This month's topic: Teaching Girls and Boys to Program Computers

Why is it that the percentage of women graduating with computer science degrees around 50% in countries like Sweden, China and India, but less than 20% in America? As a "Geekdad" with a daughter, I found this unacceptable, and decided to do something about it... I went back to school... elementary school that is, to teach programming to the kids. My goal was to find an environment and a style that would encourage girls with curiosity to enjoy being controlling computers in creative ways, and in the process, encourage and involve every kid.

My talk discusses the journey of coming up with a girl-friendly curriculum for teaching programming that boys wouldn't notice anything different. I then show off some of the new crop of "Integrated Learning Environments", i.e. Alice, E-Toys and Scratch. I finally give an overview of my "Computer Club" and how others can use what I've done to teach others.

Speaker: Howard Abrams

My first job in high school was teaching Basic and Logo programming to 8 year old kids; however, I haven't taught since graduating from college. After programming for 25 years (and Java for 12), I'm now intrigue about returning to my roots and working with the next generation.

PJUG meetings start with some time to eat and socialize (pizza and beverages are provided), followed by the featured speaker, then Q&A, discussion, sometimes a drawing to give away swag. :)

Though we like knowing how many people to expect, you don't have to RSVP, on Upcoming or otherwise. Go ahead and just show up!

Many people also go for a drink and further discussion following the meeting, usually at McMenamin's Market Street Pub at 10th and Market: http://www.mcmenamins.com/328 (but sometimes this changes).

http://twitter.com/pjug http://pjug.org/ (join our mailing list, linked from the website!) http://bit.ly/pjuglive (live streaming video, plus archived videos from past meetings)

A culmination of several months of work/fun, this unique and entertaining play features kid-created hand-drawn and computer-animated graphics with live dialog written by the kids of The Roost.

The play begins around 6 to 6:30 and delicious homecooked middle eastern food will be available for $5 donation.

6pm / Free or $5 for food Sunnyside United Methodist Church 3520 SE Yamhill St

An intense, 24-hour hackathon where students can team up to create innovative new apps and games. At the end of the 24 hour session, students will present what they built to a panel of judges.

CodeDay Portland welcomes student developers of any level. Whether you have been coding since you were in a diaper or you have nothing more than an interest in the field, CodeDay Portland is an event for you.

Schedule will be posted to the website as the event nears.

Buy tickets at Eventbrite:

http://codedayportland.eventbrite.com

It's just what it says on the tin, everything related to the Portland CoderDojo, (an instance of http://CoderDojo.com/). Jump right in, ask questions, plan, whatever you need.

This is the first organizational meeting. Join us and help get the conversation rolling.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/portlandcoderdojo

Pizza, soda & beer provided.

Important!

= Free tickets are required =

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a hack night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software. More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com. We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Important!

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Important!

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Important!

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Important!

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Parents in the tech industry get together with their kids and share conversation, ideas, and tech stories while their children run amok at a family-friendly venue.

Note the change of day!

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Note: Coder Dojo is on Wednesdays now

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Note: Coder Dojo is on Wednesdays now

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Note: Coder Dojo is on Wednesdays now

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

This event has been CANCELED due to holiday logistics. Please join us again next week!

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

wellbutrin trazodone cipro 500mg

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

Free tickets are required

Get tickets at: https://coderdojopdx.eventbrite.com/

Coder Dojo Portland is a coder night for kids, where K12 youth, along with their parents can play, explore, and learn about coding and building software.

More details are available on the website CoderDojoPdx.com.

We want interested K12 youths, parents, and mentors to join us! We are in lovely downtown Portland Oregon at the Engine Yard offices.

• Bring or borrow a laptop
• Parents are required for 12 and under
• One (free easy) ticket per youth, parent, or mentor

This event has been canceled.

COME LEARN TO PROGRAM JAVA...

The most popular & scalable computer language in use today and the language used on the AP Computer Science Exam. This session is hands-on, it is designed for immediate feedback throughout the course, allowing for students to have fun creating with Java and removing much of the frustration normally associated with computers. See how rewarding & accessible programming can be. Students will learn clean coding techniques and proper use of advanced tools.

Register for a free ticket with the Event Brite link above.

