Round 13 Program

Participant Pre-Post
Survey Results
SparkIT - Pasadena: Full STEAM
Ahead

1
 PRE-SURVEY RESULTS
Please answer the following questions about access to technology.

2
Please answer these additional access to technology items.

Have you participated in any computer, technology, robotics, or programming

clubs inside or outside of school?

3
Are computing classes offered at your school?

If yes, have you taken any of the offered classes?

4
Which, if any, of the following programming platforms have you used before
this program?

RESPONSE(S) FOR OTHER

Arduino IDE
Brackets
Code.com
Code.org, Khan Academy, Thunkable
Greenfoot, Atom
Lego Mindstorm Education
Python 3
Visual studio
Python
Unity

5
Why did you attend this AspireIT program?

RESPONSE(S) FOR OTHER

I am willing to learn.
I am interested in UX/UI design.
I knew about it from Tech Girls Exchange program.

6
What do you hope to learn in this program?
I hope I learn more about Figma and Thunkable platforms since I've never used them before, as
well as gain more skills about teamwork from the collaboration with girls from different
countries.
I hope to learn how to impact my community with programming.
I hope to learn a lot more about STEM and app development. I am really interested in coding
and want to unlock the power of technology. I am looking forward for learning about
innovation, research and solving real life problems using mobile applications.
I hope to learn about app design and how to make an effective app while having fun!
Learning how to be a better coder.
I want to learn how to design an app.
I would love to collaborate and build stuff. I love STEM and problem solving :).
I hope to gain new programming skills and a better understanding of computers and
programming in general.
I have done two hackathons before but didn’t have much experience with UX and UI design so I
was a bit behind even though it was a fun experience. I want to learn even more about using
Figma and get started with Thunkable as well.
A whole lot.
I want to learn more about UX and UI design as well as how to create my own app and some
tips to create a great one.
Literally anything.
It is my first hackathon and I really want to see how to participate, the program and also the
experience!
How I can use apps to solve problems.
How to work under pressure, how to produce quality results under a specific period of time.

7
Just for research purposes, please tell us a little about yourself…

8
What is your gender identity?

9
What grade are you currently in?

10
 POST-SURVEY RESULTS
Please rate the following aspects of the AspireIT program you attended…

11
Considering the career exploration and social impact elements of this AspireIT
program, please rate the following…

12
What type of program did you attend?

13
What did you like best about the virtual or hybrid program?
It was safe and had allowed me to work well in my own home.
Everyone was kind.
It is nice.
Being able to stay at home and code.
To be able to interact with people.
What I liked the most about this virtual program was the way we shared respect and knowledge
inside our team. In those 24h, I learned a lot about teamwork and its importance, I and my
team maintained patience and understanding even if we struggled a lot and this is really
meaningful.
I could work from anywhere.
It's safe and I was able to familiarize myself with different apps.
I made a new friend and we worked together to make an incredible app. I learned how to use
Figma and that was great.
I really enjoyed working with my partner to build the prototype!
The best thing is that it was a design challenge not a technical challenge, this allows you to
think freely and not limit yourself only to ideas you know how to apply, at the same time it
encourages you to keep learning and working to apply your project after the hackathon is done.
I learned how to use Figma and was able to solve problems with another person.
I liked that it was self-led with the participants deciding everything but the theme!
It was well organized/fun to do.
It was so convenient and time-saving to attend the entire program.
Not having to go out and be in a huge group of other people.
Flexible hours.
It was a totally new experience for my friends and I, it opened my eyes to career options in new
fields. My favorite part would be working together with my friends to create a project that
benefits people.

14
What did you not like about the virtual or hybrid program?
I couldn't ask the attendees questions while they were explaining things.
N/A.
I can't go someplace to participate.
Not getting that face-to-face connection with others.
It wasn't consistent and not straight forward.
Basically, the 13th of November was the day where we started designing and it was a Friday,
that wasn't a good timing for me since I had school, so I couldn't benefit from the whole 24
hours we had. I see that it would be better if it was changed to a Saturday. So this is the part I
didn't like.
It was hard to stay engaged all the time.
Timing!
Nothing.
The instructions were a bit unclear, but only in the beginning.
Nothing in particular, I would say it could have been better if the opening ceremony was live.
It didn't really feel like I learned something particularly useful in a programming field.
I don’t think there was anything I didn’t like.
Harder to contact teammates.
There's a slight difficulty in brainstorming and discussing the ideas virtually. Meeting in person
is easier for teamwork.
The anxiety of making an app within one day.
N/A, prefer virtual program overall.
The instructions were a little unclear at first, and I felt I had a large disadvantage since it was my
first time coding.

