161. Making Tech Education Accessible ft. imagi Co-Founders

10/25/2024

Show Summary:

Natasha sits down for a chat with Dora Palfi and Beatrice Ionascu, co-founders of imagi, a Swedish EdTech startup dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech by sparking a passion for technology in all children through fun and inclusive computer science education.

Dora and Beatrice met while studying at NYU Abu Dhabi and went on to work in various large tech companies. Their experiences, often as the only women in male-dominated tech environments, fueled their desire to create imagi, with the vision of transforming the tech industry and broadening access to computer science education, particularly for underrepresented groups.

imagi's AI-powered Python programming platform equips educators—regardless of their coding background—with the tools to teach a dynamic, engaging curriculum to middle school students, promoting inclusivity across gender and race. After just one hour of coding with imagi, one in three girls and non-binary students report increased interest in coding, and 85% of all students find the experience "fun" after their first lesson. Having reached more than 300,000 students in 140 countries, cultivating a vibrant global community of young coders who have collectively generated over 19 million lines of Python code, imagi is making strides in reshaping the future of tech education globally.

For more details, visit imagi's website.

You can also use the Vivify promo code for 15% off a purchase of imagiCharms! Just use vivifystem15 or this link.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

• 98. Who is an Engineer?

• 50. How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM

• 122. How to Motivate Students

• 121. The Importance of Clear Communication in Science

• 114. Strategies for a Teacherpreneur

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

• Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM

• Motivation: How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward

Vivify STEM Lessons

• Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (Break down stereotypes!)

• Picture a STEM Professional Critical Thinking Worksheet

• Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - Women in STEM History Activity

• Starter STEM Activities Engineering Challenges

Other STEM Resources

• imagi

• weSTEM @ NYUAD

• Girls outperform boys at school, yet still shy away from STEM

  • Download the full study here: Hands Up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys

• Give P's a Chance: Projects, Peers, Passion, Play by M Resnick (PDF)

• Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share

• Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!

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