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Tech GYRLS
Technology for Girls Program
The YWCA TechGYRLS program empowers young women through education and exposure to robotics technology and promotes continued involvement in mathematics and science for girls. This program makes it possible for girls to experience "hands-on" computer programming, physics, along with building and operating autonomous robots in an environment that promotes participation and learning.
RoboLab I: RoboLab, a classroom kit designed by Lego using the Mindstorm technology, teaches students to build, program and activate working robots. Students work individually and on teams to build increasingly complex projects and create several working robots during the session. Any girl in middle school is eligible to register for RoboLab. All RoboLab I sessions close with "Robo Expo" for the girls to demonstrate their working robots to family, friends and guests.
RoboLab II: RoboLab II is a continuation of RoboLab I. Students learn to sequence commands through advanced programming, build more complex robots and invent their own robotic solutions to real world programs. Attention is also given to competition style problem solving and building. All RoboLab II sessions close with "Robo Expo" for the girls to demonstrate their working robots to family, friends and guests.
YWCA Challenge Team: After completing RoboLab I and II, students are eligible to apply for the YWCA Challenge Team. Girls on the team are given a set of real world problems and must create their own best solutions. Teams compete against other teams from around the state at Carnegie Mellon University sponsored FIRST LEGO League State Robotic Championships.
Video/PSA: Students work in teams to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement). They learn how to use modern technology to research and analyze social issues of relevance to their lives, local communities and the world at large. The girls create a video then download it to a computer where they edit the video, add effects, transitions and voice overlay. This edited video will get burned to a DVD. All Video/PSA sessions close with "Video/PSA Expo" for girls to screen their PSA's to family, friends and guests.
Scholarships are available for TechGYRLS Programs
Contact the YWCA for more information
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