
- List your experience (professional and volunteer) chronologically as main bullets (Example: Girls Who Code, Intern, San Francisco, CA, May 2016-Present) and present your responsibilities as sub bullets (Example: Delivered an analytical report that compared the efficiency, reliability, and environmental effects of this versus that)
- List your skills and competencies and include hyperlinks where possible. (Example: Programming - fluency in Java)
- Use a clean font. My favorites are Arial or Calibri.
- Make your name, your experience & the companies you’ve worked for or volunteered with stand out by bolding or italicizing them. (Example: Girls Who Code, Intern, San Francisco, CA, May 2016-Present)
- Keep your resume on 1 page. Feel free to play around with font sizes and spacing depending on how much space you have on your resume.
- Include real numbers where possible. (Example: Wrote 56 blog posts for Girls Who Code’s “I’m A Girl Who Codes” Blog)
- Save your resume as a PDF. Make sure you save it with your name in the title. (Ex: “FirstName_LastName_Resume_2016.doc”)
- Optional: Add a pop of color or graphic design to your resume. This is not necessary but if you have a flair for graphic design, feel free to add something to your resume that will make you stand out!
You now should have a one-page resume that shows what you - you rockstar, you - bring to the table for potential employers! Best of luck!
Are you a Girls Who Code alumnae looking for an internship or job? Head over to our exclusive job board, , to see what opportunities are available with our Hire Me partners like Adobe, Facebook, Twitter, Sephora and more!
Do you have questions or want other pieces of advice? Email us at !
Coder Confessional: Do You Need to be a Genius to Code?
My dad has been in the tech industry since I was a little girl. I thought he was superman in disguise as my dad and often referred to him as a “computer genius.” Genius was the key word.
I scored far higher on my math SATs than my verbal SATs but always thought of myself as a creative and humanities type of student. I could never be a “computer genius” like my dad. When I placed into an honors math class my freshman year of college, I thought that there was no place for me in the class as an intended performance arts and journalism major.
Some - or many - years have passed and I am one week into learning to code. With technology as a professional and personal lifeline, I feel an obligation to learn.
These are the top ten ways I rely on technology day-in and day-out:
- My cell phone alarm clock
- Facetime to call my “computer genius” dad on the opposite coast
- Duolingo to learn Spanish
- Keeping up with friends on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat
- Watching all of the things on Netflix
- Getting around on Lyft
- Listening to all of my favorite artists on Spotify and iTunes (Taylor Swift)
- Working for Girls Who Code from anywhere with my Gmail app
- Walking from point A to point B with Google maps
- Paying my credit card bill
and many many more…
I’ve not yet become completely reliant on Siri but I anticipate her playing a larger role in my life in the coming years. As much as I try to cut technology out of my life, the reality is that it’s not going anywhere and I need it to function on a daily basis.
So, back to learning to code…
As I start my journey into learning to code, the image of my father as the “computer genius,” is at the forefront of my mind. Of course my father is a genius in my opinion, but do you need to be an actual genius to learn to code?
The answer is no.
All you need is a willingness to try and a good sense of humor.
In my first “Intro to Javascript” lesson, I created the snowman below.
It’s beautiful, right?
Okay, so it’s not that beautiful but I created it just by typing 15 lines of letters and numbers, known as code. These lines all are very specific directions for the computer. It’s like giving the computer a recipe to make, but this recipe has no shopping or clean-up involved. While it doesn’t result in food, it does result in an image that you can share with you family and friends.
Creating this not-so-beautiful snowman with code was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I felt smart, capable and challenged. I can’t wait for my next lesson and to one day have the ability to create something that will make my daily life easier.
We’d love to hear about your experiences learning to code, bust myths you’ve heard about coding and answer your questions about what it’s like being a girl who codes. Email us your questions at blog@girlswhocode.com!
And if you’re interested in learning to code,