Over 100 transition year students attend CEIA workshop for new App Development programme SySTEM

More than 100 Transition Year students from across Cork were put through their paces today (Monday) as they attended their first workshop for newly launched App development programme, SySTEM. The CEIA – Cork’s Technology Network – has had a phenomenal response to the newly launched FREE App development competition, which is based on the logic of George Boole. SySTEM will run over a 12-week period and will require teams of students to develop an App for a game incorporating the true and false values of Boolean logic.

“This is a brand new programme for us in the CEIA, and we are very excited by the level of interest in SySTEM from teachers and students across the region. Over 100 students in 13 schools across Cork have already registered for the competition – with many more already looking to get involved next year,” said Dr Eamon Connolly, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Promotion Officer, CEIA.

As part of the competition students attended their first workshop which focused on project management, app-development technology and marketing & sales. An additional workshop in design and presentations will be held at a later date.

“It is great to have all of the teams here today for the first workshop. This competition is very much focused on team work, teams of up to 8 students will have to work together to come up with a game concept but also assign roles such as a project manager, app developer, graphic designer, financial controller and sales and marketing,” he continued.

“The key activity for teams is to have a clear idea and structure as to what they want to achieve with their game, it’s not necessarily about having a fully functioning App. It is about participating and engaging with IT and STEM subjects,” he added.Pictured at the first SySTEM workshop are Adam Donegan Colaiste An Chraoibhin ,Fermoy and Leah Pepper St Vincents ,Cork City. Photography by Gerard McCarthy.

The CEIA are providing training workshops for participating teachers and students. Each team will also be assigned an industry mentor, who will provide each team with knowledge and support in the run up to the competition final, which takes place in CIT on 30 November 2016.

“This is the first year of the programme so we are absolutely thrilled by level of interest. Coding has never been so important and we think that SySTEM is a fantastic and innovative way of showcasing IT, STEM and engineering as exciting and interesting career option to the next generation,” said Valerie Cowman, Skills and Education Chair of the CEIA.

The CEIA Skills and Education Group promotes STEM education to students from the ages of 10-18 through programmes such as the ROBOT competition, CANSAT competition, maths tutorials linked to the leaving cert curriculum, Discover Science workshops and other events.

The final of the SySTEM will take place in CIT on Wednesday 30 November 2016. Further information is available on the CEIA website www.ceia.ie.