Back in July, the Tech Girls Movement had the privilege of taking part in the Tech Girlz mini conference at Ashgrove State School. It was a really fantastic event.
The event was opened by the Director General of Education, Dr. Jim Watterston who made a very well received opening speech, followed by a keynote by Sharon Allen who is a chemical engineer with Origin Energy. Sharon gave some really valuable insight around her journey into a STEM career.
After the introductions, the girls then broke into a series of 8 interactive workshops. There was:
macro lens photography using iPads
garage band music creation
programming Bee Bots
programming Spheros with iPads
paper circuit creation
developing a paper prototype of an app
green screen video production
stop frame animation.
The teachers at Ashgrove did a superb job supporting the event and running the workshop sessions, and the larger Ashgrove State School community was so incredibly engaged. The parents and teachers so clearly want to be at the cutting edge and want to make sure their kids are supported to be workers of the future.
The Principal of the school arranged the event as a “one off”, but the school response was so overwhelming, Mrs. Bond is planning on holding another one in Term 4. The Tech Girls Movement look forward to supporting the next session at Ashgrove!!!
I am really pleased that I went and could represent the Tech Girls Movement. Ashgrove SS loved having a representative there.
Announcing the first of our Highly Commended Awards in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
Our Calming App offers support to children aged 8-10 years by providing calming activities that are engaging but not demanding or competitive. The purpose of the activities is to relax the user and distract them from the cause of their upset.
We decided to do this by using technology to enable restaurants and cafes, hotels, convention centres, sports stadiums and schools to donate their excess food to charities serving the hungry such as FoodBank, Meals On Wheels and FoodWise
Announcing the South Australian Finalists in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
CONGRATULATIONS TECH GIRLS, COACHES, AND MENTORS!
SECONDARY
V LINK – St Peter’s Girls School – Our product, V Link is a mobile application connecting the skilled but underutilised retired population to volunteering jobs. https://youtu.be/uL0fW8sLf78
Leaping Turtles – St Peter’s Girls School – Our app ‘Leaping Turtles’ is tailored to help individuals aged 18 and above who are experiencing domestic violence in their lives and provide them with resources to take a step towards empowerment. https://youtu.be/FH6DlFILdO4
Save the Reef – St Peter’s Girls’ School, South Australia – Save the Reef targets the issue of pollution in our seas in an entertaining, informative game. https://youtu.be/Qsobsmqg9KQ
Announcing the New Zealand Finalists in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
CONGRATULATIONS TECH GIRLS, COACHES, AND MENTORS!
This is our first year operating in NZ and we had 50 + teams register, and the quality of the submissions rivals the Australians!
NZ SOUTH ISLAND PRIMARY
CURE 4 BOREDOM – Tai Tapu School, Christchurch – NZ C4B is designed to get kids off technology and motivate them to do fun ‘off-device’ activities. https://youtu.be/ib-9cfEwVN4
G.I.R.L.S – Hatch Education, Dunedin – It is awesome being a girl but it can also be tough so we have created a portal to a world of help and advice. Our app is a one-stop shop. https://youtu.be/EOoqRyrXFAA
THREE MAKAREWA BEES TEAM – BEEFRIEND PI – Makarewa School, Invercargill – The app provides educational information about bees. We want to make it fun while learning and increase the knowledge about the decreasing bee population. https://youtu.be/H9P9N9oP7OE
NZ NORTH ISLAND PRIMARY
LEND A HAND – Frankley School, New Plymouth – Our app is all about caring for other people and helping them to a great life. So we are helping the homeless/needy people that don’t have the basics. https://youtu.be/G-uypfXurW4
EVAC-U-BUDDY – Queen Margaret College, Wellington – Evac-U-Buddy is an app that helps people find shelter during an evacuation. It is aimed at helping people who live in Tsunami unsafe zones or in any area at risk of danger. http://www.evac-u-buddy.com/
LESS STRESS – Frankley School, New Plymouth – Less Stress is an app to help resolve stress and anxiety problems focused on ages 7-12. https://youtu.be/TspeKEHapRk
SNAP TRAP – CodeCamp, Wellington – At Snap Trap we are making an App to help eradicate pests that kill native animals. The App works with manual traps to one day create a network of people across the community. https://youtu.be/P5hFM7kywt0‘
NZ SOUTH ISLAND SECONDARY
AWHINA – Breens Intermediate School, Christchurch – Awhina is an app where students who have been bullied or are being bullied. https://youtu.be/DFzBDHuBdNs
On Track Dunedin – Columba College, Dunedin – Our app focuses on improving the health of Dunedin citizens by encouraging them to complete walking tracks around Dunedin. https://youtu.be/U1ulwaNTe8U
Enviro-snap – Villa Maria College, Christchurch – Enviro-Snaps goal is to encourage school children to pick up litter around their school and community. https://vimeo.com/227353138
EAT FRESH – St Hilda’s Collegiate School, Dunedin – Our app makes cooking nutritious and healthy food, fun, easy and stress-free, even on a budget. https://youtu.be/0bd5whSxbAg
NZ NORTH ISLAND SECONDARY
WASTE NOTE – Sacred Heart College, Wellington – We have made an app that provides consumers with creative ways in which they can recycle their chosen materials. https://youtu.be/vAf0ULh1oLw
Rainbow Unicorns Team – Chillax – Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington – Chillax is an app that helps people relax by allowing them to chose what they want to see, hear, or watch. https://youtu.be/H_f9TQSbghA
COPE APP – Sacred Heart College, Wellington – Cope, is an app created to relieve stress/anxiety. https://youtu.be/RzxuZW9MQiE
DRINK MINDER – Hillcrest Girls School, Hamilton – With Drink Minder, users can record and track the number of standard drinks they’ve consumed and can see their progress as they go. https://youtu.be/btWtGI_g4UE
ARCTIC – Kapiti College, Paraparaumu – Our app, Arctic, is an app designed to get people motivated, talk and learn in order to battle mental health issues. https://youtu.be/ZC24LFJjdZs
See you at our Wellington showcase at Xero – details available soon!
