How long have you been working with Hackergal, and how did you get started?
I discovered Hackergal back in 2018. Hackergal staff and I were able to get things started here in Saskatchewan. My school at the time (Cando Community School) was one of the first participating schools in Saskatchewan.
How has your coding club impacted girls’ and gender-diverse learners’ interest in STEAM at your school?
I believe that exposure to anything technology-related helps build up confidence with my girls. One of the best stories of my girls being introduced to Hackergal is that a team of my grade 9 girls is interested in entering a robotics competition now. Our club doesn’t just do coding, we take a look at robotics or spend the lunch hour talking about our favourite video games. It is pretty fun!
What advice do you have for educators interested in starting a coding club, but may not know where to start?
Don’t be afraid to get started with smaller numbers. A colleague once told me that if you are impacting even one student, you are being successful when it comes to coding. Students influence each other and if a small group is having fun, eventually more students will want to get involved.
Another thing is, don’t feel like you need to be an advanced coder to be involved. Hackergal makes it so easy with step-by-step instructions and videos. The lesson plans I was given leading up to the Hackathon made me feel at ease and in turn, show my students that I was learning alongside them as well. Sometimes it is a great thing to make yourself vulnerable.