Write a commentComputing students recently gathered on Newry Campus of SRC to compete in a cutting edge Microsoft App Technology Competition.
Higher Education students attended from Portadown and Newry Campuses to battle it out to create the winning App with the winning students Stephen Shields and Dean Meehan both locals of Newry.
The competition, which began in January, involved students designing and developing Windows 8 phone Apps and culminated in a selection being released to the Global Microsoft market at the end of March. The event saw Microsoft Educational Evangelist Stephen Howell educate students on the complexities of designing, creating and finally uploading an App to the Windows App Store.?Using the latest online development tools students were able to design, develop and publish Windows 8 Apps.
Ten of the first Apps uploaded and currently available for download from the Windows App Store received one year XBox Live subscriptions. App ideas throughout the group were diverse and imaginative, reflecting the students wide range of interests. Apps’ were developed relating to the topics of soccer, local news, education, the world around us and Music to mention a few.?
All students that completed an App within the 3 day development process were entered in a draw to win a Windows 8 phone. The lucky Student was Larren Geary from Richhill who walked away with a shiny new Nokia 520.?All the ‘Appy developers on the final day received Microsoft branded t-shirts.
Speaking about the competition Stephen Howell, Microsoft Educational Evangelist said: “Making sure that the youth of today both have access to technology and understand how easy it is to use is one of our core objectives at Microsoft. The focus on coding, developing and building apps has really grown over the last couple of years and through competitions like today’s we want to demonstrate that anyone can design their own app. The technology industry is a dynamic sector to work in and every day the focus changes. By being ahead of the curve and providing students with the knowledge to build their own app they are equipping themselves with tools that will help them to progress in the work force of today. Whether you’re a marketer looking to promote your product or a coder developing a ground breaking idea the knowledge of how to design and app will be useful. I’d like to congratulate all the students here today and encourage them to continue with their interest in technology.”
Bryan Keating, Chair of MATRIX the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel, and Catrina Gallen from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment were visiting Southern Regional College on the same day.
Bryan Keating, Chair of MATRIX the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel said: “Our purpose in visiting the college was to see and hear about the courses and opportunities available to students in the local area, particularly in the areas of science and technology and to determine ways in which MATRIX and the College can work together for mutual benefit.
“It was evident from our discussions with the College Head Brian Doran and Claire Byrne that the college has built up solid relationships and partnerships with local businesses who benefit from the high standard of courses the colleges provides and the problem solving abilities of the staff at the college.
“We were also fortunate that our fact-finding meeting coincided with Microsoft Evangelist Stephen Howell’s master class on creating apps and I was hugely impressed by the students and their teachers’ enthusiasm on maximising the opportunity to learn new skills. I am confident many of these students will go on to very successful careers in industries where Northern Ireland excels, including ICT and the creative industries.”
Stephen Herron, Lecturer at SRC and Event Organiser said: “This event has been really beneficial for all the students taking part, considering the current rate at which technology is developing it is essential that SRC students are at the cutting edge.”
Sharon McCone (STEM Coordinator) sees this event as the first of many to help embed this technology into the current STEM initiative and push forward the exciting developments to be showcased later this year.
"The excitement generated at Higher Education level has filtered through to the Level 2 and 3 courses with new students excited about the inclusion of mobile development into their new courses starting this September, and we can’t wait to see their 'Appy' faces as the first course developed apps hit the Windows 8 App store later this year. For more information on computing courses at SRC log on to www.src.ac.uk for the full online prospectus."