Ages: 11-18 Requirements: Please bring a laptop setup with code & eclipse from the "more information" link below. Note: we will be pairing durning the event, so kids will share laptops. This means we might not use your actual laptop and that if you don't have a laptop you can still join and participate.

Adults: Every child must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are welcome to particpate as well, although we ask you to pair with other adults instead of with your kids.

On Wed 19 March there will be a more adult focused session on the techniques: http://calagator.org/events/1250465770

More information: https://github.com/TeachingKidsProgramming/TeachingKidsProgramming.Java

About the speakers...

Lynn Langit - Big Data Architect and Educator. Former FTE at MSFT (4 years). Awards – SQL Server MVP, Google Cloud Developer Expert, MongoDB Master. Lynn has done production work with SQL Server, MongoDB, AWS and Google databases and more. Lynn has over 150 BigData screencasts on her YouTube channel (SoCalDevGal). In addition to her work with Big Data, she is also the co-founder of a non-profit, ‘Teaching Kids Programming.’

Llewellyn Falco learned to jump horses in the 7th grade while living in France. Back in states, while studying drafting in high school, he started fire eating, sleight of hand magic, and once rode a unicycle 6 miles. After learning to juggle torches, he joined a acrobatics group in college where he specialized on the trampoline and walking a slack rope. He can calculate the cube root of any perfect cube under 1,000,000 in his head, as well as pick a standard lock. He can rollerblade down a flight of stairs, backwards. Later, he has learned to play the doumbek (a type of drum), to accompaniment a belly dancing girlfriend. Llewellyn studied Tai Chi for 2 years, can throw a knife at 20 feet, and a playing card at 50. He has taught swing dancing, and loves to salsa. He is also an accomplished speed chess player. In the last year, he has been scuba diving over 20 times, become a guitar hero, and broke his personal record of paddle balling over 200 times. Llewellyn attributes his success to the large amount of caffeine he has consumed, and enjoys computer programming in his spare time.

Music hides inside everything from rulers to jelly jars, and you can make it come out if you know how to whack, thwack, twang, bang, pluck, pucker & blow the notes from their hiding places. During the week we'll build & learn to play dozens of ad hoc musical instruments, put together a rousing ensemble video performance, and upload it to YouTube. We'll also learn about the physics of sound and explore the basics of music theory such as pitch, rhythm, timbre, and harmony. No musical experience required, just a consent form to appear in the video.

• Cost: $250
• Ages: 6-14 (or w/permission)
• 9am-3pm Jul 14-18
• Instructor: Markus Roberts
• To register, call Lorri Nandrea 503-746-5669 or email [email protected]

Your home may be your castle, but only if you can hold it against all comers. And since the best defense is a good offense, maybe the place to start is preemptively swiping theirs. If this sort of logic appeals to you (or if you just like the idea of turning sticks and ropes into machines that bash, toss and fling) you need to attend the Siege Engine Workshop. We'll construct working scale models of various ancient castle neutralization devices plus a pair of castle walls, learning some carpentry, history, ballistics, and physics along the way. Then it's war!

• Cost: $250
• Ages: 10-14 (or w/permission)
• Instructor: Markus Roberts
• To register, call Lorri Nandrea 503-746-5669 or email [email protected]

The dominant programming language in research laboratories is also quite handy for writing games. It's easy to learn and will help you develop good programming habits. Python is a highly structured object oriented programing language which is used in everything from web sites such as Gmail and YouTube to robots, medical equipment, scientific instruments, 3D animation software...and of course GAMES. One week won't make you an expert, but with the provided text book (yours to keep) and on-line resources, you can continue to progress on your own. No programming experience required.

• Cost: $250
• Ages: 13-18 (or w/permission)
• Instructor: Markus Roberts
• To register, call Lorri Nandrea 503-746-5669 or email [email protected]

Bedtime routine conflicting with your coding & networking nights? Come meet other parents in the STEM fields while our kids play on the monkey bars.

Portland parents who work, or aspire to work, in science, technology, engineering or mathematics -- meet with kiddos in tow every third Monday from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at a Portland area park. We can chat and network while the little ones play.

Our first Take Your Kids to the Park day will be Monday, August 18, from 1:30-3:30pm. We'll meet at Piccolo Park in SE.

Finding it hard to balance networking with other tech folks and raising a family? Then multi-task at our next PDX STEM Parents Take Your Kids to the Park event!

