Tech savvy student combines technology and arts in creative digital project

International School Aberdeen (ISA) student Finn Lestrange has helped close the gap between technology and the arts by fusing the two subjects for a digital arts project.

The avid computer science enthusiast was set a challenge by his teacher to enter a story writing competition. However, as English

was not the most favoured subject for the young computer whizz, Finn knew he had his work cut out in the creative arts field.

Sheer determination led Finn, aged 17, to accept the challenge and he explains his inner struggle to succeed in a subject area he had little interest in and how he used this experience to overcome any self-doubt, “I was struggling to stay motivated while studying remotely during lockdown and I knew I had to stay on track in all my subjects,” said Finn. “I needed a distraction, something different to focus on and I knew I needed to build up resilience to get to where I wanted to be.

“I combined my favourite subject with my least favourite to venture into the unknown and see if I could get Artificial Intelligence to write a story.”

Finn, who is a Scottish-born Australian citizen, partnered up with a classmate who had developed AI programming skills

on a course the previous summer and the two set to work: “We both had our unique skill set,” Finn continues. “I had software development and he already knew the programming, so we learnt from each other.”

Finn sourced the information he needed by utilising Google searches, YouTube tutorials – and even reading books. He gained valuable input from his Computer Science teacher who was a useful sounding board, letting Finn drive the project and set the learning agenda.

Finn also sought advice from beyond the school reaching out to an IT firm in Houston through an old school friend. “I learnt to speak to people in tech appropriate terms,” he reflects. “My confidence grew as I was speaking to adults about complex technical issues on equal terms.”

By the end of the project, Finn had built a digital program that from certain prompts creates cohesive text for story writing.

“I am proud of the end result and I am very grateful to all of my teachers at ISA,” he said. I appreciate the care and understanding they showed me while in school as well as their help and support outside of the classroom.”

Nick Little, Head of School, ISA, is full of praise for Finn’s resourceful attitude during a difficult year, “Finn’s experience of having to contend with remote study during the last crucial year of high school demonstrates two key qualities ISA promotes – self-awareness and self-motivation. Self-awareness is

about realising you are not trapped where you are in the present, but about knowing what you want to achieve and working out the gap in between. “Self-motivation comes in when you take control of what’s in that gap – discovering what it is that will lead you to where you want to be.” ISA is Scotland’s first international school educating children from age 3 to 18 with a commitment to providing exceptional care for every child. With a student population of approx. 500, ISA provides a comprehensive university preparatory education

using best practices in education from around the world.

For further information, visit: www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk

Nick Little, Head of School, ISA

Finn Lestrange