App-a-thon Computer Science Mentor

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland will be providing a free Saturday App-a-thon event on November 7, 2015. The goal of the event is to engage youth who otherwise would not have exposure to computer science. This event will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn, explore, and create with computers. We are looking for volunteers to lead and facilitate small teams of youth aged 9-14.

Duties:

• Provide a welcoming and inclusive environment that inspires a diverse group of youth to learn, explore, and create with computers

• Mentor one or two teams of around three youth each, guiding them through the process of creating a web application using MIT App Inventor

• Provide leadership and expertise while promoting collaboration, creativity, and experimentation to create a finished blueprint and web application by the end of the event

Qualifications:

• Background in computer science - no prior experience with App Inventor needed

• Willingness to lead a team of youth and provide guidance in critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• Passion for encouraging youth to explore with technology

Commitment:

• Spend a few hours exploring MIT App Inventor to become familiar with it. MIT App Inventor utilizes a user-friendly block-based coding language and was designed as an educational programming tool for youth. We will provide resources and guidance.

• Schedule a brief training before the event.

• Support kids in the creation of their app ideas on the day of the event.

Benefits:

• Lunch and refreshments provided

• Experience working with youth in a leadership position

• Help inspire the next generation of Portland’s tech community!

Success in this position looks like:

• Youth feel a sense of belonging and success in computer science. Volunteer and teams will have a sense of pride in creating a finished blueprint and web application using MIT App Inventor. Results of event will be showcased in a project fair at the end of the event.