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 a STEM foundational course. They 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 disciplines. 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. This is an authentic university classroom experience which prepares students for higher education.

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 inspiring TechGirls to use STEM solutions for problem solving. TechGirls select one of four courses. Each course is led by the principle faculty instructor and three or more teaching assistants for plenty of personalized attention.

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

Automating Systems Using Microprocessors (Electrical Engineering)

This course immersed students in the world of microprocessors and automation, demonstrating how these small but powerful circuits drive innovation in everything from home appliances to electric vehicles and satellites.

Working with a microprocessor and a full parts kit, students explored sensors and devices to build circuits, write programs, and ultimately design functioning machines and robots. Along the way, they gained practical experience in problem-solving, engineering design, and coding for real-world applications.

By using open-source software, participants not only developed technical skills but also built the capacity to continue their learning independently and to share their knowledge with peers back home. The course provided both a solid foundation in hardware-software integration and the inspiration to apply these tools toward future scientific discovery and community innovation.

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

This course introduces a dynamic approach to learning Java coding through music. By treating music as a sequence of notes that mirrors computational concepts such as repetition, variation, abstraction, and randomness, students learn how creative ideas can be expressed in code.

Using JavaScript and the EarSketch platform, participants compose original pieces of music while building foundational coding skills. They then extend this knowledge to design interactive web-based systems.

In addition to technical training, the course develops essential STEM competencies—communication, collaboration, creativity, and public presentation—through peer feedback and class presentations. By the end of the course, students leave with both practical coding skills and the confidence to apply them in innovative, real-world contexts.

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 fields. Computational techniques that are data-rich are powerful tools for leading innovation in drug discovery, biofuels, and more. Students learn how to combine scientific information and research with data collection, influence research and policy, and are introduced to basic coding and data science (command line, bash, python, scripting) as applied to biological questions. Students also experiment with computational biology and informatics techniques to complete a research project and prepare high-quality data visualizations of molecular structures and prepare files for 3D-printing.

Exploring Rivers and Landscapes (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Our planet is beautifully dynamic, shaped by the interaction of rivers, estuaries, sediments, and the ecosystems they support. This course introduces TechGirls participants to the fundamentals of how these natural systems work and how civil and environmental engineering plays a critical role in managing and sustaining them.

Through field investigations at Stroubles Creek, hands-on laboratory work in the Baker Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory, and guided research projects, students gained practical experience using professional engineering equipment. They then analyzed and presented their findings with Python in Google Collaboratory, reinforcing both technical and digital skills.

By combining fieldwork, data analysis, and applied technology, the course provided participants with a strong foundation in civil and environmental engineering.

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, machine learning and molecular modeling.

Through exposure to real-world research and emerging AI technologies generated by American innovators, TechGirls 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 issue that many people with mental disabilities find in accessing educational materials that meet 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 to 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.”