Following the end of the scholastic year, the Faculty of ICT, in collaboration with eSkills Foundation, and MDIA hosted a fun and exciting technology bootcamp for teenagers. Similar to other activities we organise for the young generations, the energy and enthusiasm of the kids were off the charts all week, leading up to a special awards night on Friday.
What made this bootcamp so special?
Why were all the participants so eager to come to our faculty every day? The answer is simple: they got to choose their own projects and their own work!
Some teenagers designed their AI project, others designed apps, created cool websites and many decided to create their own specially designed AI-powered games. We thought that what they achieved was pretty amazing, especially considering the average age was only 13.
Why does this model work so well?
We’ve seen it time and time again: when kids are given the freedom to explore their own ideas, they become truly engaged. They’re then motivated to learn the skills they need to make their projects a reality. They also work together and proudly share what they’ve made with their friends.
Can this help improve our learning?
Changing the whole school system would be a big challenge, but maybe there are ways we can make learning more exciting and personalised.
Imagine if we had places all over Malta where young people could go after school or on weekends to invent, create and learn new things. In the US, the Madison Art and Innovation Center is one such place where the scope is to give people the tools and space to bring their ideas to life − suddenly people become creators, not just users of science and technology.
A dream for the future
We already have Esplora, which is fantastic, but these community spaces could be its satellites: smaller, more local and focused on the people living nearby. They could be set up in existing places like community centres or even social clubs. It wouldn’t have to cost a lot of money, and it could make a huge difference for teens who want to explore their passions and be allowed the freedom to create what they dream about.
Another bootcamp on the way!
If this sounds like fun, we’re having another bootcamp in September for students aged 10 to 13. You can find out more and sign up by following this link.
Christian Colombo and Vanessa Camilleri are academics within the Faculty of ICT, University of Malta.
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