Batemans Bay High School is equipping students with Information Technology skills they can’t access through the curriculum.
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The school held its second Hackathon on Friday, July 6. IT professionals share their time and tools to show students how different skills link to employment.
Batemans Bay Principals Network Relieving Director, Educational Leadership Greg McDonald said the event was the brainchild of the Eurobodalla Digital Network, and was open to students from all schools in the region.
“The group was looking at ways to promote student involvement in IT outside the curriculum,” he said.
“It exposes students to experiences that they could seek further engagement, training or employment in.
“Lots of people in the Eurobodalla work remotely in IT at quite a high level, so it promotes the idea of seeking career opportunities without having to leave the area.
“The activities are determined by the availability of mentors.”
Some of the mentors on hand this year were from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, in Canberra, who introduced students to the software programs they use to create games and for movie production.
Robotics mentors helped students create a remotely-operated undersea vehicle, which could be used to survey the ocean floor and investigate submerged structures.
Mr McDonald said he has high hopes for the future of the program.
“We hope it will be self-sustaining – the need for these skills is not going away.”