15
Do you hope to come back to this program next year, if you can?

16
Do you hope to take any computer classes or workshops in the future, if you
can?

17
How important is it to you that the AspireIT program was all-girls?

18
Describe something about the program, what stands out?
The head coordinator was super nice and humble and just so sweet, she tried all that she could
to help us, and this coming from such an accomplished person such as herself was very
inspirational. Also, the closing program was really nice.
It's diversity.
I liked how everything was organized and that there were resources for us to use if needed.
It was my first program and it wasn't straightforward or clear or made easy to understand.
What I will remember the most is the experience itself from the very beginning to the last
minute especially the pressure I had the time of the hackathon because of school, exams and
connection issues. This pressure was positive for me, it showed me how patient and ambitious I
can be. Those small experiences, like this one, where we learn small lessons, help a lot when it
comes to high pressure situations in life and I am grateful for this opportunity. Even if I didn't
win, it was my first hackathon and I am excited to participate in more events like those in the
future.
I will remember all of the amazing creations the groups made.
The guest speaker at the closing ceremony was very sweet and gave quite eloquent and
informative info, and the videos recommended prior to doing the apps were on point - loved
them!
I really enjoyed working with my partner and building the prototype. I really enjoyed the guest
speaker too.
I will remember the keynote speaker's speech, another thing is that in a male-dominated field
there will always be space for females and they are capable.
The real-time designing in Figma was seamless.
I think the fact that this program was made specifically for girls because it’s a platform that’s
very male-dominated is something I’ll remember.
I liked it because I never did something like this before and it was a good introduction to it.
Getting the opportunity to compete on an international platform and the importance of
ideation and prototyping.
Making a lifelong friend who helped me through the hardest parts of our app and helped
improve what I originally made.
The satisfaction of creating a working prototype and winning for it.
This program helped me learn new ways to cope with my own anxiety and brought me lots of
joy in this strange pandemic time.

19
Are any of the following statements about computing programs true for you?

RESPONSE(S) FOR OTHER

I don’t know where to start in some areas of computing.
None apply.
I do not have the motivation to seek a computer class to take.

20
 PRE vs. POST RESULTS
Right now, how confident are you in doing the following?

Solving computer software problems

100%

75%

50% 43%
32% 27%
24% 23%
25% 9% 14% 9% 10% 10%
0%
Very Confident Confident A little Confident Not at all Confident Don't know /
Never tried
Pre Post

Programming computers
100%

75%

50% 45%
36%
23% 25%
25% 14% 18% 15%
5% 9% 10%
0%
Very Confident Confident A little Confident Not at all Confident Don't know /
Never tried
Pre Post

Thinking of new technology inventions

100%

75%

50% 43% 41% 38% 32%

25% 14% 14% 9% 5% 5% 0%
0%
Very Confident Confident A little Confident Not at all Confident Don't know /
Never tried
Pre Post

Creating new technology inventions

100%

75%
52%
50% 41%
27% 29%
25% 14% 14% 18%
0% 0% 5%
0%
Very Confident Confident A little Confident Not at all Confident Don't know /
Never tried
Pre Post

21
How much do you agree with the following sentences?

People like me can do well learning technology

100%

75% 65%
50%
50% 45%
35%
25%
5%
0% 0% 0%
0%
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Pre Post

People like me can do well in technology jobs

100%

75%
53% 50%
50% 45% 47%

25%
5%
0% 0% 0%
0%
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Pre Post

People like me can create new technology inventions

100%

75%
55% 55%
50% 41% 45%

25%
5%
0% 0% 0%
0%
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Pre Post

22
How much would you like to...?

Take future classes in computer game design?

100%

75%

50% 43%
33% 32%
27% 27%
25% 19%
14%
5%
0%
A lot Pretty much A little Not at all
Pre Post

Take future classes in computer programming?

100%

75% 68%

48%
50% 43%

25%
23%
10% 9%
0% 0%
0%
A lot Pretty much A little Not at all

Pre Post

Take future classes learning how to create new technology inventions?

100%

73%
75%

52%
50% 43%

25%
14%
9% 5% 5%
0%
0%
A lot Pretty much A little Not at all

Pre Post

23
 Get a college degree?
100%

75% 68% 71%

50%

25% 18% 19%

9% 10%
5%
0%
0%
A lot Pretty much A little Not at all

Pre Post

Get a computing- or technology-related college degree?

100%

75%

50%
50%
38%
29% 29%
23%
25% 18%
9% 5%
0%
A lot Pretty much A little Not at all

Pre Post

Get a technology-related job when you get older?

100%

75%
55%
48%
50%
33%
25% 18% 18% 14%
9% 5%
0%
A lot Pretty much A little Not at all

Pre Post

24