First Code AcademyAppJamming Summit 2015程式設計比賽」
少女程式設計師 為赴美積極備戰
Girl app inventors get prepared for First Code Academy’s “AppJamming Summit 2015 – App Design Competition” to earn a chance to showcase their creation in the USA

 
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新聞稿(即時發佈)                                                               2015年3月24日

致總編輯/港聞版編輯/副刊版編輯/教育版編輯/親子版編輯

First Code AcademyAppJamming Summit 2015程式設計比賽」
少女程式設計師 為赴美積極備戰

Photos: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/5/
Press release: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/5/appjamming_press.doc

「表達是把抽象、複雜的想像具體化,而對我來說,程式便是最好的途徑。」作為兒童創意程式學院First Code Academy的「星級學生」,Euan對程式自有一番獨特見解,他認為程式語言其實是一種創新的表達方法,透過混合不同藝術元素,創作出高互動性的作品。為鼓勵更多年輕一代發揮科技創意的天賦,First Code Academy現正舉辦「AppJamming Summit 2015程式設計比賽」,勝出者更有機會在今年7月遠赴美國波士頓的麻省理工學院參加「App Inventor Summit(程式開發論壇)」,與世界級專家交流心得。比賽至今反應踴躍,除了本地的參賽作品外,更收到來自新加坡及印度等各國同學的作品,儼如一場國際性的程式設計比賽!

在傳統思想中,女生的「科技頭腦」總是比男生遜色;說起程式編寫員,大家更理所當然會認為由男性作主導。First Code Academy的創辦人辛婥琳,同時兼任婦女基金會科技顧問委員會的成員,她矢志推翻上述的「主流意見」,認為女性也可以在程式界闖出一片天。「美國總統奧巴馬曾說:『別只顧著玩手機程式,還要懂得自己設計!』學習編寫程式,無疑已成為這世代孩子的必要技能。但寫程式絕非『宅男』的專利,若將女性的獨特視野和科技給合,將產生別出心裁的多元化作品,惠澤社群。學習程式語言更可大大增強自身競爭力,不論將來投身哪個行業,亦可有一技傍身,這一點男女皆然。」

為了將程式設計帶進新一代女性社群,First Code Academy於本月初分別在香港及新加坡舉辦了兩場以女生為對象的程式編寫工作坊「Girls Can Code」,讓一眾九至十三歲的少女玩家搖身變成設計師。這群程式新手從零開始,在導師的指導下,用指尖在鍵盤上一步步「敲擊」出獨一無二的Apps。透過觀摩同儕的創作成果,更可擴闊眼界、激發靈感。她們表示寫Apps並不如想像般困難,整個過程就像砌積木般一個扣一個,兼具挑戰與趣味性。小試牛刀後,這群年紀輕輕的設計師皆已摩拳擦掌,準備提交作品參加程式設計比賽。正所謂「巾幗不讓鬚眉」,她們的設計讓人格外期待!

有意參加「AppJamming Summit 2015程式設計比賽」的同學,可在即日起登入比賽網站(www.appjammingsummit.org),填妥申請表格及上傳作品,並連同一份作品簡介一併遞交。參加者年齡必須介乎8至16歲,使用MIT App Inventor 2設計出能解決問題的應用程式或遊戲,並獲教授程式編寫的導師提名(詳情請參閱宣傳海報)。比賽現已最後召集,截止日期是328,切勿錯過機會

關於First Code Academy
2013創立First Code Academy以英語授課,課程旨在為6歲以上的兒童提供設計流動應用程式課程:68歲為「First Code小玩家(First Code Tinker)」,孩子將透過iPad上的兒童教育Apps及一系列簡單易明的課堂活動,初步認識程式概念;811歲為「App探索家(App Explorer)」,孩子在課堂上初嚐寫App滋味;12-15 歲為「App發明家(App Creator)」,較深入地教授有關電腦程式的知識,提升同學的解難能力;15歲或以上為「App工程師(App Entrepreneur)」,這階段孩子已能實踐出自己的理念,創作出各適其適的Apps,課程將引導同學進一步思考市場上的真正需要,甚至設計Apps解決客戶的需要。