Announcing the Queensland State Finalists in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
CONGRATULATIONS TECH GIRLS, COACHES, AND MENTORS!
PRIMARY
SMILE NATION – Ormiston College – Smiles are the same in every language, so use your smile to change the world.Do you want to help make the world a happier place? Learn how with Smile Nation, the App that will get you, your friends and family smiling. https://youtu.be/f4cP0wGGR3U
SUNFUN – Pacific Pines Primary School – SunFun is designed to help kids understand the importance of sun safety in a fun manner. https://youtu.be/ujCYd4y3G3s
HEALTHIPAWS – St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School – The HealthiPaws App is a national app that connects local volunteer dog owners to families of sick children to improve mental health for children in hospital – helping them to get better. https://youtu.be/3zcyHCHaVuY
SECONDARY
CALME – Brigidine College – The app assists teenage students in relieving the effects of stress, depression, and low-esteem that may be associated with school, social media, family, peers and other pressures. https://youtu.be/1mFDqwHnFIc
HELPA – St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School – Helpa is a social enterprise, connecting charitable homeowners to the homeless population. Our app allows the homeless to work in partnership with the community so stereotypes are broken and friendships built. https://youtu.be/LYDhjnlcnU4
REVIBE – Somerset College – Our company, Blue Screen, has created an app with the purpose to assist people in dealing with mental health issues, and is targeted towards youth. https://youtu.be/2vlKXbVeLEU
Come and meet Minister Enoch and be the first to hear the National Winners!
Announcing the New South Wales State Finalists in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
CONGRATULATIONS TECH GIRLS, COACHES, AND MENTORS!
PRIMARY
HappyNess – St Joseph’s Como – Research has shown that Australian kids are the most stressed kids on Earth. A girls’ confidence can quickly disappear when things go wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7hwcyKLEr0
Produce Lane – Dunoon Public School – We designed our App to connect people to local and fresh food. This is good for people and good for the environment. https://youtu.be/Obk_1pCGRho
Talk to the Hand – CC Home School – Our app provides a fun, easy way to learn AUSLAN (AUstralian Sign LANguage) through videos, pictures, quizzes, songs and games. https://youtu.be/oZELW12G7r8
Outshine the Sun – Our Lady of the Nativity Primary Lawson – Outshine the Sun encourages kids to think about their actions and their impact on global warming, taking them on an educational and fun journey. https://youtu.be/SPH-1Pur5u8
Secondary
Anigram Trakka – Santa Sabina College Strathfield – This app is designed to assist researchers and conservationists to track koalas https://youtu.be/jeLmWr9W5Qc
Dyslexic Adventures – Lucas Heights Community School – Android app for dyslexia. Aimed at children ages 5-8 with difficulty identifying words. The app is a game that helps children with dyslexia. https://youtu.be/JqLPqBCorWU
Edulexic – Maitland High School – In Australia, approximately 10 percent of people have dyslexia. Our app has scientifically proven material. https://youtu.be/cpOk5BplO4Y
Harlou – Maitland Grossmann High School – Harlou is a social networking app made by students, for students! https://youtu.be/150RDByGCG4
Announcing the Western Australian Finalists in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
CONGRATULATIONS TECH GIRLS, COACHES, AND MENTORS!
PRIMARY
MATHS MISSION: SECRET SPY – All Saints College – This app provides mathematics education on topics such as time and measurement. https://youtu.be/bBKLUyiBVWk
CHILL YOUR MIND – All Saints College – This app helps people achieve goals, helping them feel better and bringing them to realise the world of mindfulness around them
THE HEALTH GURU – St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School – The Health Guru is an app designed to keep your health levels safe and correct. From what products to use with a major sunburn, to a daily plan regarding your sore back pains, this app will guide you on the road to recovery. https://youtu.be/D_IzdcESZeQ
FOODLINK – ALPCA TEAM – Iona Presentation College – FoodLink is an application that links businesses and charities to reduce food wastage and help the needy. https://youtu.be/hoNZCt1OX_0
LET’S TALK – Shenton College – App is designed around helping the close inner circle community of a young teen who has a mental illness. Let’s Talk firmly believes something needs to be done in order to prevent tragic incidents of teen suicide. https://youtu.be/KVfjifLJdaI
Announcing the Victorian Finalists in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition!
