Online resources to encourage girls to enter technology

April 25, 2024

📅 April 25 marks the International Day of Girls in ICT, aiming to close the gender digital gap.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are a key tool for girls and women's personal and professional development. However, many of them face barriers to accessing, learning, and using these technologies.

To address this, various organizations and initiatives promote actions to reduce digital inequalities and foster girls' interest in technology. Factors such as stereotypes, geographical location, economic resources, education, or the lack of role models influence the causes and consequences of the gender digital gap.

In this article, we gather some initiatives and online resources you can consult to introduce girls to the world of programming, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, or Cybersecurity... Designed to spark their curiosity, creativity, and confidence in their abilities, they will also allow them to meet other girls and women who share their passion for technology and can serve as inspiration and support.

Cybersecurity

CyberPatriot - An educational cybersecurity competition aimed at high school students, where teams work to solve security problems in virtual networks.
Garfield's Cyber Safety Adventures - A series of interactive comics that teach children about online safety in a fun and educational way.

Cloud

AWS Educate - Amazon Web Services offers free access to the cloud and learning resources for students aged 14 and older, focusing on technical education.
Google Cloud Platform for Education - Google offers free resources and tools for students to learn about cloud computing using the Google Cloud Platform.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Raspberry Pi Projects - The Raspberry Pi Foundation offers educational projects that teach children about programming and creating IoT devices using the Raspberry Pi.
Arduino Project Hub - A platform with a variety of hardware and software projects using Arduino, including IoT-related projects.

Robotics

First Lego League - An international competition that challenges students aged 9 to 14 to build and program LEGO robots to solve real-world problems.
Code.org: Robotics - Offers an online course on robotics that teaches children the fundamentals of programming and engineering through virtual robot projects.

Blockchain

Kodable - A coding learning platform for children aged 4 to 11 that includes lessons on blockchain and related concepts.
Blockchain Basics - A visual educational resource that explains Blockchain basics in an easy-to-understand manner, suitable for children aged 10 to 14.

Artificial Intelligence

AI for Kids - A resource offering online courses and activities to teach children aged 10 to 14 about artificial intelligence and how to create AI projects.
Scribble Diffusion - Completely free, this artificial intelligence tool that generates images is different from the others: to 'return' the artwork it has created, you must first sketch with the mouse an outline of the desired image accompanied by a brief description. The final quality is very good.

These resources are just a first step. However, they open up a world of opportunities for girls interested in exploring technology in a fun and creative way, offering endless possibilities for learning, creating, and expressing themselves.

We invite you to explore the selected links and share them with friends, family, or teachers. Help us close the gap and foster interest in technology among girls and inspire the next generation of women in technology and innovation.