How education nonprofit Mission Bit is inspiring students to code

Growing up, Christina Ortega didn’t know anyone working in technology. She was raised in the Mission District neighborhood of San Francisco, far removed from where most Silicon Valley types were working at the time. Her “computer science” class in high school focused on typing and using Microsoft PowerPoint. She never imagined that one day she would be CEO of Mission Bit, a coding and technology education nonprofit working with the public school system in the city.

“Having me on board at Mission Bit is like having another one of our students at the table,” said Ortega.

She credits her lived experience, graduate research, and expertise in delivering after-school programs for inner-city youth as driving forces behind her work. The CEO is passionate about ensuring everyone, especially youth of color, is exposed to the tech industry and has opportunities to gain valuable technology skills that can lead to well-paying jobs.

A different approach to the computer science curriculum

The way public high schools teach technology and computer science has mostly stayed the same over the years. Although the curriculum may be geared more toward coding than typing these days, it doesn’t always motivate students to pursue STEM careers.

“When you’re trying to inspire students to code, you need something that breaks out of the standard way of teaching and is fun,” explained Ortega.

Mission Bit, which began as a hacker lab at Mission High School in San Francisco, creates problem-solving programming that engages students. The organization tailors classes for young people with many team-based, hands-on activities and group projects. It also recruits college students majoring in computer science to teach after-school classes. High school students relate to them and will often see them as role models for what could become their own path.

Classes are structured to include three projects and a final, end-of-semester capstone project that they pitch on “Demo Day” to a panel of (friendly) volunteer judges. The judges are software engineers from various tech companies in the Bay Area. Students learn practical skills by engaging in this format and finish each class with something they’ve created.

Pursuing STEM, building self-confidence

Mission Bit teaches programming skills but also soft skills essential for a successful career in a STEM field, such as collaboration, communication, and self-confidence. Building self-confidence is critical to helping students feel secure that their ideas and opinions are valid regardless of where they live, their cultural and ethnic identity, and their socio-economic status.

“We focus on supporting students in building their confidence so they’re not afraid to ask questions or speak in front of their class,” said Ortega. “The team-based class structure, the Demo Days – everything that students do within the program elevates their voices and makes them feel heard.”

Students: We want more, please!

There’s no lack of demand for Mission Bit’s programming. As of this year, Mission Bit has served 10,000 students – 97% of them students of color and nearly 50% female. And its reach is growing. In 2023, Mission Bit served 44% more students than in 2022. Its after-school programs in San Francisco are so popular that they regularly receive 300-400 applications for just 130 spots each semester.

Beyond its after-school programs, Mission Bit offers week-long summer camps in Oakland and San Mateo County and a VR class at the Meta Summer Academy. To reach more students in San Francisco, the charity is also running an online, interactive, cohort-based class called Code Your Way. What sets Code Your Way apart is that students can book office hours with technology experts working at companies in the Bay Area.

Expanding and scaling in public school classrooms

Mission Bit believes it could have the most impact by teaching kids in class during the school day. The organization is working with the San Francisco Unified School District to provide accredited in-school curriculum and training for San Francisco public school teachers who want to teach computer science classes.

“The opportunity to bring our curriculum into the school day really excites me,” said Ortega. “Hopefully, more students will be inspired to pursue computer science through Mission Bit’s curriculum, which offers an innovative approach, compared to the more traditional curriculum often used in schools.”

To bring more teachers on board, Mission Bit has designed the lessons in an approachable way for people who have yet to gain any coding knowledge.

“Our in-school curriculum is intentionally introductory because the idea is to make it accessible in that any teacher can learn alongside their students as they teach,” explained Ortega. “So, we’re not only exposing students to the foundations of computer science and bridging the digital gap, we’re building a next generation of computer science teachers.”

Donations make a difference

Mission Bit relies on grant funding and donations to continue developing and delivering fundamental programs like in-school curriculum and after-school classes.

Donations enable Mission Bit to continue its work and inspire more students. For example, the charity helped one teenager who lived with his grandparents. Through his hard work at school and connection with Mission Bit, he graduated with a master’s degree in computer science from Stanford, has a job, and is now supporting his younger brother’s education.

Developing an interest in coding and technology is more than just fun. As Ortega explained: “Jobs in computer science? They have the potential to change someone’s whole life.”

Jenn Marshall

Contributing Writer