St. Andrew’s Schools in Hawaii recently hosted the goIT Artificial Intelligence program, which saw impressive participation from girls, accounting for more than 75% of the students involved. This hands-on experience allowed the girls to explore machine learning and classification modeling, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills as they developed tech-for-good solutions for their community.
Typically, goIT, an organization that aims to engage underrepresented groups in computer science, witnesses just over 50% female participation. Therefore, the outstanding turnout of girls for the program in Hawaii is particularly notable. Leah Operana, North America goIT Program Lead, expressed excitement about the girls’ enthusiasm for learning about AI and design thinking while also highlighting the significance of bringing goIT to Hawaii for the first time.
Encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM fields is a priority for St. Andrew’s Schools and TCS, the organization behind goIT. With women making up only 27% of the STEM workforce according to the United States Census Bureau, TCS aims to increase diversity and representation in tech jobs, inspiring future generations and leading to better outcomes for all.
The culmination event of the program featured students presenting their digital innovation concepts to a panel of volunteer judges, including industry experts from TCS and Hawaiian Representative Scott K. Saiki. The judges listened to the students’ pitches, witnessing their creativity and passion for making a positive impact through technology.
Peng Ratchaworapong, the lead facilitator of the program, expressed his gratitude for the valuable learning materials, swag, and time that TCS volunteers dedicated to the program. Ratchaworapong mentioned how TCS’s efforts had a profound impact on the students’ minds, and he believes that the goIT experience should be the norm in every classroom.
Interestingly, this wasn’t Ratchaworapong’s first experience with a life-changing program sponsored by TCS. Last year, he completed the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon as a member of Team TCS Teachers, a remarkable initiative providing select teachers in the U.S. and Canada with free entry into the prestigious marathon.
The successful goIT Artificial Intelligence program in Hawaii signifies the power of engaging girls in computer science education and inspiring them to pursue STEM careers. By nurturing their skills and creativity, these young girls have the potential to become future leaders and innovators in the technology industry. St. Andrew’s Schools and TCS plan to continue their partnership and expand the goIT program’s impact across the state, empowering more students to make a difference through tech-for-good solutions.
Keywords: goIT, Artificial Intelligence, girls in STEM, technology education, St. Andrew’s Schools, TCS, diversity in tech, innovation, tech-for-good solutions, Hawaii, machine learning, classification modeling, creativity, problem-solving skills.
