GET-IT stands for Girls Exploring Together – Information Technology. It is an after-school team activity designed to encourage middle and high school girls (grades 4 – 12) to consider and ultimately pursue a career in information technology. The program runs from September through the end of the school year.
Students involved in the program explore a growing career field while enhancing their math and science skills, and confidence. GET-IT helps prepare them for college, strengthening teamwork, problem-solving and organization abilities.
Benefits to students:
- Hands on Technology Education: web design, coding, mobile application creation, robotics and more!
- Web Design Contest: Use of HTML coding to create web pages for our annual Website Design Competition. Judges from the IT community award prizes to the winners.
- Robotics: Participation in Robofest, a Lego Robotics competition sponsored by Lawrence Technological University.
- Business Speakers: Scheduling speakers, with help from MCWT, to visit and provide perspective on the real-world applications of IT. All speakers are successful business professionals at various stages of their careers.
- Field Trips: Students visit some of the top Michigan-based companies utilizing state-of-the-art technology and gain exposure to top professionals working in the field.
- Other Flexible Programs: Expansion of program offerings based on student interests, such as design patent projects and job shadowing.
How Schools Can Support:
To support a GET-IT club at a school, a school must follow these requirements:
- There must be a faculty advisor.
- There must be a location for regular meetings.
- Ideally, there is a computer lab where work sessions and classes can be held.
- All students are asked to sign a press and photo release form.
The amount of time required of faculty advisors varies on the level of involvement they choose. An hour-long weekly meeting is generally sufficient, with the exception of the competition period when several longer meetings may be needed. At the end of the school year, advisors must develop a final report summarizing GET-IT activities and use of MCWT Foundation funds.
The MCWT Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and assisting girls and women in Michigan to pursue technology education and careers. The MCWT Foundation achieves its mission by providing a range of programs like the GET-IT Clubs.
