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Learn about the world of coding at Empower Te Rangapikikōtuku.
Like Minecraft? Then a three-day coding and eSport festival is the place to be.
Jam-packed full of workshops, where students can build robots and play with virtual reality headsets, the Marlborough Events Centre will be buzzing from 25 August.
The Empower festival has fun sessions and networking events to show how coding, augmented reality (AR) and robotics are shaping the future. Participants can learn how to code while they play games or design a perfect world out of their imagination.
Designed to showcase pathways into further study and employment across a range of businesses and industries, the Empower Te Rangapikikōtuku festival offers relatable and enticing experiences.
There are five different workshops happening daily over the three-day period, giving students lots to choose from in this jam-packed event.
Students can spend a session playing the enjoyably addictive Minecraft, designing the perfect school or building a better world, all whilst learning how to code. Prizes will be given out on Saturday afternoon for the most creative solutions.
During the three robotics workshops participants can design and make their own robot.
There’s also the opportunity to build your own virtual reality app. On Saturday 27 August, Year 2 Software Design students from NMIT will showcase their work and explain the technology they have used to power them.
A Flappy Bird workshop is hosted by NMIT’s Todd Cochrane. Todd has decades of experience and has worked hard to create a simplified version of the project, so it is engaging for all ages 13 and up at the festival.
“Students will design their own environment and will move flappy bird with their bodies using AI, which is trained to recognise 17 points on your body via a webcam,” explains Cochrane.
“We are working on combining a range of different gestures to make flappy bird move in different directions.”
ESports workshop, tournaments, and quickfire sessions are designed to answer questions and talk about career pathways.
The standout efforts from students and trade stands will be acknowledged and there are opportunities for people to network with others in the industry.
Empower Te Rangapikikōtuku will be held at the Marlborough Events Centre 25, 26, 27 August 2022. This upbeat festival is a free event for students aged 13-24.
