Tech-savvy students from a pair of District schools recently had the opportunity to show off their skills and creativity at Science World, as part of a program called Develop The Future.
At the event, which was held earlier this month, three groups of students - two groups of Grade 7s from Dorothy Peacock Elementary and one group of 11/2 programming students from Brookswood Secondary - shared their original ideas for a phone app. The showcase was the culmination of months of work "learning and collaborating" on the app, according to Brookswood teacher Michael Goldsack.
"Their work yesterday was just a sample of the amazing ideas and work they developed through various discussions, activities, and projects during the semester," he continued.
"There was a lot learning, adapting, and re-configuring of materials, ideas, and lessons on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis. The students did an amazing job adapting to all the changes and challenges along the way."
Students presented their app ideas to mentors and industry experts either in an informal mix-and-mingle setting, or in the form of a more formal business pitch, depending on the students' grade levels, explained Dorothy Peacock teacher Victoria Lindgren-Streicher.
The apps created by Brookswood students were very diverse, and included everything from games and puzzle apps - including one that was a "new take on the classic game Minesweeper" - as well as apps designed to help with diet and healthy living; deal with anxiety; a voice modulation app; and one designed to help parents find appropriate child care near them.
This year's Develop the Future initiative was a pilot project in B.C., and based on a similar successful model in Ontario. The hope is that the opportunity inspires students from a young age to think about entrepreneurship and technology and other skills that will become important for them as they continue to grow and eventually join the workforce.
