July 03, 2024 / By mobanmarket
NORTHBROOK, IL — Before launching her new business, SheCanCode, Kristelle Widjaja needed someone to teach code to, and found the perfect person in her own family.
“SheCanCode was my first experience teaching a large group, but I honed my skills by teaching my younger brother, Nolan, who just graduated 5th grade, how to code,” Widjaja, a rising senior at Glenbrook North, recently told Patch. “This experience was helpful as it closely mirrors teaching middle school students. I also tried to emulate the way that my high school computer science teacher, Mr. Goodman, taught my coding classes.”
At GBN, Widjaja said she noticed a “significant” gender cap in her computer science classes, sometimes four boys for every one girl. She knew girls were interested in coding, but were not sure about getting into it because of a lack of exposure to computer programming when they were younger. Widjaja said this made her realize introducing coding to girls and at an early age would be “beneficial.”
“Middle school provides an ideal, low-pressure environment where girls can develop their interest and skills in coding,” Widjaja said. “SheCanCode aims to empower middle school girls to explore and excel in technology.”
Widjaja tells us she pitched the idea to teachers and Maple Middle School Principal Sam Kurtz, who were receptive and SheCanCode was established. The goal of the club, according to its founder, is to “create a supportive environment” to encourage girls to pursue STEM fields. Girls learn how to code in Python and explore data science and machine learning, with a capstone project at the program’s conclusion that showcases their skills.
“Watching the girls in SheCanCode grasp new concepts, overcome challenges, and grow more confident in their abilities is rewarding for me,” said Widjaja, who is a former student at Maple. “I am grateful to be able to contribute to their coding journeys and potentially spark a lifelong passion for technology.”
The future looks bright for Widjaja, who said she plans to study computer science in college, with a focus in machine learning and AI. She also wants to expand SheCanCode to other middle schools in the North Shore.
“My ultimate goal is to work for an innovative technology company,” Widjaja said. “I also plan to keep SheCanCode running by finding a younger female leader to take over the program every year, while I continue to offer support and mentorship.”
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For now, Widjaja said she is offering free coding classes this summer, teaching the same curriculum used at Maple Middle School. She can be reached at [email protected].
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