Innovating Education: A Panel at Women in Tech, Porto
This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to join a panel discussion at the Women in Tech conference in the beautiful city of Porto, Portugal. The panel, titled "Innovating Education," brought together thought leaders and pioneers in the tech and education sectors to discuss how we can reshape the future of learning.
Our panel kicked off with a nod to the impact of platforms like ubbu, which reaches over 300,000 students in more than 14,000 schools. ubbu is designed for young learners, ages 6 to 12, to dip their toes into the world of programming. As we chatted about our experiences, it became clear that early exposure to coding is crucial. Conversations with teachers consistently affirm the positive impact of integrating technology into the classroom from a young age.
One of the standout features of ubbu, which we highlighted during our discussion, is its emphasis on collaboration. At ubbu, students don't just passively absorb information; they actively engage with it. By sharing computers and working together to solve problems, these young learners develop critical thinking, abstract reasoning, and creative problem-solving skills. It's a transformative shift from traditional passive learning to dynamic, interactive lessons.
When it comes to innovation in education, we're not just talking about the tools and technologies of today—we're looking ahead to the future. Although predicting the future can be tricky, some things are certain. One key takeaway from our panel was the importance of integrating technology with humanities. By weaving civic and socio-economic themes into the curriculum, we can prepare students for the real-world challenges they'll face.
ubbu's approach includes presenting a United Nations challenge in every lesson, turning programming into a tool for addressing societal issues. We've seen amazing projects from students, such as narratives on gender equality, pollution, and food consumption, which showcase the power of combining coding with social consciousness.
Finally, we touched on the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education and the ongoing need to bridge the gender gap in these fields. Despite progress, there's still a significant disparity in the number of girls pursuing programming and other STEAM disciplines. By incorporating financial literacy and other vital skills into platforms like ubbu, we hope to empower more girls to explore and excel in these areas.
The panel also featured brilliant minds like Mariana Lemos Martins, Program Operations Manager at 42, and Filipa Cunha, Director at TUMO, along with Margarida, the Country Business Unit Controller at Siemens. Their insights and experiences enriched the discussion, painting a hopeful and inspiring picture of the future of education.
The moderator of our panel highlighted what she found most inspiring about our conversation. When it was my turn, I shared that the most motivating aspect for me is seeing how much the kids enjoy this type of hands-on, learn-by-doing approach. It's not just the students who are inspired—teachers, especially the many women educators in Portugal, are now able to teach computer science confidently. Many of them initially felt intimidated by the subject, but with platforms like ubbu, they're empowered to guide their students through the exciting world of coding.
As I left the conference, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and excitement about the role of technology in shaping young minds. The journey of innovating education is ongoing, and we can only hope to continue helping young girls see what they are capable of — a brilliant creative future.
