Technology? Girls are 'Dign'IT'
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 years, 5 months AGO
<p>Rylie Rasmussen, 12, left, and Paige Pence, 13, experience some technical difficulties Tuesday afternoon as they learn the basics to 3-D object manipulation, using a free environment prototyping program called Alice, at the University of Idaho's Dign'IT computer camp for girls at the U of I Harbor Center in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
Middle school girls are digging into information technology this week at the University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene Center.
The "Dign'IT" computer camp strives to create a path to college and high-tech careers for local students with high potential but limited opportunities. It is provided to participants at no cost.
"The goal of Dign'IT is to provide students with meaningful experiences that will expose them to interesting careers and motivate them to continue on the academic path needed," said Julie Amador, UI curriculum and instruction faculty.
One of the highlights of this year's camp is learning software engineering and coding while incorporating design and visualization elements.
Amador explained that the software industry is among the fastest growing industries worldwide. In the U.S., five of the top 10 fastest growing jobs are in computer related fields. Two of the three highest salaries for bachelor's degrees are in computer science and engineering.
The Dign'IT camp is part of a bigger effort at UI Coeur d'Alene to create programs to raise awareness of these exciting careers and to address the workforce and research needs of the growing software and IT industry in North Idaho.
UI is working closely with existing regional IT companies to ensure that training programs focus on the skills required for industry success.
Dign'IT is sponsored by local tech company iShoutOut, the Verizon Foundation and UI CDA.
Middle school girls are digging into information technology this week at the University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene Center.
The "Dign'IT" computer camp strives to create a path to college and high-tech careers for local students with high potential but limited opportunities. It is provided to participants at no cost.
"The goal of Dign'IT is to provide students with meaningful experiences that will expose them to interesting careers and motivate them to continue on the academic path needed," said Julie Amador, UI curriculum and instruction faculty.
One of the highlights of this year's camp is learning software engineering and coding while incorporating design and visualization elements.
Amador explained that the software industry is among the fastest growing industries worldwide. In the U.S., five of the top 10 fastest growing jobs are in computer related fields. Two of the three highest salaries for bachelor's degrees are in computer science and engineering.
The Dign'IT camp is part of a bigger effort at UI Coeur d'Alene to create programs to raise awareness of these exciting careers and to address the workforce and research needs of the growing software and IT industry in North Idaho.
UI is working closely with existing regional IT companies to ensure that training programs focus on the skills required for industry success.
Dign'IT is sponsored by local tech company iShoutOut, the Verizon Foundation and UI CDA.
