Tech Training

Tech Camp and Training

The tech camp instructional partner for TechGirls is Virginia Tech.

While on Virginia Tech's campus, TechGirls receive 38 hours of instruction in STEM foundational courses. They also have the chance to visit labs to learn about groundbreaking research and have the opprotunity to meet and network with esteemed professors who are experts in a variety of STEM diciplines. The whole experience opens up great awareness of academic and career paths.

“I’ve learned more than I ever expected! This course has given me hands-on experience in coding, wiring, breadboards, and building a shield bot—all while strengthening my teamwork skills. It was an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing.” 2025 Participant in Automating Systems Using Microprocessors.
"EarSketch was especially useful because it made coding more fun and creative. The tutorials, music library, and real-time feedback helped me understand JavaScript better and turn my ideas into music" 2025 Participant in Learning Computational Thinking via Algorithmic Music Making.

Courses

Virginia Tech faculty across four departments offer challenging STEM courses over a ten-day period during the TechGirls program.

These faculty members are conducting cutting-edge research in their fields. Every year, they look forward to working with the next generation of STEM leaders and prepare practical workshops so TechGirls can expand their skills. All TechGirls will have the opportunity to take one of four courses, and each course will include the lead faculty instructor and three teaching assistants for plenty of personalized attention. Each course offers an authentic university experience, great information, and an opportunity to try something new. TechGirls gain

Take a look at Virginia Tech course samples from previous years!

Automating Systems Using Microprocessors (Electrical Engineering)

A microprocessor is a single integrated circuit being used in a wide range of applications from home appliances and televisions to electric vehicles and even satellite communications. Computer engineers write software programs and interface with computer hardware to automate the world around us. This course introduced students to the fundamentals of microprocessors. Students were given microprocessor and a huge parts kit with lots of sensors and devices to build circuits and write small programs to develop solutions to various problems. They used open-source software that can continue to be used after the course to teach others and solve local problems.

Learning Programming via Algorithmic Music Making and Beyond (Computer Programming)

This course aimed to teach students a programming language through music making. Music can be seen as a temporal sequence of musical notes and often involves computational concepts (repetition, variation, abstraction, and randomness). Therefore, a musician can present a musical idea in computer code. In addition, music offers a unique opportunity to motivate students to be involved in computing with culturally relevant motivation and self-expression. Students used Javascript and EarSketch to learn how to compose a piece of music and extend their learning to designing an interactive system with the same language on the web. The course involved several opportunities to present their creations which allowed students to hone other foundational skills needed for STEM learning (e.g., communication, collaboration, creativity, and public presentation).

Experience in Molecular Modeling and Informatics (Science Informatics)

Molecular modeling and computational approaches to understand biological phenomena are becoming increasingly powerful and prevalent in the STEM field. Additionally, computational techniques that are data-rich are powerful tools for leading innovation in drug discovery, biofuels, and more. This was an exciting course where students learned how to combine scientific information and research with data collection, influence research and policy, and were introduced to basic coding and data science (command line, bash, python, scripting) as applied to biological questions. Students also experimented with computational biology and informatics techniques to complete a research project and prepared high-quality data visualizations of molecular structures and prepared files for 3D-printing.

Exploring Rivers and Landscapes (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Our planet is beautiful and dynamic. Much of its dynamic nature results from the complex interaction between flowing rivers and estuaries, the sediment and land they flow through, and the plant and animal life they support and are shaped by. In this course, students learned the basics of how rivers and estuaries work and shape our landscapes through a series of hands-on laboratory and field investigations and one research project. During the course students built knowledge about how rivers work, and how to use specific equipment in the Baker Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory at nearby Stroubles Creek. Students then processed the information gathered and presented the data with simple Python code using Google’s Collaboratory.

Embracing Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

The TechGirls experience is forward oriented— reflecting the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven innovation across all STEM fields. All of the TechGirls course offered at Virginia Tech integrate AI concepts into hands-on learning, from computational thinking and data analysis to creative applications like algorithmic music and environmental modeling.

Through exposure to real-world research and emerging technologies, TechGirls gain early insight into how AI can be used responsibly to solve global challenges. The TechGirls program encourages participants to think critically about ethics, innovation, and the human impact of AI, preparing them to become thoughtful leaders in an increasingly AI-powered world.

Check out how the 2025 TechGirls are implementing AI into their Community Action Projects!

A 2025 TechGirl from Turkey: “My project SeenAI addresses the problem that most people with mental disabilities cannot access educational materials that are designed for their needs. I will create an AI chatbot where people can enter the topic they want to learn about and receive personalized educational materials designed for their own neurological needs.”

A 2025 TechGirl from Kyrgyzstan: “My project, WeSave, addresses the lack of awareness about household water consumption in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. By creating a mobile app that digitizes water meter readings and provides AI-driven consumption analysis with personalized tips, we aim to help families reduce water waste. I will work with the European Union and the local government of innovation to integrate this solution into community programs and promote sustainable water use.”

A 2025 TechGirl from USA: “My project, Tutoring through Kinesthetic and AI Learning Software Integration, aims to help young students who struggle with or dislike math develop a more positive attitude toward the subject. Partnering with a nonprofit organization, Mindset Math, and using my own programmed GUIs, I will tutor underclassmen at my school one to two times a month throughout the upcoming academic year.”