Katie Coders Spring 2018 REGISTER NOW!

Register Now!

Katie Coders is back this Spring, and better than ever! This year we have two really exciting courses planned.  We have a course for new Katie Coders about Computational Thinking and Coding. We also have a course for returning Katie Coders (or new participants with previous coding experience) in Wearable Tech. You can check out the course descriptions below.

Katie Coders is a program designed specifically for girls age 11-17 to promote the participation of girls and women in the technology world. Girls will be taught and mentored by other women who share a passion for technology.  Katie Coders is also sponsored by St. Catherine University, an institution that has supported the education and advancement of women for 114 years!

This year, we will be charging a fee for the Katie Coders program in order to ensure continued fabulous programming.  We recognize that the fee may make participation cost prohibitive for some, so we have provided different options for reduced pricing and scholarships. Please do not let cost be your only obstacle to participation.  Contact us with any questions or concerns related to cost.

Due to the highly interactive style of the courses, class sizes are limited.  Please be sure to register early to ensure your spot in the course!

We also love (and need) volunteers!! if you or someone you know would like to be a part of the Katie Coders, please contact Kathy Lopac at [email protected] or visit our volunteer sign-up form. No prior technology experience is required, but we certainly love it if you do have it! Volunteers will be assigned to tasks that are fitting of their skill set. Preference will be given to those who can attend all or most of the sessions.

If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.  Contact Kathy Lopac at [email protected] with any questions not answered in this communication.

We can’t wait to see you in February!
Sincerely,
The Katie Coders Team


Important Details:
Cost:
The price of the program this year will be $300 for 10, 2-hour sessions.  The Wearable Tech course will have an additional required materials fee of $100 for the kit the participants get to take home ($150 if you choose to purchase the bonus sensors kit).

At check-out you will be provided with four options for payment:  

• The first option will be $400 (plus tech-fee, if applicable), which is the full price of the program plus providing scholarship money for other participants.  
• The second option will be $300 (plus tech-fee, if applicable) which we ask is the price for anyone making over the MN median household income of $58,476.  
• The third option will be $150 (plus tech-fee, if applicable) for any household at or under the MN median household income, no documentation is required.
• The fourth option will be $0, full scholarship. Limited availability for these seats and reserved for those eligible for full financial support for school meals.

The payment interface can be a little confusing.  Complete all the pages and your payment amount will be chosen near the end.

Meeting Time:
Tuesdays, 6-8pm

Meeting Dates:
February 13th-April 17th (10 meetings)

Meeting Location:
Mendel Hall

To register, choose a class:
Computational Thinking: http://bit.ly/2DslgLi
Wearable Tech: http://bit.ly/2F2rZbp

Tuesdays, 6-8pm 
February 13th-April 17th 
St. Catherine University St. Paul, MN
To register, choose a class

Computational thinking Girls 11-14

Wearable Tech Girls 14-17

Course Descriptions:

Computational Thinking and Coding (Ages 11-14)
Code is everywhere! In our homes, in our hands, and even in our clothes! Understanding the basics of how computers work their “magic” has become as relevant as being able to read, write, and do math!  
Inspired by some of the mini-golfing antics at CanCan Wonderland in St. Paul, girls in this class will work individually and in teams to create a table top “mini golf” course that will include the use of logic problems, Little Bits, and coding with the Arduino microprocessor. The program will culminate with a big party for participants and invited guests. This Katie Coders program will provide a basic introduction to coding, but also to the thinking skills important to being a coder known as “computational thinking” or CT.

Wearable Tech (Ages 13-17)
This Katie Coders program will introduce the fundamentals of computational thinking and programming in C++.  Integrating Arduino-based digital sensors into applications, we will transform our bodies into interactive canvases that we can use to both “know” and “create” in the world.  We will design and fashion Wearables--but not just for bling-- around our breath, movement, temperature and position to learn more about our physical selves and the digital tools that increasingly shape our experiences. 
Participants will learn hands-on C++ coding lessons in a scaffolded manner across the classes. By the end of the program, they will be able to imagine, debug, and build ways for Arduino-powered sensors to respond to and support human interests or needs. This course requires the purchase of an Arduino Adafruit ARDX kit and some additional components, which participants will keep so they can continue building after the course ends. This Wearable Tech course is appropriate for previous Katie Coders who have completed at least two seasons of classes. This class is also open to interested girls who have confidence in using Scratch to run a multiple variable program or have taken an Intro to Computer Science course.  
Materials Fee: $100 for required kit or $150 for required kit + bonus sensors kit