Combank’s project for computer coding in schools off to a great start
Aproject to teach school children computer programming has had an encouraging start, with students of a rural school demonstrating their skills by developing innovative and useful applications in just three months, the project’s promoter, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon reports.
Students of the Rajasinghe Vidyalaya, Hanwella, participated in a foundation course in computer programming under a pilot project in coding presented by the Commercial Bank in collaboration with the STEMUP Education Foundation.
The course was conducted with the help of BBC micro:bit, a pocketsized codeable computer with motion detection, a built-in compass and bluetooth technology, which allows students to express themselves digitally.
STEMUP Foundation organised a coding competition during the course, encouraging students of the school to create coded, real-world applications in groups.
A panel of judges consisting of IT undergraduates of the Moratuwa University assessed the products of the five groups that competed and selected winners on the basis of innovative thought and usability of the applications.
The winning group created an automated system to water plants. In this system, the sensors in the micro:bit gauge the dryness of soil and send a signal to a water tank. Upon receiving the signal, the tank supplies water to plants and stops the flow once the required quantity is absorbed by the soil. The students will apply this technology to the greenhouse in the school, shortly.
The group placed second turned the micro:bit into a temperature reader which senses a potential threat of fire. If a building is about to catch fire or is on fire, this device indicates the actual temperature of the place, enabling fire fighters to accurately assess the situation. It will also suggest methods to douse the fire, including usage of drones, helicopters, or high-pressure water cannons, depending on the type of fire.
Other products created by the teams included a control system which can be fixed to overhead water tanks to regulate water level and prevent overflowing; a white stick equipped with a micro:bit device which produces a buzzing signal that alerts a visuallyhandicapped person using the stick to objects that lie within one meter; and a home security system in which the micro:bit immediately identifies the presence of a trespasser and sends a vibratory signal to the digital device of the owner.
Applauding the innovation of the students and the marketable value of these products, the judges presented constructive suggestions that could improve their usability and functions. The awards to the winning groups were presented by representatives of Commercial Bank and the judges.
Launched in November last year with the objectives of increasing computer programming capabilities of students and to encourage critical thinking, the project was part of Commercial Bank’s corporate social responsibility agenda. Following its successful completion in February, the bank said it plans to extend the programme to other schools as well.