A group of teenagers scratched their tech itch during a recent IT Boot Camp where they tried their hand at devising applications for the iPhone and created 3D characters.
Fifty-six Year 10 to 12 students of private schools like The Alice Smith, Tenby International School, Sunway International School, Mutiara International Grammar School, Sekolah Indonesia, International School of Kuala Lumpur and Global Indian International School participated in the two-day camp.
“At the end of the day, you will get a taste of what we are doing … but this is a tip of the iceberg to energise and propel you into future careers,” Monash University Sunway Campus’ Head of School of Information Technology Prof Chris Messom said in his welcome address.
Over the two days, participants had a taste of creating and customising an iPhone application with Mr Jason Khong, a School of IT alumnus and founder of Apptivity Lab – a pioneer amongst local iPhone applications development companies.
The objective of the camp, said Prof Messom, was to create interest in IT amongst pre-university students.
“We need to increase the awareness of the availability of IT jobs in the market and bridge the skills gap in the Malaysian software development industry,” he said.
The program was jointly organised by Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC). Its Capacity Development Division’s Senior Manager of K-Workers Development Mr Nik Naharudin Mohd Nasir highlighted the need for top students in ICT in his keynote, “Exploring Options in ICT Market”.
“With the School of IT, MDeC is targeting top students through a new approach – by giving students a sense of what they would be doing with the rest of their lives if they pursued IT as a career,” he told participants.
Mr Naharudin said that by end of 2010, 100,000 jobs would be created in corporations within MSC Malaysia while another 85,000 jobs by 2015.
“We need all the brains we can get to contribute to ICT in general,” he said, adding this was the third career camp organised by MDeC.
At the end of the workshops, competitions were held among the students to gauge the skills they had learned.
“The students did very well, given that the subject matter was very difficult and that they had zero programming background. Yet, all were able to run through the entire process of creating and customising a mobile application,” workshop facilitator Mr Khong said.
He said that mobile phone applications would continue to be the mainstay as trends toward mobile computing and away from desktops continued.
“There are far more mobile users than computer users. The challenge is to train graduates who can not only implement applications but have the creative side to come up with novel ways of helping people do things. We need technically competent graduates who can think outside the box,” Mr Khong said.
Ilia Surya Afifuddin of The Alice Smith emerged winner in the mobile phone application category with her creation of a personalised search engine which, among others, was equipped with a web browser that recommended songs based on music in an iPhone.
“Through the workshops, we could see the range of the IT industry and how far you can go in it. The workshops were fun and the teachers were also fun and helpful,” she said.
In the 3D category, Edmund Lim Wei-Yi of the R.E.A.L International School, emerged winner with his monster fish with tentacles spiking from its back and belly.
“I’ve always liked how 3D characters were more realistic,” said the artist who is contemplating study at Monash University for a career as a cartoonist and game designer.
Workshop supervisor Mr Chandler said that Lim’s creation was the most original and complex model created in the allotted time.
“They were quick learners, very efficient and really good,” he said, adding the students learned in six hours what others would normally learn in six weeks.
SOURCE / AUTHOR : Monash University Official Website
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