A group of students from Xaverian College recently gained second place in a Hackathon led by The University of Liverpool Maths School (ULMaS), in collaboration with Inversity, the skills startup equipping British students with applied AI skills.
With the aim of offering young people within the local area the opportunity to engage with high-quality AI education, new initiatives, such as the Hackathon, are providing young people with the opportunities to share their knowledge and insights into the growth of AI.
Small teams of students aged 16-19 from across the Northwest participated in the event and were presented with a question facing educators and students all over the world: ‘How can AI make education more engaging, effective and equitable?’, and were invited to present solutions back to a panel of esteemed judges.
Team Xaverian, comprising Jeffery Dimkpa, Konrad Love, Thomas Reeves and Toluwani Obadero, developed the ‘Orb of Knowledge’, a speech-to-text AI that could provide accurate and relevant information in different formats and perspectives, to make learning more exciting.
Jeffery, former pupil at The East Manchester Academy, currently studying A Levels in Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics, commented: “It was a great opportunity to develop our knowledge of AI, but it also allowed us to gain greater confidence in problem-solving and pitching ideas. I find my subjects really intriguing and I’m hoping to study Computer Science at the University of Oxford in the future.”
Konrad, age 17, from Didsbury, continued: “I enjoyed meeting everyone who attended the event and making new friends. I think we all learnt a lot about teamworking, and our ‘Orb of Knowledge’ was a really good solution to the brief. It was accessible, engaging and cost-effective. I like the programming elements of Computer Science, so the Hackathon was a great opportunity to put into practice what we have been learning in the classroom.”
Thomas, who completed his GCSEs at Stretford Grammar School, before progressing to Xaverian to study A Levels in Computer Science and Mathematics and a BTEC in Music Technology, said: “I chose to study at Xaverian because it felt like the best fit for me. I’ve enjoyed learning more about coding, specifically the problem-solving elements of my course! I was the Team Leader at the Hackathon, so whilst it was great to learn practical AI skills, I felt as though the most valuable skills I took away from it were leadership, teamwork and organisation.”
Toluwani, age 16, from Swinton, added: “I also love problem-solving, and I really enjoyed getting to work together with other students who have the same goals and aspirations as me. When I originally visited the Open Day at Xaverian, I was so impressed with the Computer Science course and the teachers, I knew straight away I would enjoy studying here. I also want to study a Degree in Computer Science in the future, and it is opportunities such as these that are enabling me to develop my skills outside of the classroom to help me get a step ahead.”
David Law, Computer Science Teacher, said: I believe Computer Science is a powerful tool for innovation and problem-solving. My goal is to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills for diverse future careers, encouraging them to become creators and innovators in technology. The Hackathon was a fantastic opportunity for students to extend their learning outside of the classroom. The students were excellent ambassadors for the College and our subject, and gaining second place was the icing on the cake of a great day!”
The Computer Science A Level at Xaverian College provides students with a deep understanding of computer systems, programming, algorithms, data representation and the ethical implications of new technology. Students will be encouraged to think critically, develop logical reasoning and apply computational thinking through studying a wide range of modules.
As one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the region, Xaverian College offers an extensive range of A Levels in addition to several BTEC courses. Visit xaverian.ac.uk to find out more.