Code crackers in Cootehill
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Darragh McCormick and Eoghan McCaul, Second Years, finalists in the Bebras 2020 coding competition with their certificates.Image 2 of 4
Aiste Jonaityte, third year, finalist in the national Bebras 2020 coding competition.Image 3 of 4
Abbie Whelan and Shane Shalvey, third years, with their finalists’ certificates for Bebras 2020.Image 4 of 4
Fifth and sixth year students participating in a Computer Science workshop led by Keith Quille from TUD on data analysis and graphing.Coding & Computer Science students participated in the EU Code Week 2020, which was held online from October 10–25. Algorithm skills were needed to develop the code for a traffic light sequence. Using a micro:bit, crocodile clips and some LED lights, students wired up their project, downloaded the code and activate the code to light up their name in LED lights. Students had the opportunity to personalise their code by amending the pauses between the lights and inserting their choice of emoji icon along with their name.
There are many different coding initiatives and competitions which are open to all students to enter. Students interested in entering any of the competitions listed should speak with Ms Noone.
The first round of Bebras 2020 will run from November 2–13. Coding and Computer Science students from St Aidan’s Comp will participate in ‘The Bebras Computing Challenge’, which introduces computational thinking to students, by allowing them to solve interactive tasks online. It is run in over 50 countries and takes place every November. The tasks can be answered without prior knowledge about computational thinking or information and communication technology.
The top performing students are then invited to the national finals in 2021. In 2020, six students representing St Aidan’s were invited to the national finals, which were later cancelled due to COVID-19.
Aiste Jonaityte, Shane Shalvey and Abbie Whelan from Rang Ide Coding; Eoghan Mc Caul and Darragh McCormick from second year Coding/Digital Media Literacy Class and Zoe Molitor, an exchange student, were the chosen finalists who all received certificates.
The Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week December 7–13.
The next National Scratch Competition is open for entries and deadline for project submissions is February 26, 2021. Project entries can be from an individual or from a team of no more than three students.
Keith Quille from TUD led a virtual workshop for fifth and sixth year Computer Science students. The students enjoyed an introduction to data analysis and graphing. This will form part of their Applied Learning Task 2 on Analytics.
Congratulations
Congratulations to all the fifth year students who recently completed their International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) examinations. They have been working during lunch on Tuesdays and after school on Fridays since September to complete their exams. Many students achieved their full ICDL with a minimum of seven modules successfully passed. With the pass rate set at 75%, this is no easy task.
Students undertook their IT studies with the guidance of teachers Ms Derrick, Mr Greenan and Ms Noone.
It is not too late to get involved and complete more certificate examinations. Ms Noone is encouraging all students to attend the ICDL catch up sessions. Details are posted in the ‘ICDL Catch up 2020’ team. Send Ms Noone a message on Teams for details.