TECHNOLOGY TIPS – SNAPCHAT AND VIDCODE GEOFILTER CONTEST

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Vidcode co-founder and CEO Alexandra Diracles says of the project, “I was really interested in finding a way to apply my own love for STEM and for programming to engage more girls.” On Wednesday, Vidcode is launching their contest co-sponsored with Snapchat. Contest winners will have their geofilters uploaded for use by Snapchat users.

Vidcode is an online portal where students can take online courses at their own pace. The interactive lessons are approximately 45 minutes long and use an online code editor. In an effort to make coding more approachable, Vidcode includes a media library where students can add their own images and personalize their experience. Even though lessons are self-guided, they also remain open-ended so students can repeat any lesson they want.

Vidcode continues to expand its reach with many partners. They are being used in approximately 5,000 US schools, which pay for an annual license. They are currently working with Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Intel Education, and Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls. They’ve even launched a course inspired by Pokemon Go. The cost to join the site and start coding is minimal at $25/year for an individual.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO