Empowering girls in grades 5-12 to learn about computer science and how to write computer code while making connections with other girls who also think creatively. Led by female computer science faculty and college students in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Classes are free, although donations are welcome for food, supplies, t-shirts and instructors.
NOTE: The activities and outreach are aimed toward girls, because we wish to increase the number of girls interested in computing. We also offer Kids Coding Club, a gender-neutral opportunity for students in grades 5-12. Learn more and register for Kids Coding Club here.
Fall 2024 Girls Who Code Session Information:
Registration for the Fall 2024 classes is open from August 5, Monday at 9 AM until September 12, Tuesday at midnight.
Classes will be held in person at the EMS building of UW-Milwaukee (3200 N. Cramer St., Milwaukee 53211).
The classes are open to students from 5th to 12th grade. Students must be at least a 5th grader this fall to attend this class.
All classes are held Friday nights from 6 to 8 pm.
The session will run for 10 weeks, beginning September 20 and ending November 22.
Three different classes are offered. All classes are held in person:
Level 1:Intro to Coding Class (little to no experience with coding). Students will use the Codesters platform to learn coding with Python.
Level 2: Intro to Web Programming Class (some coding experience assumed).Students will learn Javascript, CSS and HTML.
Level 3: Intermediate Python Programming Class (some coding experience assumed). Lessons are based on a Microsoft TEALS curriculum. The students’ activities are similar to those found in introductory programming classes in college.
Read about a student from Kenya who participated in Girls Who Code
“I use the computer for school, and I wanted to understand more about how they work,” said Elsie Maingi, who is 10 years old and lives in Nairobi.
However, computer classes in Kenya were geared to high school students and business people and were usually quite expensive, said her mother, Lilian Wangechi.
So in the fall of 2020, they turned to Google and found the free Girls Who Code program at UWM. Because of the time difference, Elsie got up at 2 a.m. for every class during that semester and the spring 2021 semester. Read more here.
Our classes are free but we welcome donations for food, supplies, t-shirts and instructors. In the past we charged $5 per meeting.
What age girls can attend? The classes are geared toward girls in grades 5-12, but if younger girls are able to learn in this environment, they are welcome.
Can boys participate? The activities and outreach are aimed toward girls, because we wish to increase the number of girls interested in computing. Kids Coding Club is our gender-neutral club.
Can adults participate? These classes are for students still in school. If older people wish to participate, see one of the volunteers for other opportunities.
Will you have club meetings over summer? No, but UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science is sponsoring EnQuest, an all-girl engineering summer camp.
What Students and Parents are Saying
Students and parents overwhelmingly give thumbs up to the experience.
From a student’s perspective: “I got to learn a lot of new coding things and I also got to know a lot more people.”
A parent’s perspective: “…it is important that she sees herself as someone who could (in the future) create something cool rather than just waiting for someone else to create it.”