The Bryn Mawr Online Computer Science classes had the incredible opportunity to host two dynamic representatives from Google in celebration of the 2024 Computer Science Education Week: Anushka, an associate product manager, and Karen, a software engineer.
Their visit began with a journey through their personal and professional paths—from high school experiences to thriving careers at Google. Anushka shared insights into how YouTube content creators collaborate on brand placement and how Google search ads are displayed. Karen shared her work as a software engineer, including hands-on experience with hardware development at Google. Both speakers highlighted how the principles of Computer Science extend far beyond the tech world, opening doors to numerous industries.
The session shifted and engaged students by having them participate in an interactive workshop on Google’s product development lifecycle. Working in teams, they reimagined an everyday school accessory, a backpack. In small groups, students brainstormed innovative ways to redesign it to better meet student needs—a hands-on exercise in creativity and practical problem-solving.
A thought-provoking Q&A session followed, where our curious students explored topics like Google’s approach to Artificial Intelligence and the evolving landscape of generative AI. The conversation expanded into the philosophical implications of these technologies, challenging students to consider the ethical dimensions of data scraping.
Opportunities like these remind us of the power of industry connections to ignite curiosity and fuel ambition amongst our students. We are deeply grateful to Anushka and Karen for sharing their stories, knowledge, and inspiration, empowering our students to dream big and think boldly about the future.
