Founded and organized by GreenAms 6520 Robotics Team (GART 6520), the first and only club/ team from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the gifted, Power Up Ams is a student-initiated project whose aim is to make changes to the general community’s, specifically students’ perspectives of coding and STEM. Going completely online this year, the lectures have brought a plethora of new experiences to the 6th to 8th graders. The succinct, yet inclusive and gripping content, combined with effective, intriguing presentation, has helped the participants to effortlessly grasp this seemingly challenging subject.

The event was organized digitally and snatched the attention of many students

Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to, not only learn, but also apply Python-related knowledge, which is a common coding language worldwide, yet unfamiliar with many Vietnamese pupils. Going from rudimentary to advanced knowledge, all the participants were thus able to devise their own unique games. Moreover, the course was completely on the house, with teaching programmes gingerly documented to suit students of all ages.

Despite being hosted online this year due to the pandemic, PUA2022 notwithstanding has been enthusiastically welcomed by all students since day one, which clearly showed how attractive and influential the project was. 

The event is not only a chance for students to be “coding-literate”, but also a common space for participants to get to know like-minded people who share the vehement passion for STEM. With a total of 4 lectures, two hours each, all students are likely to have received greatly pragmatic and interesting experiences. In the first two sessions, participants were exposed to the general features, practicality and usage of the coding language Python, as well as instructed to harness such simple codes as syntax, variable, if else,... The session ended with partakers’ bursting zeal as they immersed themselves in the challenge of recreating the game Rock, Paper, Scissors using the coding language taught.

The lecture focused on the introduction to the coding language Python

Following the first two sessions, the next two, taking place during the second week of the event, were just as alluring and engrossing. To be specific, the first session “casually” commenced with a quizizz to brush up on learnt knowledge, with Ha Linh being the winner. Afterwards, participants were engaged in the game Hangman - Words Hunting, thereby leading to the next lesson, which was to create a programme for this game. At the end of the event, students were rewarded with enchanting presents, including guides on coding games, which aimed to propel their creativity when it comes to creating their own products.

All the lessons were prepared with care, and conveyed in an interesting and easily comprehensible way

Throughout the event PUA, thanks to the organisers’ devotion and the students’ fervent learning attitude, all participants, though a little timid at first, made themselves at home later on. Both sides gradually got to know each other through interaction, and became closer as the course progressed. During the lectures, participants studied theory alongside with practicals, which did not result in tediousness, but greater proactive engagement and interest than ever. Though separated by the screen, during the entire event, all the participants were always ready to talk, connect, and thus support one another, particularly when it comes to team-based activities that required high levels of collaboration. After PUA, partakers are bound to make new like-minded friends and hone their life skills such as teamwork, communication, convincing, planning, etc., beside all the relevant coding-related knowledge.

A lecture, filled with gripping tasks, took place with joy hung thick in the atmosphere.

After the event, Quang Anh, a pupil from class 7C, told us: “Thanks to the lectures, I have now acquired the basic principles of Python, and I really enjoyed the challenge of creating a programme for the game Rocks, Paper, Scissors. I would like to thank all the organisers for the useful knowledge about coding shared during the sessions. I sincerely hope that in the next seasons to come, GART will be able to come up with even more interesting activities!” On the other hand, according to Hoai Anh from class 7 Liverpool, PUA2022 has lapsed with many impressions, especially the hilarious introduction session from the organisers. Hoai Anh also said that after participating in the event, she had even greater enthusiasm for STEM - a realm associated with great potential.

The students engaged extremely actively during the sessions

Unlike Quang Anh and Hoai Anh, Chi Khang (a student from class 6C), meanwhile voiced his opinion: “It was my first exposure to coding. At first, I perceived coding as being undefeatably difficult, but thanks to your explanation and practical activities, I took to it step-by-step. I used not to have any interest in STEM, but I’m sure that from now on, I will do more research about this field.

Every lecture came to an end with both the organisers’ and participants’ delight

PUA2022 has come to an end with much joy, much experience, and many remarkable memories. We hope that Power Up Ams has been the glintstone igniting the students’ fire of love for STEM in general, and coding to be specific. The docking of a ship is the heading of another, Power Up Ams has ended, but we have the firm tenet that the knowledge and experience brought to all the participants during the event would be handy equipment for every student in the future. Let’s look forward to the upcoming events from GART6520, shall we?

Post + Photos by GART6520

Translator: Le Trung Kien - 11 English 2