REDLANDS students in years 5 to 8 have proven becoming fluent in a foreign language is more than just learning French or Mandarin, with software coding now also part of classroom studies.
Their programming skills were on show today at an inter-school Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition, which was held at Alexandra State Hills High School.
More than 140 visiting primary and high school students enjoyed testing out pre-programmed androids in robotic battles, “rescue” courses and manipulation tasks, with video game programming challenges also offered.
Deputy principal Clint Beutel, who organised the school’s inaugral STEM competition, said helping children to understand more about coding would prepare them for a 21st century future.
He pointed to footage of remote-operated dump trucks used at mine sites, which was played throughout the event.
“The jobs of the future will be very different to what they today and preparing students with a bunch of new skills will help,” he said.
The awards ceremony, which was held after a Griffith University Science on the Go show, also included prizes to years 5 and 6 students with the best classroom science experiment presentations.
These were judged by Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy’s Dan Rea and a Redland City Council representative.
Deputy principal Robyn Flexman said the STEM competition enabled visiting primary students to explore the fun enjoyed at Alexandra Hills State School.
The ten visiting primary schools represented at in the competition were Birkdale South, Hilliard, Mount Cotton, Coolwynpin, Vienna Woods, Wellington and Dunwich state schools and Ormiston College.
The visiting high schools included Victoria Point and Cleveland District state high schools.
For more on Alexandra Hills State High School, visit alexhillshs.eq.edu.au.