Come meet and chat with other parents in the STEM fields at Willamette Park. We'll meet at the playground near the covered picnic tables and tennis courts.

Monday Sept 15, 1:30-3:30pm.

See our Facebook page to follow us: https://www.facebook.com/PDXSTEMparents

Network with tech folks while our kids play on the playground!

In October, PDX STEM Parents Take Your Kids to the Park has two meetups planned so far: Sunday, October 5, 11am-1pm, at Harper's Playground in Arbor Lodge Park Monday, October 20, 1:30-3:30pm, park to be determined -- we are open to suggestions -- come like our Facebook page to suggest a park!

It’s summer!

Summer is for kids!

Summer is also for ice cream!

So July’s Tech Tuesday is about kids and ice cream!

Okay. It’s about kids - but we’ll have ice cream.

This month we’re bringing in three local organizations who are working with kids and teens to help them build the skills necessary for careers in technology. Leaders from ChickTech, iUrban Teen, and Girls Inc. will be talking with us about who they are, what they’re doing, and how you can get involved in their efforts.

These folks are doing really awesome things for youth and we’re excited to have them in the eBay house.

As Whitney Houston crooned, “Children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” So come, listen, and learn about what you can do to help shape the bright young minds that are the future of tech - and really, the future in general.

See you July 28th!

Details:

Doors open at 5:45pm, presentations start at 6:30pm.

Pizza, sodas, and ice cream (and a non-dairy option) will be available.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland will be providing a free Saturday App-a-thon event on November 7, 2015. The goal of the event is to engage youth who otherwise would not have exposure to computer science. This event will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn, explore, and create with computers. We are looking for volunteers to lead and facilitate small teams of youth aged 9-14.

CodeVana is partnering with Catlin Gabel Summer Camps to bring four exciting summer camps. Through these camps children will discover the joy of coding. These camps are created by industry professionals and students and will be week long in the beautiful 60-acre campus in Southwest Portland of the Catlin Gabel School. Sessions run July 5 - July 22, 2016, and are open to all children in the Portland metro area. Please REGISTER at https://www.catlin.edu/page.cfm?p=1005&LockSSL=true and bring the joy of coding not only to your child but also youth who don't have access. Sign up for the camp and help youth who do not have the resources to enjoy a free coding camp through CodeVana’s Community Building initiative. The four camps offered are as follows:

CodeVana: Digital Game Explorers [July 5-8th] In this summer camp, students are introduced to the joy of coding and programming through games, simulations and they will also learn to become digital creators by creating minecraft mods or digital newspapers/videos. They will present their work in an end of the week show and tell. Students ages 7-10 have an option of full day camp or a half day camp.

CodeVana: Breakaway with Code & Things [July 5-8th] [July 18-22nd] In this summer camp, 10-14 year old students will learn to code, make, play while using Internet of Things and integrate their understanding of math and science through computing/games as well as learning how their minds and brains work. This camp is experiential in nature and will focus on collaboration, and creation. Middle Schoolers have an option of full day camp or a half day camp.

CodeVana: Girls Make Apps [July 11-15th] Girls and women in the U.S. are avid users of computer technology, but they are significantly underrepresented in its creation. CodeVana is bringing a fun girls only camp organized by girls/women to help girls discover the joy of building, computer science, and coding. Girls will build Games, play with Internet Of Things, design and deploy Web & Mobile Apps in a collaborative and creative environment as well as explore science, math, and social aspects of women in technology. We invite middle school (7th-8 graders) and high school girls to join us. Girls will make Web Apps, Mobile Apps, and Game Apps in a collaborative and creative environment.

CodeVana: Startup Engineering [July 11-15] High School students are invited to make their ideas into reality through building and making with computing. They will learn all the engineering and customer development skills to build a technology startup. On July 15th, students will pitch their ideas and prototypes to the community and win prizes to continue to pursue their ideas through a community vote.

Do everything you enjoy all in one day! Minecraft, LEGO, Sproutball, Robotics! Come join us for a fun day of learning and playing in a safe environment with a staff to student ratio of 1:10. For students in grades K-6 with younger and older kids separated into different groups. Drop off and pick up your students anytime throughout the day for the same price!!

Cost: $50

Time: 7:45AM - 5:30PM

For: Kindergarten - 6th Grade

(January 26 & 29)