CONGRATULATIONS TECH GIRLS, COACHES AND MENTORS!
PRIMARY
PIXEL PET – St John Bosco’s Primary – Our app is a virtual pet game which helps calm the body and mind. https://youtu.be/CjsO895ARuM
CHARITY CHIPMUNKS – Bialik College – Our app’s purpose is to give children a chance to give back to the community through their schools. https://youtu.be/3ljDlqWzxaA
BULLY BUSTERS – Shelford Girls Grammar – ‘Bully Busters’ is an anti-bullying app for primary school students who are victims, bystanders or bullies. https://youtu.be/-WLABW0Mhas
EQUALITY HERO – Kardinia International College – Equality Hero provides a way for youth to play a game while learning about equality. https://youtu.be/dd98piOUxYc
SECONDARY
HEALTH EATING – St Aloysius College – Our app is a healthy eating app, called Healthy Minds. https://youtu.be/Vdiujg4o5zc
UQUIZ – Phoenix P-12 Community College – UQuiz is an app designed to target people between the end of high school and university, and anyone else seeking further education who is unsure of what courses to take. https://youtu.be/xvnRISrX6pE
COURSE CORRECTOR – Phoenix P-12 Community College – Course Corrector is an app for high school students looking for a career to pursue in the future. It is aimed to help high school students find a course they would like to do. https://youtu.be/MHvJYQtAXaU
STEPC02 – Virtual Team – across Victoria & New South Wales – Provides both educational and entertainment options that teach children how to look after the environment and make good decisions that take into account pollution that can be caused by their actions. https://youtu.be/tb0zAypJyOs
These are just some of the topics covered in the entries in the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition! This year, we aligned our program with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We are almost finished judging, and we are so impressed with the high level of quality in the entries! Our judges agree 🙂
Dear Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero 2017 Teams,
Congratulations on finishing your app! What a big achievement we have all accomplished. We have all learnt so many new skills and participating in the Tech Girls project has definitely inspired us to pursue our dream of careers in STEM.
We are the Pacific Pines Tech girls and our team consists of our amazing coaches Natalie Harris, Nadia Barratt and Kara Griggs who have encouraged us right through the whole competition. We also have our marvelous mentor Megan Reed who has guided our team to the finish line. We are Milla Mccashney, Courtney Hall, Isabelle Matthews, Emi Reed and Jasmine Sutton. We have created an app called SunFun. The purpose of the SunFun app is to educate children aged 10-14 about sun safety before their teenage years. We blended gamification techniques with educational facts throughout the app to make learning about sun safety a fun and engaging experience for users.
On the 16th of August, we held a showcase event at our school where we officially launched the SunFun app. This was our first chance to show off all our hard work so you can imagine how nervous but mostly excited we were! We invited just over 30 people which consisted of all of our families, coaches, mentor, our school administration, representatives from Cancer Council Queensland, and some of our very supportive teachers.
We each presented different aspects of the Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero project. We started with a warm welcome to all of our guests and then we showcased our pitch video which everyone loved! We explained our journey through the competition, the research and work involved in completing the business plan, our industry partnership with Cancer Council Queensland, and the challenge of coding our app. To conclude our presentation we asked for any questions or comments and were bombarded with congratulations and questions about our app and our goals for the future. We answered all of these questions to the best of our ability and then spent some time mingling with our guests and enjoying light refreshments (this was a huge part of our journey – snacks are VERY important to our team! And braids… our mums are sick of braiding, haha!)
Our audience was so proud of what our team has accomplished. The launch afternoon was very special to us as all, and having our close companions there to witness our first ever showcase for our SunFun app meant so much to us. We are really proud of all of our hard work. We hope that all of the other teams get to experience the same pride and excitement when sharing their apps – whether it be at a small event at your school or at the state showcase events.
Our team is also very excited to announce that we have been awarded a $1340 grant from IBM thanks to our mentor Megan’s volunteering efforts – how cool is that?! We still have to decide what we are going to use the grant for but we are thinking something along the lines of improving shade at our school! We were also lucky to be interviewed by the Gold Coast Bulletin and are eagerly awaiting our article in the paper! This competition has been so exciting from start to end.
So that’s a bit about our journey – we are so excited to hear about yours and see all the work you guys have done on the 3rd of September at the Brisbane Showcase. Good luck to all of the teams – we are sure you have created some amazing apps that will change the world. We sure hope our SunFun app is the start of a state wide (or maybe national or even GLOBAL) change for kids in sun safety.
