By Kirsten Wade
Following the success of the Young ICT Explorers competition in Queensland in 2011, this year the competition has been expanded to include NSW.
The not-for-profit event, initiated by SAP Australia in partnership with the University of Queensland, encourages students to use creativity and innovation in learning about the diverse possibilities technology offers.
Students from Year 4–12 compete in teams across four age categories to design IT-related projects, present them to a judging panel of academics, industry partners and ICT professionals, and network with other students.
“This competition provides a fun and challenging way for schools to encourage students to engage in an ICT-related project, to collaborate, think outside the square, and use their creativity to innovate,” said Glenn Neuber, senior business developer at SAP Research Labs.
The competition also offers students and teachers the opportunity to collaborate.
“Building technology innovation programs into school education provides teachers with the opportunity to recalibrate learning and teaching, so that it becomes more relevant to the generation of IT-savvy children who will be going through school in the next 10-15 years,” said Professor Kathryn Moyle, executive director, Charles Darwin University’s Centre for Excellence, Learning and Development.
“Students need to experience, experiment and collaborate with technology, and the Young ICT Explorers programs provides the types of hands-on experience that enables IT learning in a very practical way.”
The Young ICT Explorers competition is looking for SAP partners to sponsor the events. Judging for NSW students will be held on 4 August 2012 at the University of NSW and judging for Queensland students will be held on 11 August 2012 at the University of Queensland.
