Students embrace innovation at Intel boot camp

Computer coding skills, an interactive Internet of Things project and imagining a technology future were on the curriculum at an innovation boot camp held at NSW Parliament today.

The event, organised by Intel, was the first of its kind to be held in NSW Parliament. It was attended by ministers and MPs, start-ups and students from six primary and secondary schools that are actively developing their own technology solutions.

The students were encouraged by Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello to continue their digital journey, who said their skills would be essential in helping them to navigate and work in our information age.

“The NSW Government is embracing innovation and digital disruption as the way forward in developing better solutions to our economic and social challenges and to meet the needs of our tech-savvy, connected citizens,” Dominello said.

“Open data is changing how industry, business and government interact and collaborate, and it is inspiring to see school students engage with these vital concepts and opportunities.”

Intel has developed a program on innovation in education, particularly around STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects and using technology to deepen critical thinking.

This year, it launched a pilot with 15 NSW schools that encourages students to create and invent their own technology with programmable Intel Galileo boards.

The event also featured presentations from some of the students on how they are developing their own technology solutions, including coding and 3D-printed robots, to solve a range of issues.

Intel Managing Director Kate Burleigh said innovation would drive the NSW economy forward over the next few decades.

“Being tech creators rather than mere consumers, challenging established paradigms, taking risks, generating new business models, valuing data, being entrepreneurial — all these qualities drive innovation, and they’re about to be in great demand in NSW,” said Burleigh.

Image courtesy of Missy Schmidt under CC