PICTURES: Laois schools sweep at LOETB tech showcase

A number of Laois secondary schools celebrated big successes at the second annual LOETB S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) Showcase held recently at Banagher College.

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Pictured: A VEX IQ Robot in action at the STEAM Showcase in Banagher College, April 10

The Showcase recognised students' work across coding, robotics, design, podcasting and filmmaking, featuring contributions from the nine Laois and Offaly ETB secondary schools, highlighting both their innovative projects and the work they’ve done
throughout the year.

With a prize fund of over €10,000 that was sponsored by Laois and Offaly County Councils and local I.T. company NIS Ltd, participating schools took part in initiatives that focused on(Scratch) coding, robotics using LEGO League and VEX IQ Robotics, podcasting with studio kit and design using Minecraft Education.

This year’s programme added the LOETB S.T.E.A.M. Lab, where students experimenting in the use of Virtual Reality in Education.

A highlight of the Lab is the Virtual Reality tour of the schools, created by students for incoming first year students to experience their new school in advance, helping to ease their anxieties about the transition to secondary school.

The LOETB S.T.E.A.M. Programme is a collaborative initiative between LOETB and Laois and Offaly County Councils, where each of the nine schools is provided with equipment, training, and support – as well as accompanying competitions.

On April 10 in Banagher College, there was great excitement both in the robotics arena – and on the big stage – as the winners were announced in an Oscars-style event.

In a prize ceremony hosted by Laois County Council’s STEM Engagement Officer Seanie Morris, Minecraft Education glory and the accompanying €1,500 prize pot went to CNC Kilcormac - for their amazing design of a youth facility in their community. Meanwhile,

Banagher College and St. Fergal’s Rathdowney were runners up for designing the same type facility in impressive style for their respective communities in Minecraft Education.

CNC were adding to the victory they’d already had in the previously held First LEGO League robotics competition – which put them at the top of the leaderboard for the overall prize, after the results in two of the three competitions were in.

St. Fergal’s Rathdowney closed the gap after winning the top prize at the podcast ceremony, hosted by award-winning podcaster Ann Marie Kelly.

Their ‘On the Ball’ podcast was a big hit and scooped them the other €1,500 prize, while also helping them march up the overall table to try catch CNC Kilcormac. Dunamase College – the reigning podcasting champions – were runners-up, along with ASCN Clara.

The final competition was the VEX Robotics IQ event and here reigning champions Banagher put in a very impressive performance again to win the overall excellence award – as well as the Teamwork and the Skills categories.

Meanwhile Tullamore College won a Teamwork Award, Clonaslee College won the Design Award, while Portlaoise College claimed the Judges Award.

This late burst was only enough for Banagher College to draw level in the overall league table with St. Fergal’s Rathdowney, and neither could catch the CNC Kilcormac team, whose outstanding work across the S.T.E.A.M. programme saw them deserving winners of the inaugural LOETB S.T.E.A.M. Programme School of the Year.

They were presented with their prize of €2,000 of tech gear by Gerry Buckley of N.I.S. Ltd., sponsors of the overall prize.

Other winners on the day were Oaklands College for best S.T.E.A.M. Video entry and Dunamase College for Best Showcase Stand, while Oaklands College, Dunamase College and Tullamore College were recognised for their outstanding achievements at the VEX IQ National Finals in Cork.