Microsoft Store Sydney Helping our Tech Minded Kids
Way back in my high school years, the mid-late 90's, geez that's a while ago, we were asked the question How will you see computers impacting your life and careers?
At the time IT based jobs were becoming big, internet startups were everywhere and it really was boom time.
Fast forward 2 decades and I carry a small PC in my pocket and phone and link on my wrist. I use a PC every day for work, I draw on it, communicate and play.
But where to from here?
Well recent studies have confirmed that IT and computing is still a core want and belief of students.
Once again Microsoft is at the forefront and helping our little ones in these school holidays.
Over the next week, if you're looking for something for your tech loving child to do, check out the below.
I've done sessions with the Microsoft store with one of my little ones and she didn't stop talking about it for weeks.
Be sure to check it out.
Pat
New research reveals Aussie students’
vision for the school of the future
- 6
out of 10 students hope to see IT and Computers as a core part of the
school curriculum within the next 10 years
- 65%
of school students said they have an interest in learning coding in
school, with one in three students saying they haven’t had the
opportunity to do this
- Over
50% of students consider Computers and IT to be the subjects most
important to their future careers
New
research, commissioned by Microsoft Store Australia, has
highlighted the growing student demand for tech-based tools and skills in
school. The research reveals that Aussie kids are excited
to learn via advanced technology and are prioritising STEM-based
education to get themselves ready for the jobs of the future.
Inspired by
these findings, Microsoft Store has created a learning experience in
store, offering students the chance to sample some of
the subjects and teaching tools of the future through a series
of workshops available in January.
In
the lead up to Australian students heading back to the classroom, the research
reveals that 65 per cent of students aged 10-16 years old in Australia have an
interest in learning more STEM focused skills, like coding in
school, with one in three students saying they are not
taught this currently. Further to this, the research
showcases Aussie kids value
STEM based subjects as the most relevant to their jobs in the future,
prioritising Computers (61%), IT (63%) and Science (57%) over
traditionally preferred subjects, such as P.E (45%), English (51%) and Music
(44%).
The
research results also indicate that Aussie kids are excited
about new learning tools and experiences in the classroom of the
future. Twenty-one per cent of students say they would like more
opportunities to learn outside of the physical classroom, forty-two per
cent of students say they would like to interact more with
classroom computers via touch screen, and twenty-seven per cent would like
to be able to interact with computers via voice command.
During the January school holidays (19 – 24
January) Microsoft Store will offer students aged 8 – 15 years a
taste of the school of the future through an engaging
curriculum involving AR, AI and coding workshops, and
kids and parents will be given a taste
of the Australian school of the future.
Max Ferfoglia, Community Development
Specialist at the flagship Microsoft Store in Sydney says, “We’re very excited that Aussie
school kids are so interested in learning about new technologies in the school
of the future. It’s even more exciting to be able
to offer students the opportunity
to trial technology and curriculums that they may
not have hands-on experience in their school classes at the
moment. By offering these workshops at Microsoft Store, we hope
to inspire and empower children to feel confident and excited about
the future of technology, ultimately inspiring them to pursue a
career in the STEM industry.”
Register for
the workshops here. For
more information on other STEM related workshops available throughout the year
at the flagship Microsoft Store in Sydney, please see the events page on
the Microsoft Store website.
NOTES
TO EDITORS:
When: Sunday
January 19th to Friday
January 24th at
various times throughout each day
Where: Microsoft
Store on Pitt Street Mall, Sydney (188 Pitt St, Sydney)
Duration: the
workshops run for 1.5 hours
Recommended
age: 8 -15 years, please note there
are separate sessions for primary students and secondary students
Skill
level: beginners, no prior learning
needed
Workshop
types:
Merge
Cube Workshop: Imagine holding
the earth in your hand, or perhaps even a great white shark! In
partnership with Merge Cube, students will explore the wonders of the
world and see them come to life before their eyes. In this interactive session,
attendees will be guided through a series of Merge topic cards and experience
them in 3D using Merge Cube's Augmented Reality technology. This session
assumes zero student knowledge about AI and is suited to beginners.
Minecraft Education –
Element Scavenger Hunt: Blockheads get set to learn with
Minecraft! Using Minecraft: Education Edition, students will learn about the
earth's elements and how they combine to form matter. A combination of science,
gaming and a whole lot of fun, attendees will break apart material blocks to
understand how they are made up of component elements in this hands-on
'scavenger hunt' style session.
AI with Neuranext: In partnership
with Neuranext, this fun, interactive session, students will learn
the key scientific concepts of Artificial Intelligence with Neuranext AI. Attendees will
learn how A.I. is all around us, get to implement computer vision using Python
Code and Jupyter Notebooks with data and images
they create. Students will also workshop future applications of the
technology and their impact on the world. Students will participate in
deploying computer vision and neural networks to activate autonomous robotic
cars for a self-driving task.
App Lab
– Build your own app: Budding app
developers, listen up! In partnership with Code.org, this
1.5-hour workshop, you will learn how to build your own app using fundamentals
of JavaScript with block-based coding. Using Code.org’s App
Lab, learn how to come up with an app idea and watch it transform from sketch
to shareable app in moments. For students 13+ only. NB: To save and
access their app following the workshop, students will need to bring an email
address.
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