Saint Eunan’s College in Letterkenny has launched its new STEAM initiative.
The new Computer Coding and Technology course will initially take on 15 students in Transition Year and will split their time between Python programming, prototyping hardware devices using Raspberry Pi computers and finally building these units into real-world machines using 3D Printers and hardware technology.
The College continues to push the boundaries with its ICT programmes, it has offered a GCSE in ICT qualification for over 25 years and todays new course marks another leap forward in that education – preparing students for a bright future in the STEAM subjects; Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
With support from the local ICT industry, the students will have a unique opportunity to learn a computer language that is used by ICT giants including Google, Microsoft and Spotify.
The software development module will then transition into hardware development where students will use sensors, motors and electronic circuits to build their own prototype real world computing device.
Finally, students will have access to material technology systems to design and build their hardware platforms out into working models. 3D printers will be employed in conjunction with SolidWorks software so students will even be responsible for the design and manufacture of their own cases.
The teachers responsible for the programme, Mr. Sean McGinley and Mr.Pauric O’Donnell see this as the first step to building an exciting and all-encompassing STEAM transition year module.
Expanding on existing modules on GCSE ICT and Formula One, the Academy is already planning to expand the course to integrate even more aspects of ICT and Material Technology including Data Science, Systems Design and CNC environments.
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