Avalon Intermediate technology pilot programme a huge success

It's a few minutes before nine on a Friday morning at Avalon Intermediate School in Lower Hutt. In the school hall, representatives from Victoria University's School of Engineering and Computer Science are adding the finishing touches to three interactive learning stations.

The programme is part of the University's 'Introduction to Technology' pilot at the school. The 10-week activity programme gives students and teachers a taste of technology education two mornings a week and it is hoped it will lead to a sustainable programme that can be used in future years.

Right on nine, the doors burst open and year seven and eight students pour into the hall. They bring with them an excited buzz and enthusiastic chatter. John Barrow, Victoria’s Outreach Coordinator, says, “It's great to see how into it the students are”.

Avalon Intermediate is a decile 2 school where, with a large proportion of Māori and Pasifika students on the roll, the importance of technology education cannot be overstated. Teacher Janine Simpson explains that many of the children do not often venture outside the Hutt Valley.

“The technology in these sessions is the most cutting edge they have ever seen,” she says.

Students have already learned about building powerful paper darts, encryption, including coding and decoding messages, building small, autonomous robots called Bristlebots and making their own interactive apps. They have also had an introduction to Scratch, a programming language for children.

Today's theme is virtual reality and the students are in for a treat.

Station one has been set up to allow the students to try the virtual reality headset known as the 'Oculus Rift'. As students take turns riding a virtual rollercoaster, the sounds of whooping, cheering and laughter echo around the hall.

12-year old Naomi Masson says, “I like how it felt so real, like I was on an actual rollercoaster”.

She was also inspired by learning to create cellphone apps. “I want to try it at home.”

At station two students encounter a new invention called Google Cardboard. It's a simple virtual reality which works by attaching a Smartphone to a cardboard viewfinder. Very soon students are running all over the hall experiencing 'mixed reality', a merging of real and virtual worlds, for the first time.

Station three is just as appealing. Students control an avatar on a screen who copies their moves as they dance, wriggle and star jump. The computer programme is called 'MikuMikuDance' and operates with a simple Xbox 360 sensor. Once again, raucous enthusiasm reigns.

The aim is to engage students at a young age and encourage them to consider tertiary education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is clear many of them are already feeling inspired. Even after the bell goes to signal break, students are crowded around the stations, asking questions, pointing, excited to learn more.

Trace Hohipa, also 12, enjoyed the Scratch programming session the best so far. “I liked it because it felt like I was in my own world”.

Teacher Rose Campbell agrees that the programme has been a huge success.

“It's been amazing for the kids to host the experts from Victoria University and have a taste of different types of technology because these kids are the ones entering a technological world.”