Girl Tech teaches middle schoolers about robots, digital scrap-booking, computer games and more!

WHAT: Join the University of Illinois Springfield’s Computer Science Department for two days of fun exploring technology during Girl Tech 2012. Hands-on activities include scrap-booking with iPad, “Scratch” programming & more!

WHEN: Thurs., June 14 and Fri., June 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) on the UIS campus

DETAILS: Studies show the number of women in higher education in computer science is falling drastically. Girl Tech is geared toward girls in middle school because interest seems to start decreasing around that age.

Highlighting the sessions this year are “Scrap-booking with iPad”, which will use Apple’s software tools for creating an app for storing favorite media; “Robots, robots, robots” will focus on robot construction; and “Starring YOU!”, where girls will record short videos and insert them into their favorite movie clips. Finally, using the MIT-designed language “Scratch”, the girls will create and program their own computer games.

Other sessions will include “Hi-Tech Design using Gimp”, which will allow girls to design a t-shirt for their team; “Anime Rock Goddesses” will use Japanese anime characters created just for Girl Tech as the students teach their divas to sing and dance; and “What’s to Eat?” will look at technology in the kitchen by making snacks with molecular gastronomy.

The registration fee is $30 per girl, which covers lunch both days, snacks and a participation t-shirt. To be eligible to participate, the girl must be entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade in the Fall of 2012. For more information about the camp and to register, visit http://csc.uis.edu/girltech/. The registration deadline has been extended to Wednesday, June 13 at 3 p.m.

For more information, contact Mary Sheila Tracy, camp coordinator and UIS Computer Science instructor, at 217/206-7328 or mtrac1@uis.edu.