FEATURED SESSIONS!
Join our ITI Team during Session II and witness the live game-based challenge as the two finalist teams go head to head in the finale of Level 2: Region Rumble! While students build, you will hear from practitioners in the field and the session will culminate with students presenting their designs before a panel of judges.
Educator & Administrator Session
Session Location: Concert Hall (Bldg 4)
Jane
Join our moderator LAUSD High School principal, Dr. Simone R. Charles and our distinguished panelists of Women in Tech as they discuss their journeys in the industry, including what sparked their interest in technology and how they entered the field. They will also share their leadership styles, strategies for overcoming challenges in the industry, and personal experiences of handling workplace discrimination or bias. The session will focus on how the panelists are creating opportunities for girls and women in technology and the impact they hope to have on future generations. The panelists will provide insights on steps to take in preparation for a tech career, the most important skills to develop, the resources and support needed, and provide strategies for overcoming challenges faced as young women interested in technology.
Educator & Administrator Session
Session Location: Concert Hall
Artist, Author, and Engineer Brando Tory will introduce participants to the Little Hackers interactive experience that uses a workbook and augmented reality to introduce young readers aged 6+ to the foundational concepts of computer programming. Learning to read code is different from learning to write it and enables students to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts for future growth. Participants will receive a copy of this interactive workbook. Explore strategies & tactics to meet young students where they are by not requiring a computer and walking through programming mental models using readability. This helps lower the barriers for kids to enter the world of STEM.
Today less than 5% of leaders in the technology industry are people of color. This lack of representation can make it a challenge for many kids to "see themselves in technology". In addition to the technical exercises, Little Hackers uses its characters to create reflections of authentic and diverse stories in tech.
Breakout Session I: Computational Thinking Uncovered
Dive into the essence of problem-solving in this interactive session on Computational Thinking. Discover the four foundational concepts - deconstruction, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking - that drive computer science and digital literacy. Also, learn ways in which computational thinking extends across the entire curriculum and how it supports a higher-order thinking pathway. This session is designed for anyone to gain a deeper understanding of efficient decision-making processes within an algorithmic structure. Learn how to integrate these logical strategies across all curriculum environments, enhancing creativity and fostering innovative thinking.
Breakout Session II: Breaking Down Barriers: An Anti-Bias Approach to Inclusive Computer Science
In this session, we'll embark on a design journey to identify pathways of inclusion, representation, belonging, and equity within the field of computer science. The session is structured to integrate principles of computational thinking and design, which underpin the foundations of computer science. We'll dismantle traditional biases and challenge norms that have made Computer Science exclusive and exclusionary while determining sustainable ways to make Computer Science a diverse and inclusive computing landscape. This session is an opportunity to not only expand your understanding of the critical importance of making Computer Science much more equitable and inclusive but also to be a part of co-constructing the much-needed changes.
Educator & Administrator Session
Session Location: 1-308 (Bldg 1, 3rd Floor)