The RVC Hour of Code has reached 750 K-12 students since December 2015. It is a FREE monthly, public workshop we have offered since December 2015. We have had The objective of the RVC Hour of Code is to demystify Computer Science for mainly students in K-12. However, we have entire families that attend each month and learn together.

The RVC Hour of Code is offered the first Tuesday of the month at Cherryvale mall. This is the second year the mall has graciously volunteered to offer us space, setup the tables and chairs and provided power and wifi.

If you want to volunteer to help email Chuck Konkol at c.konkol@rockvalleycollege.edu
Website and RSVP: http://rvchourofcode.com

Voter registration will be available in the WTC lobby next week. This is an activity brought to you by PAIC.

Plan on registering to vote on one of the below dates!

Monday, September 10
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, September 11
noon to 1 p.m.
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Two forms of ID are needed. Commonly, it is a Illinois driver's license with the current address and an RVC student ID. If the drivers license doesn't have the current address, it can be used but then the second item must have a current address along with their name such as a bank statement or utility bill.

#RVCMobileAppCertificate

Find out more & register @ myrvc.org/apps

Questions? Email Professor Chuck Konkol

Google has two AIY (Artificial Intelligence and You) kits. The first kit is Voice and the second kit is Visual artificial intelligence. Both kits have users put together a cardboard kit with required hardware such as a raspberry pi, microphone, and camera using TensorFlow neural network. In addition, Google provides multiple demo Python files to test machine learning results for both audio and visual input.

Professor Konkol has purchased and successfully put together the Visual AIY Kit demonstrating the ability of the TensorFlow neural network to recognize objects and faces. In addition, Konkol has begun using Python code to experiment with other real world use cases. The most recent real-world use case is recognition of handicap individuals as they approach doors triggering a door opening actuator. The real-world solutions are endless and Google has given the tools to solve real world problems with Artificial Intelligence.

Resource Links

• Google Visual AIY Website: ​https://aiyprojects.withgoogle.com/vision/
• Adafruit explores AIY with Google https://youtu.be/RfwNGXfGeXU (video)
• Purchase the Visual & Voice AIY Kit ONLY at Target 

Testing of object recognition like seen below show the correct category "orange" being selected. AI could replace the current system used in grocery stores of manually looking up produce to determine a product code.

Congratulations to Amy Barbagallo for recently getting hired at Advanced Machine and Engineering. Amy was working at Ebates in customer service and has been looking for an entry level job in an IT department. 

Where did you find out about this job? MyRVC.org jobs page.

​Company: Advanced Machine and Engineering
Job Title: Network Client Support Specialist
Job Description:​

• ​Providing technical assistance using both oral and written communication skills via phone and e-mail
• Troubleshooting hardware, software, and devices
• Configuring routers, switches, servers, and clients
• Installing and updating software​

Once again, congrats on the new job Amy!
​- Rock Valley College CIS Faculty & Staff

Rock Valley College has been approved as an official “Girls Who Code” club location! “Girls Who Code” offers after-school programs for 6-12th grade girls to use computer science to impact their community and join supportive peers and role models.

Rock Valley College is the only College in Illinois to be selected as an approved “Girls Who Code” training location!

Starting Spring 2018, Rock Valley College will start offering an after school “Girls Who Code” coding club, two hours a week, for Girls 6-12 grade from Rockford area schools.

Club members will have access to free code training resources, a network of thousands of other coders, and team coding curriculum. “Girls Who Code” Clubs are now in all 50 states.

​Professor Chuck Konkol is the facilitator of the Rock Valley College “Girls Who Code” club. In additional, Jennifer Kunkel, programmer at Woodward Governor will serve as co-facilitator.

For more information about “Girls Who Code” please visit https://girlswhocode.com/clubs/

More details coming soon!

Questions? Email Professor Chuck Konkol at c.konkol@rockvalleycollege.edu

Sasha Ariel Alston shares her journey of entering the STEM world and publishing her new book, "Sasha Savvy Loves to Code". In addition, she discusses the importance of more women getting involved in STEM education and STEM workforce.

Sasha Ariel Alston is an author, tech activist and speaker. Sasha is a college student who recently published the book "Sasha Savvy Loves to Code". Sasha has been on multiple top news sites and talk shows and encourages young women to code.

"I want to bring the excluded and underrepresented into the STEMoshpere of possibilities." - Sasha Ariel Alston

Sasha has been recognized for her outstanding efforts to raise awareness regarding STEM’s lack of diversity. She is the proud recipient of the prestigious Imani Award and the Prize for Achievement from the Kurt Giessler Foundation. She has also been featured is several publications from around the world, including the United States, France, Japan, Kenya, and the Philippines.

Sasha empowers & inspires ALL to pursue coding, especially young woman!

Website: http://sashaarielalston.com

Recently published book, "Sasha Loves to Code", is getting great reviews on Amazon! (See http://amzn.to/2qG3oSH)

"Let's support Sasha by buying copies of her book and give as Christmas gifts this year! The story of a young girls journey and struggles in STEM reach a wide audience."  - Professor Chuck Konkol