Imagine hosting a running event for over 40,000 athletes and making it sustainable? That's exactly what the TCS Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge was designed to do where students from across NSW were challenged to create innovative solutions for the TCS Sydney Marathon through a design thinking process. We speak with Head of Corporate Social Responsibility – Australia & New Zealand at TCS, Binaisha Daruwalla as well as Nikyetta Pencheff from the STEM Enrichment team of the NSW Department of Education plus Grade 5 students Annabel and Flynn from Lindfield Public School.

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

About the TCS Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge

TCS's Go Innovate Together program (goIT) is TCS's flagship STEM education program. Focusing on digital innovation and career readiness, goIT engages students from diverse backgrounds with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects and computer science, design thinking and digital innovation. The program offers an industry-developed, customisable curriculum that teaches students the 21st-century skills necessary for a career in technology. Lessons cover topics including design thinking, prototyping, artificial intelligence, machine learning and more.

Since the launch of the goIT Monthly Challenge in 2020, thousands of students across the globe have used key principles from goIT to design tech-based solutions and submit pitch videos based on a Monthly Challenge theme. Each month, TCS co-hosts the event with a Sustainable Development Goal ambassador. The Challenge has engaged a growing number of teachers and students every month, exploring topics
ranging from gender equality and systemic racism to protecting life underwater.

TCS Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge in partnership with the NSW Department of Education aims to create a marathon that will inspire and sustain future generations and set new standards for sustainable responsibility. The TCS Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge ran from 1 August to 31 August 2024. It was open to all students across NSW as well as students from around the world.

The goal of the goIT program is the prepare students, traditionally underrepresented in STEM, with the skills, confidence and mindsets necessary to pursue careers of the future. We use a number of formats to give students problem solving and innovation skills such as the design thinking framework in addition to early exposure to varying techonolgies such as web/app design, microprocessors, IOT, and now Cyber Security andGenerative AI.

At TCS, the aim with programs like the monthly challenge is to bring awareness to utilizing technology to solve problems in the community provide students with opportunities and tools to which they may have limited or no access to. The TCS Sydney Marathon goIT challenge allowed a unique partnership with NSW Department of Education to expanded our outreach in the region and engage more learners.

Learn more

• https://sydneymarathon.com/tcs-goit-challenge/
• https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/apac/goit-main/monthly-challenge
• https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/apac/goIT 

Check out Lindfield Public School's Submission

Well done Annabel and Flynn!

• https://youtu.be/KTEWP8Bqt8c

About the NSW Department of Education’s STEM Enrichment Team

The NSW Department of Education’s STEM Enrichment Team is dedicated to transforming STEM education by advancing excellence and equity through innovative curriculum and enrichment programs. Building on the foundation of the STEM Industry School Partnerships (SISP) program, we collaborate with esteemed industry and educational partners to create world-class opportunities that inspire all students to develop STEM skills and knowledge. Our commitment to inclusive and innovative STEM education through enriched learning experiences, is to ensure every student has access to transformative STEM experiences that empower them for success in future educational and career pathways.

Learn more

• https://sispprogram.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!

https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/

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