Coding challenge kicks off
The Premier’s Coding Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for all Queensland students in Year 3 to Year 10. The challenge aims to encourage an interest in STEM in Queensland students.
Technologies and digital services can have an impact on people’s mental, physical, social and emotional health. Developing skills to improve digital wellbeing is important in today’s world and who better to help raise awareness amongst Queenslanders than our budding developers and designers, aspiring engineers and young innovators.
The challenge in 2021 is to code an interactive and innovative digital solution to raise awareness of digital wellbeing. This can include themes such as:
- work and study life balance
- postural considerations of using technology
- personal security and safety online
- adhering to social media ethics and protocols.
Entrants can develop an app, game, animation or website, and they must submit a short video showcase with their entry.
Students can enter as individuals or as a pair, in one of eight categories. You can see examples from previous winners here (ZIP, 67.8 MB). Winners receive prizes of coding and robotic kits from a total prize pool of $10,000.
As seen live on the department’s YouTube channel, coding@homeTV guides students through a design process to create an entry for the 2021 Premier’s Coding Challenge with a focus on the new theme of digital wellbeing.
You can find out more about categories, rules and prizes here.
Tools and tips including links to cybersafety resources, websites and video production info is available here.
Key dates:
Mon 25 January — challenge launched
Wed 21 April — submission portal opens
Fri 17 September — entries close @ 5:00pm
Wed 10 November — awards ceremony held
The Department of Education website features a Submission Portal, which opens in April. For more information, check out the FAQs here or email coding.competition@qed.qld.gov.au. #digitalwellbeingqld
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