Technovation Girls 2020 is a global tech education organization that empowers girls ages 10-18 to become leaders, creators, and young entrepreneurs. The challenge includes working with volunteer mentors to design an app that addresses a community or world issue. It provides girls with the opportunity to identify and solve real-world problems through technology.
The competition will take place from January 14, 2020-April 20, 2020. Students will be encouraged to attend a series of workshops at Simon Fraser University that will help them brainstorm, code, design, and pitch the app. The challenge will be made up of a junior division (ages 10-14) and a senior division (ages 15-18). Students in the senior division will be tasked with creating a business pitch video or presentation. The first judging round will occur on April 22-May 25, 2020 and will decide the winner of British Columbia. The second judging round (semi-finals) will take place during June 2020 and will decide the winner of Canada. The top 10 teams of the competition will travel to San Francisco on August 10-13 and participate in the World Summit.
Simon Fraser University is sponsoring the competition in British Columbia and has reached out to many schools in the province. Riverside teachers Mr. Shane Ford and Ms. Melissa Jackson have decided to take part in this challenge and have encouraged girls interested in STEM to participate. “Technovation is a unique opportunity that allows students to collaborate and work with mentors to reach a goal that will serve their community,” said Jackson. She also hopes that students acquire new problem-solving and communication skills through the design process of the app and the business pitch.
Riverside has entered two teams in the competition that are currently deciding the design and goal of the app. Both teams are looking forward to addressing a need in the community that is relevant to current world issues. Riverside grade 11 student Mackenzie Clarke said, “Technovation allows me to combine my interest in technology and coding, with helping others and making a difference in the world.”
Students will have exactly 97 days to create an original app. Riverside wishes all the best to girls entering this challenge!
Photo courtesy of: https://www.freeeducator.com/technovation-challenge-2020-for-girls-worldwide/
