Women Tech Council to Launch TechArt Hour of Code, Creating Largest Girl-Coded Living Digital Display

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Women Tech Council (WTC) today announced the launch of TechArt Hour of Code, the largest girl-coded initiative engaging 10,000 girls across the state to create a living digital display. The program was announced today in the White House Fact Sheet for its impact and opportunity to engage more girls in computer science education, and is part of a national movement around coding during National Computer Science Education Week.

The TechArt program is in partnership with Dell EMC, Comcast, Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, Utah STEM Action Center, school CTE directors, and the University of Utah Athletics.

The TechArt Hour of Code program teaches students basic coding skills as they create a tile including an image and text. Each individual tile is then combined to create a living digital display showing the collective learning and creations of girls and students across Utah. The first version of the display will launch December 6 across local and national platforms, teaching students through technology that their Individual contributions can unite to create collective impact.

"We built TechArt to teach girls how to code, help them visualize what they created, and allow them to see how their code becomes part of a larger vision," said Cydni Tetro, President of the Women Tech Council and a computer scientist. "If we can teach students about the possibilities that exist with technology, they will be empowered to change the world."

The Women Tech Council is working to raise awareness about the importance of computer science education by participating in National Computer Science Education Week and creating a Hour of Code module using the creativity and innovation of student-coders.

"The TechArt Hour of Code was the first time I realized that I could code, and that coding could be fun and creative," said Abbie Rogers, a student at American Fork High School. "There were no limits. I learned I could code and become part of a bigger vision."

"Creating early and positive coding experiences propels students forward to new ideas and opportunities in the future. Our team saw how they could help inspire students to code, in partnership with the Women Tech Council," said Vance Checketts, Vice President at Dell EMC. "Our all-women development team led out on this project. We are all very excited to think about the 10,000 students who will be going through the TechArt Hour of Code."

All students who submit code by end of day December 5 will be included in a national digital display that showcases their individual contributions and is first unveiled at the University of Utah basketball game on December 6. The TechArt Hour of Code is now part of the SheTech curriculum which reaches tens of thousands of girls and activates them into STEM pathways.

About Women Tech Council

Founded in 2007, The Women Tech Council (WTC) is Utah's most visible trade organization focused on the economic impact of women in driving high growth for Utah's technology sector. WTC offers mentoring, visibility, opportunities and networking to more than 10,000 women and men working in technology to create business environments focused on high performance, not diversity, where men and women can succeed. This propels individual careers and Utah's talent pipeline by ensuring a strong, diverse, and entrepreneurial technology workforce.

For more information on Women Tech Council, visit: www.womentechcouncil.org. 

FOR INFORMATION: 
Kristin Wright
kristin@womentechcouncil.com 
801-960-2007

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SOURCE Women Tech Council