GenTech helps Phoenix elementary school students learn skills local tech companies want in future workers

GenTech, a technology support company, is partnering with the Balsz School District in Phoenix to teach kids about AI, coding, robotics and more.

Lessons reflect the skills local tech companies want their workers to have, according to GenTech COO Michael Wilson.

“In Arizona there’s so much tech coming here, and you know, we see it all the time with new investments of technology companies coming to the Valley. So, we want those kids to also be prepared for those future jobs,” Wilson said.

One of the companies consulted to shape the lessons was the Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).

Coding, robotics, AI lessons for elementary students in Phoenix

Students in the program can explore different technologies to figure out if they are interested in pursuing a STEM career.

One fifth grader, 11-year-old Devany Martinez Cardiel, is learning how to make a Peppa Pigg video game in a class at David Crockett Elementary School.

“I’ve learned that it’s going to be important in your future because if you like want to do a certain job, you’re going to need to have some experience with technology,” she said.

Devany said her current video game project uses coding to build an interactive scene.

“There’s two enemies and it’s two princesses. It’s the money queen and there’s a cupcake princess and then the hero is a chicken leg,” Devany said. “They’re going to steal money from Peppa Pig’s house and then the chicken leg is going to save the money.”

GenTech helping metro Phoenix students learn valuable job skills

GenTech provides schools with equipment for projects, curriculum and even instructors.

Wilson said the program teaches children how to create video games because using a familiar medium as a learning tool can get them intereted in pursuing technological careers.

“Especially as they’re emerging and becoming so important in our day-to-day lives, we need kids to understand so that way they can go and create the new innovations that we’ll see in the next few decades,” Wilson said.