• Competition aims to improve programming and STEM skills of Riverina school students
• Will connect schools to Charles Sturt University, and schools to each other
• Will connect computing and STEM teachers in the region and increase collaboration

The Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) AgriTech Incubator will co-host the Riverina Inter-School Programming Championship for Years 9 and 10 school students in Wagga Wagga on Friday 21 June.

The Riverina Inter-School Programming Championship aims to improve the computer programming and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills of school students in the Riverina.

AgriTech Incubator project officer Ms Siobhain Howard said, “The competition highlights the importance of programming and STEM skills as students prepare to move into the workforce.

“For the past eight months the AgriTech Incubator, the Charles Sturt School of Computing and Mathematics, and The Riverina Anglican College (TRAC) have been developing a programming competition for the Riverina,” Ms Howard said.

“We are thrilled to join with TRAC to help develop Riverina students’ skills sets in order to think differently and innovatively and to solve problems.

“STEM and digital literacy skills are so important, not only for now but for jobs of the future, so we hope that the program will build aspiration for students to continue to develop their skills in this area as nearly every occupation involves some interaction with digital technology.”

Ms Howard said a five-week learning resource for school students had been developed with Code Club Australia using the Python Programming language.

Use of the resource commenced in early May and was delivered by teachers in their classrooms to prepare students for the championship competition on Friday 21 June.

“The competition is aimed at Years 9 and 10 Riverina students who have any level of programming experience,” Ms Howard said.

“The five-week learning course aims to bring all students, be they novice or advanced, up to speed to be ready for competition day.”

Senior lecturer in the Charles Sturt School of Computing and Mathematics Dr Quazi Mamun said, “Programs like the Riverina’s Inaugural Inter-School Programming Championship teach our students important computer coding skills that will allow them to design their own futures.”

“Importantly, the championship competition aims to:

• Improve programming and STEM skills of students in the Riverina
• Connect schools to Charles Sturt, and schools to each other
• Connect the computing and STEM teachers in the region and increase collaboration.”

STEM teacher at TRAC Mr Isaac Mannion said, “The championship represents the accumulation of learning and training by a number of Riverina school students who will compete for the title and be awarded the shield to be displayed at their school.

“I am excited to be a part of STEM initiatives in regional Australia, and the championship is one way in which we are developing our regional capacity and engaging students to consider their future in STEM-related fields”.

The Riverina Inter-School Programming Championship will be staged at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga in building 13, room 210, starting at 9.30am on Friday 21 June.

For more information: http://innovate.csu.edu.au/incubators/agritech

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