 

First Code Academy                    網址:www.firstcodeacademy.com
發稿:First Code Academy       代行:一口田有限公司
電話:3583 3100  傳真:3583 1331 電郵:info@seedland.hk
如欲查詢詳情、索取照片或安排與First Code Academy進行專訪,歡迎致電3583 3310Miss Heidi Lam聯絡。

 

Press Release    (For Immediate Release)                             24th March 2015

Girl app inventors get prepared for First Code Academy’s “AppJamming Summit 2015 – App Design Competition” to earn a chance to showcase their creation in the USA

Photos: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/5/
Press release: http://www.seedland.hk/press/fca/5/appjamming_press-eng.doc

“Expression is about imagining something abstract and complex, and being able to make it a reality. For me, it was coding that let me get there”, said Euan, one of the star students from First Code Academy, an established education centre which provides computer coding courses to children. His love of technology has led him to the discovery of an unconventional means of expression - coding, in which he can mix different elements of arts to create highly interactive works. To encourage more children like Euan to develop their talents in technology, First Code Academy has launched the “AppJamming Summit 2015 – App Design Competition”, offering them a chance to join the MIT App Inventor Summit in the coming July in Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA, where they can exchange ideas with the world’s top experts. Up to now, the competition has received an overwhelming response from different regions including Hong Kong, Singapore and India, making it a remarkable international event.

Traditionally, girls are believed to have less of a “technological mind” than boys and hence programming is usually perceived as male-dominated. Michelle Sun, the founder of First Code Academy as well as the member of the Technology Advisory Council of the Women's Foundation, is determined to overturn this stereotype and believes that girls can carve out a niche in the programming industry. “The US President Barack Obama once said: ‘Don't just play on your phone, program it!’ Coding is definitely the new, essential skill for children nowadays. Yet, it is no longer the specialty of ‘nerds’. By combining technology and feminine vision, girls are also capable of producing impressive works which can benefit the society. It also gives our future generation competitive assets regardless of their gender or the career path they choose.”

Early this month, First Code Academy ran the "Girls Can Code" apps writing workshops in Hong Kong and Singapore. Specifically designed for girls aged 9 to 13, the workshops encouraged them to go beyond using existing apps and design their own ones.  Under the guidance of instructors, the fresh programmers built their unique apps step by step and they were so inspired by each other’s creativity. They shared that it was both challenging and fun to write apps, as the whole process was similar to building wooden blocks. It is exciting to see the young designers making their very first apps within just one day and getting ready to submit their works to the competition. Apparently, these girls are going to offer creations as promising as the boys’.

For those who wish to join the “AppJamming Summit 2015 – App Design Competition”, please fill out the online application form and upload your app together with a description to the website (www.appjammingsummit.org). Each applicant has to design an app for solving problems or a game app using the MIT App Inventor 2. The age restriction is from 8 to 16 and nomination from the app instructor or teacher is required (please refer to the poster for details). The deadline is 28th March, so don’t miss this rare opportunity!

About First Code Academy
Founded in 2013, First Code Academy aims to provide English-based computer programming courses to children above 6 years of age. Classes for children aged 6 to 8 are called “First Code Tinker”, for students to learn programming concepts through educational iPad apps and unplugged activities.  Classes for children aged 8 to 11 are called “First Code Explorer”, in which children will be invited to experience first-hand app development. “First Code Creator” is designed for children aged 12-15, and targets to teach them computer science concepts in-depth and enhance their problem-solving capabilities.  For children older than 15 years of age, they should be able to establish their ideas through technology and create a variety of apps in “App Entrepreneur”. This course will guide students to adapt further to the market’s needs and design apps that can suit different clients.

Released by: Seedland International Limited
On behalf of First Code Academy
First Code Academy website: www.firstcodeacademy.com
Tel: 3583 3100     Fax: 3583 1331     E-mail: info@seedland.hk
For more details, photo-shoot booking, interviews or other enquiries, please contact Miss Heidi Lam (3583-3310).