Leaders and advocates of STEM education are making efforts to take learning beyond just the academics offered in the classroom. How Computers Work Workshops was a program implemented by the IEEE Northern Canada section (R7) as a new student workshop and career day-focused program in the area. This event aimed to attract students to learn coding and join computing related university programs, such as computer science, information technology, computer engineering and software engineering. 

The one day workshop event recruited 45 students aged 14-18 and introduced them to computer and software engineering. The workshops used Arduino and Arduino-compatible kits and lessons such as the Arduino Blink Challenge from the IEEE TryEngineering lesson plan webpage, appropriate for students of this age. The program also was designed to help develop new lessons for senior students (aged 16-18) that will demonstrate machine learning algorithms, ideally attracting them to enroll and study computing as they move on to the university level. The program also yielded the participation of ten teachers, five parents, and ten volunteers. Volunteers who are passionate in this field of study included not only members of the Northern Canada Section but also students from Concordia University of Edmonton. This program served as a means for them to assist with the workshops and mentor the student participants. 

The evaluation of the program was based on participation and the quality of the workshops. Parents, teachers, volunteers, and students were happy to participate. The program hopes to attract students to study coding and how it applies to engineering projects. In the future, the program ideally would offer more demos of the workshops, followed by coding classes. The program also hopes to expand in the future by diversifying the locations throughout separate schools and also providing virtual versions of it as well. 

How Computers Work Workshops was a recipient of the 2022 IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant Program.

IEEE TryEngineering and the IEEE Foundation have partnered to raise donations in support of the IEEE STEM Grant Program. If you would like to contribute, please make a donation via our IEEE TryEngineering Fund donation Page.