Cooltechgirls TechnoFashion Program
#TechnoFashion is a series of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workshops that will take place parallel to the school year and will end with a final design challenge. The program aims to educate girls in electronics and programming, strengthen their self-confidence, help them develop leadership skills, and attract them towards STEM careers in the future.
In the first half of the program, TECHNOFASHION participants will work individually to self-explore sewable electronics and learn how to program them. In the second half, girls will be given 8-10 weeks to complete a Design Challenge. As a part of this challenge, participants will build prototypes of their design. The produced wearable electronics should be useful in solving a collectively assigned world problem. For example, last year’s challenge involved designing an electronic that can be used to help those with disabilities. After completing their design, girls will compete at a year-end competition with the prototype of their electronics. A series of technical workshops will provide participants with hands-on kits and homework assignments, while a leadership workshop will help participants strengthen their self-confidence and develop leadership skills. Girls will also be connected with mentors, who will be available to guide the girls through the step by step process of implementing their design.