Late in the Autumn term, our students found out about an amazing opportunity; as part of our school's partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 6 of our students have the opportunity to travel to MIT to participate in the MIT STEAM Festival.
The Festival is a week-long programme providing unique learning opportunities designed specifically for our students at one of the world’s leading educational institutions. Students will arrive in Cambridge, USA, on 30th April 2017 and depart on 6th May 2017.
During this time students will have the opportunity to collaborate with their peers from all over the world and participate in exciting workshops and activities delivered by leading MIT academics, as well as visiting the campuses of two of the best universities in the world (MIT and Harvard University). The activities have been co-created by NAE and MIT to increase students’ understanding of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics), while developing their interdisciplinary learning and practical problem-solving skills.
To be considered eligible for selection the students will needed to complete a STEAM challenge. An amazing 80 students from Year 5 to Year 8 enthusiastically requested to be considered for the opportunity. The first week back after Christmas the students were given the challenge to create an amazing and original creation from something as simple as a deck of playing cards.
The students have spent a frantic 10 days completing their ‘hack the deck’ challenge for their chance to travel to MIT in May. They had to plan, design, and build their designs; they then produced a one-minute film about it and sent it through to be judged and shortlisted.
The films were watched and carefully whittled down to the best 10. The 10 students were invited to an interview; a nerve wracking experience for anyone! Emotions were high and the students were feeling tense at the thought of having to present their inventions to a panel of four esteemed judges. They only had 10 minute to explain what they had done and show their enthusiasm for STEAM and the opportunity to visit MIT.
The 10 finalists were Alton Chu 6B, Ellery Wu 6A, Enni Chen 6B, Mabel Ng 8C, Rou yu Yap 5B, Sabrina Chu 8B, Sandra Ho 8C, Siena Pigott 8B, William Su 8C and Shaan Nankani 5C. All of the students amazed the judging panel with their maturity, inventiveness and confidence at such a daunting task. We had everything from self-supporting bridges, verdiliers (a chandelier with plants), Mayan temples, buildings, boats, solar powered light, cars and works of art!
After a lot of discussion we came to our final decision and the 6 students who will be travelling to MIT are:
- Sabrina Chu with her amazing and useful invention the Verdilier.
- Rou Yu Yap with her beautiful and amazing 3D Heart.
- Siena Piggott with her technical self-supporting bridge.
- Mabel Ng with her illuminating solar paneled light box.
- William Su with his model of the MIT building.
- Alton Chu with his rubber band powered boat.
Well done to all of you and thanks to all of the amazing entries to the competition.
Full STEAM ahead!
Written by Natasha Wildy, Head of Mathematics