Tech-savvy students put skills to test

Geraldton school students joined more than 120 metropolitan students putting their entrepreneurial skills to work during the recent HackED 2016 event.

Six students from Geraldton Grammar School attended the event at Midland Town Hall where students used data, supplied by WA’s Whole of Government Open Data Policy, to develop apps, websites and other creative projects.

The event, powered by Landgate and led by WA’s innovation hub SPUR, aimed to inspire in students a passion for location information and technology.

Geraldton Grammar School head of science Dallas Bruce said events such as HackED were part of a push towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics in schools.

“They highlight the importance of STEM skills for students,” she said.

The 12 schools used location data as a starting point, with an Aboriginal heritage map app, a historical sites app and an idea for an interactive augmented reality museum among the entries.

HackED, which is in its second year, builds on the success of other “hack-fest” events supported by the State Government, including GovHack and RIIT Unearthed.