In New York one-hundred-fifty girls and boys are givena practical challenge called hackathon: to usecomputer coding on the Vidcode website to make avideo that helps abandoned animals in shelters.
"You get to use a lot of coding blocks to program stuff.It is really cool" .
On the other side of the country and West Coast office of Vidcode, co-founder Allie Diracles,demonstrated the process, which teaches computer coding as users make videos to post on siteslike Facebook or Instagram.
The girls so like graphics and images.
"And then on our software, they will use programs and scripts and write their own computerprograms to modify that content," she said.
This New York hackathon contestants learned they are winners for their short video to helpabandoned animals.
"You really need a lot of intelligence and math," said winner Nayely Torres, "because sometimes,to make an animal move, you have to think about the angle you want it to go to and how manysteps you want it to move."
The web-based program teaches computer coding step by step, and the girls — like boys— thrive inthis competitive atmosphere.
"We don't see girls intimidated. We see them taking the lead in groups and project managing."
And they dream about using their skills.
"I would create a video game one day, or a TV show".
As they break down stereotypes.
"When you think 'coder,' you think male," Cardona said. "You think nerdy, you don't think creative,at least traditionally. I think we're starting to change that."
They are learning technology as they promote work cause.
"I think that we did great because we put a lot of effort into it and we said helpful things to makeawareness to help dogs and all animals around the country," she said.
And they mastered important computer skills in the process.
