AiC Program Elements

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) changes what’s possible for women, genderqueer, and non-binary students in technology from K-12 through career by offering the kind of encouragement that combats isolation, enables long-term persistence, opens doors, and changes lives. AiC uses program elements that spark interest in computing (AspireIT); recognizes and celebrates students' technical aspirations and abilities, as well as the educators who support them (AiC Award Recognitions); and, provides an expansive, supportive network (NCWIT AspireIT is designed to teach K-12 women, genderqueer, and non-binary people programming fundamentals and computational thinking in fun, creative, and hands-on environments. Research shows AspireIT participants more easily identify with near-peer mentors, increasing their personal self-efficacy and confidence. To that end, NCWIT offers two AspireIT components to amplify and further the positive impact of near-peer instruction: the AiC Impact Award, and the AspireIT Toolkit.). Find out more about each of these program elements below.

NCWIT Aspirations In Computing (AiC) Program Elements

NCWIT AspireIT: Peer-led Computing Education 

NCWIT AspireIT is designed to teach K-12 women, genderqueer, and non-binary people programming fundamentals and computational thinking in fun, creative, and hands-on environments. Research shows AspireIT participants more easily identify with near-peer mentors, increasing their personal self-efficacy and confidence. To that end, NCWIT offers two AspireIT components to amplify and further the positive impact of near-peer instruction: the AiC Impact Award, and the AspireIT Toolkit.

• The AiC Impact Award elevates the core values and spirit of NCWIT AspireIT. Award recipients are selected based on their efforts to build and creatively offer hands-on learning opportunities in computing and career exploration, and to bring together advocates and allies of various backgrounds through computing-related events and community groups.
• The NCWIT AspireIT Toolkit helps anyone interested in designing engaging and inclusive computer science experiences for K-12 students, with a focus on broadening the participation of girls, women, and other underrepresented populations. The Toolkit equips facilitators with the resources and support they need to create sustainable and lasting change in their communities. All content provided incorporates three core values for which evaluation shows to foster effectiveness and lead to the greatest impact for participants and their communities: peer mentorship, inclusivity, and hands-on engagement.
  

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NCWIT AiC Award Recognitions

AiC Award Recognitions offer three distinct awards that honor aspirations, abilities, technical accomplishments, and influential guidance.

Who can apply?

• 9^th-12^th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students
• women, genderqueer, or non-binary students who are enrolled in a post-secondary institution (community college, college, or university) with a major or minor in a computing or engineering discipline
• formal and informal 9^th-12^th grade educators

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NCWIT AiC Community

The AiC Community is a phenomenal network for technical women, genderqueer, and non-binary students and early-career professionals in computing and engineering who receive benefits such as private invitations to virtual and in-person meetups, visibility for technical achievements, computing outreach opportunities, hands-on activities for exploring computer science concepts, exclusive access to scholarships, internships, job opportunities, and more.

Who can participate?

• 9^th-12^th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students who are interested in computing and technology are invited to join.
• Women, genderqueer, or non-binary students who are enrolled in a post-secondary institution (community college, college, or university) with a major or minor in a computing or engineering discipline are invited to join.. 
• TEHNOLOChicas are invited to join.
  

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